California - Friend Took Back Financed Car After Written Agreement And 22 Payments. Do I Have A Breach Of Contract Claim?

I’m looking for opinions on a California contract dispute.

A friend and I signed a written Vehicle Transfer and Responsibility Agreement for his financed 2022 Toyota RAV4. Under the agreement, I agreed to bring the loan current, make the remaining 42 monthly Toyota payments, maintain insurance, pay the registration, and assume responsibility for the vehicle. In exchange, the agreement states that once I completed the remaining payments, he would transfer the title to me. The agreement was signed by both of us and witnessed. Over the past 22 months, I made the agreed payments directly to Toyota Financial, maintained insurance, paid the registration, and had possession of the vehicle. I have payment records, the written agreement, and documentation showing my performance.

Recently, he demanded that I either:

Return the vehicle,

Refinance the loan into my name, and

Pay him an additional $3,400.

None of those terms appear in our written agreement.

When I refused, he had the vehicle privately towed from my workplace as the registered owner. No police were involved. I no longer have possession of the vehicle despite having substantially performed under the agreement.

At this point, I’m no longer trying to recover the vehicle. My goal is to recover the money I invested under the agreement because I believe he prevented me from completing the contract.

Has anyone dealt with a similar California breach of contract case involving a vehicle? Does this sound like a straightforward breach of contract claim, or are there legal issues I’m overlooking?

Location: California, USA