What do you do when they won"t talk to you

[Philip C.]

I hope this doesn't happen to anybody, I found my orig owner of my 63, but saddly he pass away some years ago. I have been looking for him since March 1997. Well I found his wife and son in Aurora, CO. They wont give me the time of day. I had two conversations with Greg (son) the first was very nice, I asked him some questions that could help me, bah bah bah bah... he told me that his mom probably has 8mm films of it racing (heart stopped) said she was away for Christmas. I called him, no joke, fifty times. The second time when he pick up the phone, this is two months later (now you know what I was going thru, no sleep etc...) He told me his mom has nothing to say, knows nothing, have a nice day. So I sent a real nice fruit basket to her and a short nice note, never heard a word. I got my rope and I'am looking for a tree. Anybody have any ideas, Hey anybody live around Aurora, CO. Thanks Phil 8063

[Rick A.]

Re: What do you do when they won"t talk to you

Phil,

Feel for you buddy! My 1963 I knew original owner had been in USA attending medical school when he bought the car and then exported to Switzerland. I have all of the documentation showing export/import, etc. So, called phone number in Switzerland, have sent registered letters, etc. and the individual will not return calls and do know letters are delivered as they have never come back! Even had an American living in Switzerland attempt to talk with the owner.

[Harry S.]

Re: What do you do when they won"t talk to you

Same problem. I talked to the original owner 12 years ago, twice. They were nice conversation. He said to call back as there was more paperwork available. Since the second call, he will not answer, call back or respond to letters. I just don't get it?

Then again he may be on the wrong side of the grass!

[William N.]

Re: What do you do when they won"t talk to you

I would be booking a plane ride to Denver, and stop by with pictures of the car in it's current state. Politely ask if you could have a few minutes of their time. I had relatives that lived in Aurora, it is on th esouth east side of Denver. If they were in Denver when it was raced, I would also look up contacts at the SCCA (regional office if they have one) for any old programs that might have info and pictures, if you have a name and town, go to the local library and find the 1963 phone book with their address at the time and go to the neightbotrhood asnd see if anyone still lives there that lived their in 1963 and remembers such a car.
Just a thought.

[John F.]

Re: What do you do when they won"t talk to you

Nice touch with the fruit basket. With a spouse passsing there could be good & bad memories associated with the car. I would let it rest for awhile and then send a nice letter. Explain why you are asking for info and that you are a car nut. Send a few current pictures and a self-addressed stamped return envelope. I know you want more info, but that may not be a high priority on her list. Let it rest then try again.

[John D.]

Re: What do you do when they won"t talk to you

Hi Phil, But what would you do if the original owners wife said she really liked the 63 cause it had an automatic tranny in it? LOL

[Tom H.]

Re: What do you do when they won"t talk to you

That is tough. Sounds like you've sure done enough. Possibly you could put a photo album together of the car. Send it to them and show them how passionate you are about the car. tell them when the time is right, you'd love to complete the story of this car. Just a thought.

[Peter G.]

Re: What do you do when they won"t talk to you

Phillip....I live in Parker, CO the town is on the southern border with Aurora. The Rocky Mountain Chapter with most of the members located in or near Denver is a very "active" Top Flight Award Chapter. I would be happy to try and help you out with this and I am sure other members in my Chapter would also like to help, but it seems to be that you have covered all the bases already. Like others have posted..the car may bring back bad memories of the past and people just want to "move on" which is understandable.

I know others in our Chapter that have contacted early and previous owners and have gotten the same result you have. They don't want to talk about the car. A close friend of mine and also Chapter member ran into your situation with his '62 he just purchased from a Corvette Dealer in Texas. It seems that the dealership really "stole" the car from him on price and now he is understandbly "pissed".

Let me know if I can help or even if you just want to talk about it.

[Brian M.]

Re: What do you do when they won"t talk to you

If the local chapter worked the 6 degrees of seperation, someone knows someone that knows her and that could be an ice breaker, or a complete door slam.
Good Luck

[Peter G.]

Re: What do you do when they won"t talk to you

Phillip..give me a "private message" about the details...names, year car was owned etc. if you like. Like Brian just mention someone in our Chapter may know the car or the owner from a long time ago or maybe even when raced? We have several members who still race vintage Corvettes today. Our Chapter I believed was formed around 1982 or 1984? I have been in the Rocky Mountain Chapter only about eleven years, but there are many old timers still around who may know something. It maybe worth a shot. What is the worst that could happen from another try? I guess they could shoot at us? But we will give them the benefit of the doubt.

PS:We have also in our Chapter a retired Lieutenant from the Aurora Police Department if needed.

[Reba W.]

Re: What do you do when they won"t talk to you

I have had the same result. NCDMV gave me the names of two previous owners in eastern NC. An Internet search revealed one is deceased, but I found the current address of the second. Rather than ambush him with a phone call, I wrote a very nice letter asking him to contact me with information about the car. That was last June, and there has been no answer. I am thinking of placing an information-wanted ad in The Driveline. Has anyone had luck through that avenue?

[George J.]

Re: What do you do when they won"t talk to you

I would mention that you'd be willing to pay for information or items like the film. That usually gets a response, at least. It may not go further, but people usually can't control their curiosity when it comes to money.

George

[Edward S.]

Re: What do you do when they won"t talk to you

About a year ago I always watched all the postings going on concerning getting more info cocerning the history of the car. Even though I was lucky enough to buy a car that came with tons of documentation - I had been looking for years to find any
kind of dealer memorabilia I could get my hands with no success
I sent Tom Hendricks a note asking to let me know if he ever saw anything from this dealer who had been located in Wisc. Perhaps with-in two weeks Tom e-mailed me the name and addresses of two men who might have been connected to the dealer. I wrote each one a letter explaining who I was, what I had and what I was looking for - to this day I have (never) heard from one of them. After about 2 months I did get a e-mail from the other fellow. Turns out they were cousins - each was the son of the 2 original owners of the dealership when my car was ordered. In fact they knew the owner of my car very well, as he and his family were friends of their families. He told me he did not recall have much left over but he would contact all of his other cousins to see what they had. Within a month I had first a "yard stick' with dealer POS on it - which cost a small fortune to ship. A week later I got a thick envelope loaded with advertising going back to early 1900's
when their great grandfather started a livery stable which later on became their first
car dealership. I think I was very successful with all of this because I rushed nothing.
The mother your dealing with must be up there in age - I can tell you after looking after my Mother when she was in her 80's & 90's, anything out of the norm made her quite upset. I think that "50" phone calls in a short period of time (from a stranger) might have the mother upset. I might let it rest for awhile and see what happens. I did not offer any money to the fellow I was dealing with, as I think some people might get insulted. After I got all the memorabilia I discovered that my original dealer order form was signed by one father and my original form detailing factory pick-up was signed by the other father. I had copies made, framed and mailed out - I got a letter back telling me how thrilled they were to get the forms. At the end I was more interested in doing something nice for them, then I was interested in what they could do for me. I hope in the end you have as much success as I had. Good luck.

[Kevin G.]

Re: What do you do when they won"t talk to you

How about when they do talk with you? I have had contact with all 4 of the previous owners of my 71. Just recently I had contacted the original owner, and set up a meeting with him at the Tucson Regional, he lives in Mesa, AZ. So, I got myself all prepared for the meet by loading everything I could find on my laptop, pictures, awards, even a copy of the check that was given to him by the second owner. I'm really excited, heading to AZ to meet the one person that I could sit down with and speak to about the how's and why's he ordered it the way he did. Along with trying to find out some more information on the nose, paint blend. Well, things didn't work out like I had hoped....... Not only did he not show up, he didn't have the respect to give me a call to let me know he wasn't going to make the meet. As a last effort I did leave another message telling him I was there and waiting. Kind of odd if you ask me, why set up the meeting in the first place, and then no contact? I no doubt, had more information to give him then he had for me? Now, I'm reluctant to reach out to him, or should I say upset!

[Alan S.]

Re: What do you do when they won"t talk to you

Hi Kevin,
Do you have an address?
If so perhaps you could send him a short note just saying it's too bad you couldn't get together; wording it so he realizes it's o.k. that he goofed up. Maybe include a picture of the car with you next to it to show what the car is like today and that you're just another Corvette person.
You really have nothing to lose by reaching out again since you've been snubbed once and that's all that can happen again.
Maybe?
Regards,
Alan