Research methods-Tracking down previous owners

[Tony Roussos]

Has anyone come up with a good method of researching previous owners aside from the obvious internet searches and snail mail requests?

Wouldn't it be great to go to a site, input the VIN and get a listing of all owners names and last known address?

Let's say I'm the fifth owner. I found owners 4 and 3, but 2 died. How would I find #1?

Thank you.
Tony

[Charlie P.]

Re: Research methods-Tracking down previous owners

The biggest hinderance to tracking down older vehicle ownership history is the fact that most state DMV records are kept 10 years max. You can do a title search with DMV (although techinically you are not allowed to do a search in order to contact a previous owner), but that is as far (10 years) as you will get in most cases.

I got lucky because the son of the original owner (who was deceased) sold the car to the third owner less than five years ago. Texas and Idaho title searches had lead me to the son, and I was able to talk to him.

If the person who sold you the car had it for less than 10 years, a DMV title search could yield some additional history. There just is no easy way if you don't have some decent paperwork trail to start with.

[Charlie P.]

Re: Research methods-Tracking down previous owners

The biggest hinderance to tracking down older vehicle ownership history is the fact that most state DMV records are kept 10 years max. You can do a title search with DMV (although techinically you are not allowed to do a search in order to contact a previous owner), but that is as far (10 years) as you will get in most cases.

I got lucky because the son of the original owner (who was deceased) sold the car to the third owner less than five years ago. Texas and Idaho title searches had lead me to the son, and I was able to talk to him.

If the person who sold you the car had it for less than 10 years, a DMV title search could yield some additional history. There just is no easy way if you don't have some decent paperwork trail to start with.

[Tony Roussos]

Re: Research methods-Tracking down previous owners

I was afraid of that answer.

[Tony Roussos]

Re: Research methods-Tracking down previous owners

I was afraid of that answer.

[Greg A.]

Re: Research methods-Tracking down previous owners

I was able to find my original owner (I'm the 7th) through a weird manner. The local DMV (Oregon) was able to provide ownership history for all Oregon owners, but "whited-out" the owners names. My '78 Silver Anniversary came to Oregon from California in 1981 through a wholesale dealer purchase. Included in the documentation provided by DMV was a copy of the original California pink slip (without any information deleted.)

It was registered in the name of a business that contained the owners name. US Mail, internet and phone directory searches came up blank. I posted a request for info on the Yankee Lady's Owner Search board (http://www.i-depth.com/P/d/d00004.frm.gz-pastowner.html). It's not moderated well and I didn't expect anything, but 18 months later, the original owner's son was doing a Google search on his own name to see what came up. He decided to do his Dad's name too and found my posting. He sent me an e-mail and I called him and told him that I was just looking to verify ownership and purchase info (he didn't even know his Dad ever owned a Corvette!). After checking with his Dad, I was give the first owner's phone number and we had a pleasant conversation.

If you get any owner info, it might be worth a shot. Good luck.

Greg.

[Greg A.]

Re: Research methods-Tracking down previous owners

I was able to find my original owner (I'm the 7th) through a weird manner. The local DMV (Oregon) was able to provide ownership history for all Oregon owners, but "whited-out" the owners names. My '78 Silver Anniversary came to Oregon from California in 1981 through a wholesale dealer purchase. Included in the documentation provided by DMV was a copy of the original California pink slip (without any information deleted.)

It was registered in the name of a business that contained the owners name. US Mail, internet and phone directory searches came up blank. I posted a request for info on the Yankee Lady's Owner Search board (http://www.i-depth.com/P/d/d00004.frm.gz-pastowner.html). It's not moderated well and I didn't expect anything, but 18 months later, the original owner's son was doing a Google search on his own name to see what came up. He decided to do his Dad's name too and found my posting. He sent me an e-mail and I called him and told him that I was just looking to verify ownership and purchase info (he didn't even know his Dad ever owned a Corvette!). After checking with his Dad, I was give the first owner's phone number and we had a pleasant conversation.

If you get any owner info, it might be worth a shot. Good luck.

Greg.

[Tony Roussos]

Re: Research methods-Tracking down previous owners

Hello Greg,

That's fantastic!! Coincidentally, I happened to find the mother of two owners past. It seems Colorado gets more than their fair share of telemarketing so he is totally unlisted. (At least I don't think he's witness protection ;-) ) His mother and I had a nice conversation then she told me to try next Wednesday when he is due to return from vacation. I hope he's as easy going as his mom!

Thanks for the web address and your story. It helped.

Tony

[Tony Roussos]

Re: Research methods-Tracking down previous owners

Hello Greg,

That's fantastic!! Coincidentally, I happened to find the mother of two owners past. It seems Colorado gets more than their fair share of telemarketing so he is totally unlisted. (At least I don't think he's witness protection ;-) ) His mother and I had a nice conversation then she told me to try next Wednesday when he is due to return from vacation. I hope he's as easy going as his mom!

Thanks for the web address and your story. It helped.

Tony

[Michael Jones]

Re: Research methods-Tracking down previous owners

Tony:

After researching my Vette's history for awhile, it became apparent that it was in a certain part of the state. I contacted all of the Corvette clubs (there were only four) in the area and posted a message on their member's publication.

I locateed one previous owner this way.

Good luck!

Mike

[Michael Jones]

Re: Research methods-Tracking down previous owners

Tony:

After researching my Vette's history for awhile, it became apparent that it was in a certain part of the state. I contacted all of the Corvette clubs (there were only four) in the area and posted a message on their member's publication.

I locateed one previous owner this way.

Good luck!

Mike

[Grant M.]

Re: Research methods-Tracking down previous owners

Tony,

I'd advise persistence in whatever search approach you take. The second previous owner of my 65 didn't turn up on any of the white pages or personal search engine results for the longest time (13 years!), even though I was searching in the right general area (Vancouver Island, BC). Then one morning two years ago I plugged his name into an MSN 'white pages' search page and got a hit, only one, in the same general area on Vancouver Island. I waited until a respectable 8:00 am (pacific time),dialed the number, and had a great conversation with the previous owner, who promised to look for any documentation/photos he had of the car during the time that he owned it. I reciprocated with photos of the restoration I had done and the finished (are they EVER finished?) car. A few months later, I was pleased to receive photos that he had taken when he went to look at the car prior to purchase as well as some during his ownership. He pointed out in his letter that the car had come with a California front plate still in place (and visible in one photo), and said that he had purchased it from a young man (name no longer remembered)that had reputedly either imported it from California, or bought it from someone who had. That will be my next approach through British Columbia DMV to try and get transfer information, but as has been stated elsewhere on the DB, I don't expect to get far owing to the elapsed time. It was still enjoyable to talk to the young man who, as a car wash jockey at a couple of GM dealerships in Vancouver during the early 1980's, had somehow scraped-up the money to not only buy and drive the Corvette, but to amass some $8,000 (1981 Canadian dollars) worth of NOS parts at GM employee prices in preparation for a restoration that he ultimately never undertook. I was ultimately the beneficiary, receiving all of these unused parts, still in original packaging, when I purchased the car in 1987. Needless to say, I think the current photos I sent of the car caused him some regret at selling, but pleasure in the thought that someone had done what he'd been unable to do.

Talking to previous owners is generally an informative and enjoyable experience. Good luck with your search!

grant

[Grant M.]

Re: Research methods-Tracking down previous owners

Tony,

I'd advise persistence in whatever search approach you take. The second previous owner of my 65 didn't turn up on any of the white pages or personal search engine results for the longest time (13 years!), even though I was searching in the right general area (Vancouver Island, BC). Then one morning two years ago I plugged his name into an MSN 'white pages' search page and got a hit, only one, in the same general area on Vancouver Island. I waited until a respectable 8:00 am (pacific time),dialed the number, and had a great conversation with the previous owner, who promised to look for any documentation/photos he had of the car during the time that he owned it. I reciprocated with photos of the restoration I had done and the finished (are they EVER finished?) car. A few months later, I was pleased to receive photos that he had taken when he went to look at the car prior to purchase as well as some during his ownership. He pointed out in his letter that the car had come with a California front plate still in place (and visible in one photo), and said that he had purchased it from a young man (name no longer remembered)that had reputedly either imported it from California, or bought it from someone who had. That will be my next approach through British Columbia DMV to try and get transfer information, but as has been stated elsewhere on the DB, I don't expect to get far owing to the elapsed time. It was still enjoyable to talk to the young man who, as a car wash jockey at a couple of GM dealerships in Vancouver during the early 1980's, had somehow scraped-up the money to not only buy and drive the Corvette, but to amass some $8,000 (1981 Canadian dollars) worth of NOS parts at GM employee prices in preparation for a restoration that he ultimately never undertook. I was ultimately the beneficiary, receiving all of these unused parts, still in original packaging, when I purchased the car in 1987. Needless to say, I think the current photos I sent of the car caused him some regret at selling, but pleasure in the thought that someone had done what he'd been unable to do.

Talking to previous owners is generally an informative and enjoyable experience. Good luck with your search!

grant

[Tony Roussos]

Re: Research methods-Tracking down previous owners

Now why didn't think of that!! A+++ for effort, Mike.

Thank you. I'm on it!

Tony

[Tony Roussos]

Re: Research methods-Tracking down previous owners

Now why didn't think of that!! A+++ for effort, Mike.

Thank you. I'm on it!

Tony