C2 Vehicle History

[Jim C.]

Re: C2 Vehicle History

Hi All,

Does NICB really have new car delivery information? If so, how far back does the info go? I've never heard that they have this info. Is this confirmed, or just speculation? I'm just wondering because it's VERY interesting if the NICB actually does keep such records back into the 50s and 60s. I would love to know where my car was delivered. Has anyone ever gotten information out of them in the past? Thanks.

Jim C.

[Brian M.]

Re: C2 Vehicle History

It took my 3rd try with MO DMV to reveal my original owner info, stay after them. Good Luck.

Jerry:
I already spoke to Maryland DMV and they didn't want to give me anything due to the "Privacy Act" of 1999?? Anyway, the woman was nice and confirmed the name of the person from whom I bought the car and told me there were no other records. The good news is that the prior owner, although also from Maryland, moved to North Carolina before moving back to Maryland years later. With Michael Westenberg and Ruud Zeller's assistance & experience, I am filling out a form and sending it with a check to the North Carolina DMV. Ruud's car traveled a similar path as mine, and he received a big fat evelope of title history information for his '63 Vette -- including titles from when the car was owned in neighboring states. Now that's exciting news! The completed form and $$ will be in tomorrow's mail, and I will be anxiously waiting to see what comes back from NC-DMV. I'll keep everyone posted when the envelope arrives.

Thanks for your input,
Roger (50141)

[Jim W.]

Re: C2 Vehicle History

Hi, on a related vehicle search, i recently sent the required form along with $5 to Calif. DMV-Sacramento. They sent back a list of 3 previous owners,(one whom i bought the car from), The earliest registration ending 5/24/86. The The Two most recent "Purchase/Applications" were 4/11/95 and 2/16/89 which also show the latest registration issued, which tells me how long they owned the car. The oldest one shows 00/00/00 under P/A and also under owner/issue date, only gives the last registration of 5/24/86. My question is: could the 00/00/00 mean that was the original owner or that that is as far back as their records account for. I'm currious because if they limited the search to only 3 P/O then the first one shouldn't have been all zeros. Its a 64 from So. Cal and i'm trying to locate all P/Os and orig dealer.

[Richard T.]

Re: C2 Vehicle History

Roger: Try the DMV. If your car was in MD all its life the DMV should be able to provide you with a ownership history. Trying to contact the previous owners is another thing but might be possible over the net. Good Luck in your search.

[Roger P.]

Re: C2 Vehicle History

Jim C.:
I just found out about the NICB and looked into it last Friday. From what I understand, they appear to be "untouchable" - even by law enforcement unless there is some kind of criminal case involving your car. I asked my brother to speak to a police officer friend, but he told me not to expect any good news. My brother has a dealer's license and, from what he knows, a cop could get in big trouble accessing the NICB database for the wrong reasons (without a crime case #??). If you know someone in law enforcement, please speak to him or her and post on this thread what you find out.

Jim W.:
I am waiting for my previous owner information from NC-DMV as I have mailed them their form and $ 10-. The Privacy Act is making the DMV's paranoid about sending out information, and that is why MD wasn't very helpful. On the NC form, they list several "exceptions" on the back of the form - one of the exceptions has to be listed and signed for them to send out the information (sort of a CYA legality). Their form is strange as there is no line to include the VIN # of the car you want information about. Of course, I wrote in the year, make, and VIN # on the form, but you would think that someone at NC-DMV would have figured this out by now?? Anyway, I don't know what the 00/00/00 means on your CA documents, but have you tried to contact the oldest known owner from the information that you received? I would recommend that you call them and see what they remember about who they purchased the car from. If they can't remember the name, you can at least find out if it was bought in CA or another state. If it was another state, then you can try your luck with that DMV and then continue the search.

At this point, I believe that tracing a car's history involves a cooperative DMV, Internet searching, a Driveline ad, and a whole lot of luck. Also, the original owners of these Vettes aren't getting any younger, so those who are interested in their car's history better get the search going sooner than later!

I'll keep everyone posted on my progress when I receive my NC-DMV envelope.

Good luck,
Roger (50141)

[Cecil L.]

Re: C2 Vehicle History

Hi, on a related vehicle search, i recently sent the required form along with $5 to Calif. DMV-Sacramento. They sent back a list of 3 previous owners,(one whom i bought the car from), The earliest registration ending 5/24/86. The The Two most recent "Purchase/Applications" were 4/11/95 and 2/16/89 which also show the latest registration issued, which tells me how long they owned the car. The oldest one shows 00/00/00 under P/A and also under owner/issue date, only gives the last registration of 5/24/86. My question is: could the 00/00/00 mean that was the original owner or that that is as far back as their records account for. I'm currious because if they limited the search to only 3 P/O then the first one shouldn't have been all zeros. Its a 64 from So. Cal and i'm trying to locate all P/Os and orig dealer.

I'm surprised you got anything from CA DMV. They must have changed their policy. I tried the same thing on my 66 and they said they said they couldn't release any info without a court order and sent my check back.

[Chuck G.]

Re: C2 Vehicle History

Hi All,

Does NICB really have new car delivery information? If so, how far back does the info go? I've never heard that they have this info. Is this confirmed, or just speculation? I'm just wondering because it's VERY interesting if the NICB actually does keep such records back into the 50s and 60s. I would love to know where my car was delivered. Has anyone ever gotten information out of them in the past? Thanks.

Jim C.

Yep, they sure do. They have some of 62, and then from 63 up. It's not speculation. Several decades ago, anyone used to be able to access this info. Then the phone # was published in some magazine, and they got inundated with calls. They quit doing it except for law enforcement officers.

Well, ALL of us know someone in law enforcement, so local LEO's would call them for us. NICB got smart, and required a court docket or case number to give the info to the LEO. LEO's can get in BIG trouble trying to get the info now.

ALL you get is

1. The original dealer to which the car was delivered, and
2. the date is was delivered.

NOTHING else. No options, colors, etc. NO sales records, i.e., who the car was sold to.

It'll tell you Zone XX Dealer YYY Aardvark Chevrolet, Madison, Wisconsin, Delivered 3-3-63.

Why do they have this information? When ALL cars were shipped from the factory to various dealerships (NOT just Corvettes), they were insured in transit by the manufacturer. The insurance industry is anal about keeping records. Once the car was delivered, the insurance became the dealer's problem.

Chuck

[Dick W.]

Re: C2 Vehicle History

Jim C.:


I'll keep everyone posted on my progress when I receive my NC-DMV envelope.

Good luck,
Roger (50141)

Roger, I had good luck with a car that I am hunting, but 0 results from Florida. My first Corvette was 100867S100313 which went to Fl in 1964

[Joseph E.]

Re: C2 Vehicle History

Roger,

If you know what town the car was purchased in by its 1987 owner it may be a good idea to post some "Information Wanted" ads in the major local newspapers. Perhaps someone who knew the car or its pre-1987 owner would see the ad and respond.
I did this with my '67 roadster. I ran an ad in the local papers where the car was sold and offered a reward for information provided. Several responses were received, one of which assisted in eventually locating the original owner who still lives in the same town where my '67 was delivered!
Oddly enough, the original owner neither saw nor responded to my ad even though he lives in the same town. I guess he doesn't read the paper too much! My search turned out to be fruitful and I hope yours does as well. Best of luck to you.

Joe
#45420

[Roger P.]

Re: C2 Vehicle History

Dick & Joe:
Dick, from what you're saying, I hope my car didn't make its way to Florida until I bought it last summer. Although it has spent at least 20 years in Maryland with 3 previous owners, I am hopeful that its short stay in North Carolina brings me positive results from their DMV (I am optimistic thanks to Ruud Zeller's experience with NC). If I don't get positive results, then I will try a few "information wanted" ads in the local MD newspapers as Dick had suggested (great idea with results!). This history search can certainly be frustrating at times, but it is very exciting and personally rewarding when you reach a previous owner -- it's pretty cool!! I'm actually glad my car didn't come with much history as I am enjoying this part of the hobby. The clues that were given to me with the stack of papers that I received with my car turned me into a jr. private investigator. It's hard to express the feeling I got when I located and spoke to two previous owners. Wow, it was quite an experience learning previously unknown work that was done to my car, swapping cruising stories, and sharing photographs (which I am anxious to receive once they go through their respective photo albums). Thanks for all your support.

Best regards,
Roger (50141)

[Jim C.]

Re: C2 Vehicle History

Thanks for the NICB info Chuck. Very interesting. Too bad we can't access it now. Jim C.

[Jim C.]

Re: C2 Vehicle History

Roger,

Thanks for the NICB information. It sounds like trying to find any info through the NICB will be a waste of time. I would like to know where my car was delivered to, because it might help me complete the 1966 - 1975 ownership history. However, NICB does not sound like a viable option. Jim C.

[Jim W.]

Re: C2 Vehicle History

I'm surprised you got anything from CA DMV. They must have changed their policy. I tried the same thing on my 66 and they said they said they couldn't release any info without a court order and sent my check back.

Well, it took a few trys. First time I sent a photocopy of the form. They sent it back a few weeks later with my $5 M/O attached saying they needed an original request form. So I used a color printer and started over. Then they sent it back stating that they needed the reason for the request filled out and I forgot to put my drivers license # on it that time. So after a third attempt I figured it would come back saying "sorry, no can do". But her it came with info stated above. They are just real picky about doting every i. So if anyone trys this read carefully and totally complete the form which is on their website. The reason I gave was that I was restoring a vintage antique for show and wanted as much owner history as possible including original dealer. I guess that didn't sound too invasive, or it landed on the right persons desk.