I found myself the recipient of a barn deal a few months ago.  Someone I knew called me out to look at a corvette found in a barn they just acquired and wanted to tear down and I went out and found it to be a 1981....  anyway long story short.  that weekend I hauled off a 1981 corvette and 5 tractors.  I have almost all the tractors running now but am about to turn my attention to the vette.

the old man he bought the property from didnt have a title.  he was storing the car for a friend who died.  the old man is 90+ himself.  the odds I will ever get a title third hand like this are 0.

how can i get a title to this car?

I am in arkansas.  i know i might be able to get a salvage title but id like to get one that can be clean.  how do i do this?

Probably have to contact the executor of the dead owner's estate. 

Also the Dept of Transportation for the state, and possibly the court system for the County. Be prepared to hire an attorney, a title search, notices in the news papers, and your day before the common pleas judge to have it validated. That is what Pennsylvania requires, not sure what you will need for your state. A long process, but necessary. 

I'll add to what Marc and Mark said.  Tracking back through the executor may open a can of worms if the estate hasn't been settled yet or may end up going through a bunch of other stuff if the estate has been settled.

I would probably first check with the clerk or registrar at the county the fellow lived in.  They may be able to help you get started or at least point you at who to go through at the state level.  In the states I have lived in (MN & CO) there are steps to go through to get a duplicate title for vehicles where the title has been lost or the vehicle was abandoned or seized for non-payment of fees (storage/work performed/etc.) but I don't know remember the type of title that is issued (clean/salvage/etc.).

In Wisconsin you can apply for a bonded title. I just did that last winter on a Norton motorcycle acquired without a title from an estate long closed. The bond is for five years after which the title can be cleared. The bond wasn't much and depends on the value of the vehicle. My state helped me thru the whole process.  

Cop is coming out tomorrow to inspect the vin for the title...  

anyone got an 81 stock wheel for sale?

an extra 81  assembly manual?