1970 is a pre-catalytic converter car. That makes it special in that only in California would you need to do smog tests on it. Talk to the owner if you can find him or her.
Chances are that it is a car that they fixed and the owner of the gas station is not a person that would go out and get a mechanics lien against it. What I am saying is that an offer might be a moot point. However, $4K would be an honest offer.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.