Original selling dealership giving me the run-around

[Alexander C.]

I have tracked down what I suspect to be the original selling dealership for my 1956 Corvette. They have been in business since 1927.

Using Bill @ Auto Ancestry I got fantastic results and we tracked down all the owners back to 1964 and I have since spoken with all of them and documented everything. The first original owner however has prooved to be much more difficult to track down. I feel it is crucial to contact her as she is the one who painted the car to another color and changed the upholstery amongst a few other things. I personally must know if it came with whitewalls or blackwalls. That is the only remaining unanswered question, plus documentation showing what colors and options the car sold with I feel is critical so it backs up my reasearch.

Anyway, in lieu of not being able to speak with the original owner, I was trying to find out if the original selling dealership could dig through their archives either for a fee or not. Heck, I'm not even 100% sure they are the original selling dealer until they search their archives anyway.

So I send them an email about it and I get a call back. The guy says even if they do search their archives, he won't give me the info. I say I don't want the original owners info, just info on the car. Then he says any dealership can run my VIN and know who sold it. Then he says there are unknown numbers in the door jam that are difficult to see that GM could use to look it up and that GM could tell me everything just based on my VIN and build date. Long story short, he refused to even pursue searching their archives and told me to just contact GM and if they say they don't know, just write more letters.

So yeah. This sucks. All I want is a copy of any information they may have on the car and they won't even try, even when I offer to pay

[Joe L.]

Re: Original selling dealership giving me the run-around

I have tracked down what I suspect to be the original selling dealership for my 1956 Corvette. They have been in business since 1927.

Using Bill @ Auto Ancestry I got fantastic results and we tracked down all the owners back to 1964 and I have since spoken with all of them and documented everything. The first original owner however has prooved to be much more difficult to track down. I feel it is crucial to contact her as she is the one who painted the car to another color and changed the upholstery amongst a few other things. I personally must know if it came with whitewalls or blackwalls. That is the only remaining unanswered question, plus documentation showing what colors and options the car sold with I feel is critical so it backs up my reasearch.

Anyway, in lieu of not being able to speak with the original owner, I was trying to find out if the original selling dealership could dig through their archives either for a fee or not. Heck, I'm not even 100% sure they are the original selling dealer until they search their archives anyway.

So I send them an email about it and I get a call back. The guy says even if they do search their archives, he won't give me the info. I say I don't want the original owners info, just info on the car. Then he says any dealership can run my VIN and know who sold it. Then he says there are unknown numbers in the door jam that are difficult to see that GM could use to look it up and that GM could tell me everything just based on my VIN and build date. Long story short, he refused to even pursue searching their archives and told me to just contact GM and if they say they don't know, just write more letters.

So yeah. This sucks. All I want is a copy of any information they may have on the car and they won't even try, even when I offer to pay

Alexander-----

You're dreaming (and so is the guy you talked to) if you think the dealer is going to be able to "search it's archives" and come up with information on the original sale of a 1956 Corvette. The guy you talked to is nuts if he thinks there's any "hidden information" in the door jambs or anywhere else that will enable GM to provide you with information. He's probably thinking of MODERN DAY cars, not those built 55 years ago.

I'm surprised you were able to come up with as many previous owners as you have. As far as the original owner goes, keep in mind that this car is 55 years old. Assuming the owner was 25 when he/she bought the car, they'd be 80 today. The chances are they were older than 25 since not too many 25 year olds in that day were able to afford new Corvettes. So, it's likely the original owner was older than 25 at the time. That means he/she is older than 80 today. Assuming, of course, that they are still alive.

[Tom H.]

Re: Original selling dealership giving me the run-around

I know it is frustrating. I will tell you this. I have spent my entire life in a GM dealership. I highly doubt there is any record of your car at this dealership. Never say never, but it would be very unlikely.

It is too bad the person at the dealership ruined the oppotunity to make a friend and at least try to help. Instead he has made himself look a bit foolish. Unkown numbers in the door jamb ???

My guess is he doesn't have much Corvette customer experience. Too bad.

[Alexander C.]

Re: Original selling dealership giving me the run-around

Assuming, of course, that they are still alive.

She is currently 77 and still alive we believe, no death certificate. We have a married name and maiden, and we have her phone number from when she sold it along with a 1972 address, we found her for sale ad with the help of the 2nd owner. We just can't seem to track her down, not without more expense and who knows where that will end.

It's funny because the 2nd and 3rd owners were in their 80's lol. Finding them was a little easier since I have old titles, registrations, receipts, etc back to 1964 with their names.

[Alexander C.]

Re: Original selling dealership giving me the run-around

I know it is frustrating. I will tell you this. I have spent my entire life in a GM dealership. I highly doubt there is any record of your car at this dealership. Never say never, but it would be very unlikely.

It is too bad the person at the dealership ruined the oppotunity to make a friend and at least try to help. Instead he has made himself look a bit foolish. Unkown numbers in the door jamb ???

My guess is he doesn't have much Corvette customer experience. Too bad.

I agree. I even offered to drive the few hours it would take and assist in searching their archives personally so they would not be out anything.

[Tom H.]

Re: Original selling dealership giving me the run-around

Drop me a PM with what you know about this lady. I'll poke around and try to help. No expense wasted. I'm free !! No promises, but no charge either.

[George C.]

Re: Original selling dealership giving me the run-around

Al, Who's the "guy" you spoke with at the dealer ? A manager or office type manager, one of the owners ? If it's the same dealer since 1927 chances are (maybe) it's still family owned ? It's always important to talk with the "right" person. Sounds as if the person you spoke with didn't want to do much.
Good Luck, I hope Tom can find some info for you. He's the type guy who goes above and beyond to help. Save the Wave.