OK
Yeah that's too bad. Did you get a bill of sale signed by both parties and dated ?
Next time you are in Florida DMV you could ask them about possibilities as an example of what a person could do in your mentioned senario ?? For Classic Cars . . They probably have that title number in their data base, and could track the previous owner through that old plate.
Always like to see these old mopars get back on the road.
Florida plates are suposed to stay with the owner, then turned into the state when the car is sold. State holds them, then you buy another car and they give the same plate back.
What I don't like is in Florida it costs you 400 bucks to get that first plate. Then there is the issue of dealer fees on top of the sale price. So be it . . .