Abandoned Cobra

So I have a friend that just shipped off for a four year sea trip in the navy. But two years ago He blew a clutch in his 96 cobra. He left it to sit in a apartment complex the day it happened, He pulled the plates on it a year ago and just let it sit there. now he has shipped off and it will soon get impounded and be gone forever. he said he didnt give a **** but had lost the title and just took off. The other day someone keyed it,smashed out the tail lights and bent the wiper arms. I know now that in its condition it will get towed out of there. The question I have is how do I get a title for this car. I wont be able to get ahold of this guy and by the time I would the car will be gone. I am going to tow the car to my house with the help of my buddy who drives a tow truck. What would you do?

I'd Rather keep it as a cobra as far as the title goes, But i could always buy a gt that has a blown engine or something and swap everything from the cobra over. But I wont have a bill of sale, Colorado doesnt use them. How do i just show up to the dmv and say look this car was abandoned by the owner 2 years ago what do I do?