Purchasing a car from a private seller. Nightmare.

Hoofer, I don't get it. You test drove the car. You told him it drove o.k. You inspected it. You could have had Bob put it up on a lift for you. You HAVE the title. You bought the car. You didn't pay $50k for it, expecting a fully restored car. Now you want Bob to begin your restoration? Man up and either sell YOUR car or fix it. Mark it up as a learning experience. I have had several, with losing one due to no title, and one seller going to Federal prison.

Having the title in the name of a person other than the seller is not the same as having the title. If Bob represented himself as the owner of the car when he sold it, he committed fraud.