I live in California and I bought a vintage motorcycle several years ago at a flea market mainly for the parts because the seller had no paperwork on it(no title, etc). He said he had bought it many years ago also for the parts, and he didn't receive any paperwork for it. He said he doubts that it's even on DMV files anymore. The bike is pretty dirty and beat up but almost all the parts are there and are original. I would rather resore it than pull parts off of it. There is a number on the frame but I can't find one on the engine. Is it possible to get a title for this motorcycle if it's not on DMV record? If it is on record that someone owned it, say, 30 or 40 years ago, does that person then have to be contacted? Also, are motorcycles registered by their frame number or their engine number, or both? Thanks for any info you can give me about this!