Mershons -Looking for recent prior owner of my '67 Coupe- Lynndale Blue

[Garry B.]

Guys, I am hoping to connect with the prior owner of my new '67 Lynndale Blue Coupe, teal interior, SB, factory AC with side pipes car (and more). The car was recently sold by the prior owner to Mershons and I purchased the car from them about two weeks ago. Mershons could not and would not release any information on whom they bought the car from because of the privacy act rules and I can respect that. They did tell me that they had shared my phone number with the prior owner at my request in hopes they would call me and share what they know about the car. I know very little about this person, but can safely assume that they live in the NJ/NY area and is involved in education somehow. I also have to assume they are an NCRS member because they or someone they hired did a very nice job of doing a body off restoration, but preserved what appears to be a lot of the original interior.

I know it's a long shot, but I am hoping this person will reach out to me or if someone knows of that car and it's owner they will will encourage him/her to contact me. I have intentionally not provided the VIN number right now, but will share it if someone contacts me in order to verify that it is the same car. We all know how important original and other paperwork can be to these cars and with the significant amount of options on this car it would be helpful to me to understand the car better. There are several other options on this car that I did not list, but would be happy to once again verify if it is the same car.

Thanks for any help you can provide. I have total respect for confidentiality on both sides.
Garry Barnes
#18531

[Gary J.]

[Mark E.]

Re: Looking for recent prior owner of my new '67 Coupe- Lynndale Blue

Gary,

The prior owner's name should be on the title. This is an example of how a car's documentation is lost when sold through a dealer. It's just kept by the prior owner or thrown out by the dealer. Today, it seems the vast majority of collector cars are offered by dealers. It surprises me more enthusiasts don't sell themselves. Sign of the times?

When I bought my wife's used car from a dealer a few years ago, my purchase was contingent upon the dealer arranging a phone call with the prior owner (I know this doesn't help you now...).

[Garry B.]

Re: Looking for recent prior owner of my new '67 Coupe- Lynndale Blue

Gentlemen, thanks for your comments. Gary, Mershons has to transfer it into their name from the previous owner and then send it to me to transfer it from them to me. Unlike a private sale, as a dealer can't just sign it and hand it over to me. As I understand it, because they are transferring the title between two states, it will trigger a new title and any prior owners information is dropped.

Mark, I tried to pressure Mershons to provide the prior owners name and the best I could do was to get them to agree to provide the prior owner my phone number and encourage him/her to call me. Buying a "hot property" Corvette today is different than what it used to be. I couldn't believe how many people I had lined up for my Elkhart Blue '67 coupe, so I believe there were several people vying for this car. I was fortunate enough to have been the first one to call on the car so Mershons kept the others at bay until we worked it out or didn't. I don't know if the prior owner has any of the original docs, but I don't know he doesn't either. Even if he has restoration photos and or receipts would be a great find. How would I do a title search in the state that I suspect this person lives?

I appreciate both of your thoughts and if other ideas come to mind please let me know.

[Ed S.]

Re: Looking for recent prior owner of my new '67 Coupe- Lynndale Blue

I took the original door panels off of my 64 to do a repair on the window & locking mechanisms. I know they were original because they were date stamped on the back - about 3 weeks before my car's build date. The car was repainted by a PO - the shop that did the paint job wrote the name of the shop, location and date of the paint job on the back of the door panels. Some restorers are proud of their work and leave notes for future owners in inconspicuous places - hopefully, you will find a note - maybe behind the glove box liner or on the back side of the spare tire tub. Look around - you may get lucky.

[Mike T.]

Re: Looking for recent prior owner of my new '67 Coupe- Lynndale Blue

Garry - Any chance your 67 was listed on the C2Registry.org? Most folks don't bother to go back and remove their contact info once they sell a vehicle so if your 67's VIN is listed, it just might have the PO's name...maybe.
Good luck,

[Michael J.]

Re: Looking for recent prior owner of my new '67 Coupe- Lynndale Blue

Cars I have bought in Ohio have been delivered with an Ohio title in my name and address when they get sold to me. I have never seen the previous owners' names. This is pretty good for me in NM, since if I have a title in my name from another state, there is no excise tax to be paid on the sale, only a title and registration fee, a small fraction of what the excise (sales) tax would be.

[Garry B.]

Re: Looking for recent prior owner of my new '67 Coupe- Lynndale Blue

Mike, first place I looked. No dice. Thanks for the thought.

[Garry B.]

Re: Looking for recent prior owner of my new '67 Coupe- Lynndale Blue

Michael, I believe that is the way it will be delivered to me, but not absolutely sure. Regardless, it will not have the prior owners name on it.

[Mike B.]

Re: Looking for recent prior owner of my new '67 Coupe- Lynndale Blue

Hi Garry,

Trying to think of some angles to aid you in your search. I've done extensive research on my '66 through the years with substantial success. I've gotten back to 1974 so far. I know the original selling dealership from December 1965 but am unable to move forward from there. So those are the dark ages. This has taken me many years. Hopefully you'll have quicker results.

My car's pedigree is important to me and I feel your frustration. If I can think of anything more I'll contact you. Here's some suggestions you may wish to try:

-Contact local chapters. Someone in New Jersey/New York may remember your car. Scour their monthly news letters. You may spot your car in a gathering photo. Submit an "Info Wanted" ad in their newsletter. Submit an "Info Wanted" ad in the Driveline.

-Try searching forward from the original dealership. If you have original documentation maybe you'll spot prior owner's names. Hopefully they're still with us. Many are in their late 70s-80s. I've used a few of those online background search companies with A LOT of success. Most prior owners are happy to chat about their old Corvette.

-I recently called New Jersey Titles. Spoke to a human. She was pleasant. Maybe they can find something by your VIN. (See attached phone#)
Try New York next.

Good luck with your search. Mike

NJ Titles.jpg

[Michael V.]

Re: Looking for recent prior owner of my new '67 Coupe- Lynndale Blue

Being you are trying to jog someone's memory on your newly purchased car, I would post exterior, interior and engine pictures of the car on this site.

[Garry B.]

Re: Looking for recent prior owner of my new '67 Coupe- Lynndale Blue

Thank Mike. I appreciate your suggestions. I do plan to reach out to the applicable NCRS chapters websites and officers to see if I can find anyone who knows the car. Who is the MVC and what information do they provide?

[Garry B.]

Re: Looking for recent prior owner of my new '67 Coupe- Lynndale Blue

Michael, I haven't had a chance to take pics, but will give this some thought. My current hope is that the owner is an NCRS member and sees my plea to be contacted. I believe Mershons was truthful when they told me they provided the prior owner with my phone number and at some point in the future they will reach out. At this point I don't want to launch an all out "man hunt" and possibly scare them away, so I see it as a process that will take shape over time. If I hit pay dirt in contacting the chapters I will use some photos to confirm. Thanks for the suggestion.

[Mike B.]

Re: Mershons -Looking for recent prior owner of my '67 Coupe- Lynndale Blue

Hi Garry,

Their MVC is comparable to an MVA. I was just giving you the number that was on their state website online. The one that I recently used while checking on a possible lead on my '66. I struck out when I spoke with the lady as I was searching for very old NJ title information. I knew that would happen. I was just hoping she'd flag the car as a prior NJ titled vehicle. No joy.

But I feel what's important for you to establish first is where the car was last titled. You'd mentioned that you have evidence that the car was a possible recent NJ/NY titled car? I'd call this number and then one for NY when you find it. If it's been recently titled there they should tell you so. Once you narrow down the direction to hunt, have at it.

Good luck with your search Garry.

Mike

[Garry B.]

Re: Mershons -Looking for recent prior owner of my '67 Coupe- Lynndale Blue

Michael, I sent you a private message.