Mystery Owner And A Christmas Miracle (i Hope) - NCRS Discussion Boards

Mystery Owner And A Christmas Miracle (i Hope)

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  • Mark S.
    Expired
    • December 17, 2010
    • 38

    Mystery Owner And A Christmas Miracle (i Hope)

    Dear Santa,

    I have been good all year and the thing I'd like most for Christmas is to find out the name of the original owner of my 1964 Corvette convertible, which is a bit of an odd duck. It is Satin Silver with black interior, 250hp, 3-speed manual and a white convertible top. Since it's a base model, I understand that it isn't the most desirable 'Vette in the world, but it's my first and means the world to me.

    You see, Santa, I bought my car in 2004 and one of the first things I did was try to trace back the car's ownership history through various Motor Vehicle Departments. I was able to go as far back as 1981, at which time a man from Maryland, Bob Kells, purchased what would later become my car. I was lucky enough to speak with him on the phone and he couldn't have been nicer, telling me stories about his and his wife's travels in the car, and even sending photos of the car when he owned it. During our phone conversation he told me that he purchased the car from a collector in the Haymarket, VA area, but he couldn't remember the man's name. He described the man's car collection as a "huge Corvette farm of sorts", and said that as far as he knew, this collector had owned the car since it was about a year old or so, until 1981 when Mr. Kells bought it from him. In fact, when I spoke with Virginia Dept. of Motor Vehicles, they couldn't give me specific information, but they did say tha the car was in Virginia for a "loooong time", as far as they could see back in the records.

    Is there anyone familiar with the Virginia area who might know who this "collector" was that may have been the original owner of my car? Finding out this last bit of ownership history sure would make my Christmas!!!

    I have ordered the Shipping Information from NCRS, and am anxiously awaiting the information concerning the dealership to which it was delivered, but any info on the possible original owner would be greatly appreciated, if anyone has any info.

    Thanks in advance for any info anyone might be able to provide, and Happy Holidays to all.

    Mark
  • Mike M.
    NCRS Past President
    • May 31, 1974
    • 8376

    #2
    Re: Mystery Owner And A Christmas Miracle (i Hope)

    contact chuck berge, who lives in or near haymarket. also contact don larue and brooks cooper who live in no va. chuck is the 68-72 team leader and his contact info is on page 2 of the Restorer mag. he may have contact info for the other two MAC members.good luck,mike

    Comment

    • Mark S.
      Expired
      • December 17, 2010
      • 38

      #3
      Re: Mystery Owner And A Christmas Miracle (i Hope)

      Thanks Mike! I have tried to contact Chuck in the past with no reply.

      Comment

      • Tom H.
        Extremely Frequent Poster
        • December 1, 1993
        • 3440

        #4
        Re: Mystery Owner And A Christmas Miracle (i Hope)

        Have you obtained the NCRS delivery data to identify the original selling dealer? That fact is often an important clue. It also can open many doors in the search. Not always successful, but you get a place to start !
        Tom Hendricks
        Proud Member NCRS #23758
        NCM Founding Member # 1143
        Corvette Department Manager and
        Specialist for 27 years at BUDS Chevrolet.

        Comment

        • Mark S.
          Expired
          • December 17, 2010
          • 38

          #5
          Re: Mystery Owner And A Christmas Miracle (i Hope)

          Hi Tom! Yes I am in the process of getting the delivery data. I think it will be great to have. I am not sure I will find out the past owners but will sure try like heck! Like I say when talking with VA DMV the girl told me the car was reregistered in VA as far as she could see on the computer. That makes sense with what the last owner I was able to contact had told me. Darn privacy laws.....I guess there in place for a reason.
          Happy Holidays to all and thanks for reading my post!

          Comment

          • Tom H.
            Extremely Frequent Poster
            • December 1, 1993
            • 3440

            #6
            Re: Mystery Owner And A Christmas Miracle (i Hope)

            When you get your delivery info, post the info here. I will try to get you some contact info from the original dealer. I'm sure others here will chip in and try to help too !!
            Tom Hendricks
            Proud Member NCRS #23758
            NCM Founding Member # 1143
            Corvette Department Manager and
            Specialist for 27 years at BUDS Chevrolet.

            Comment

            • James G.
              Extremely Frequent Poster
              • May 31, 1976
              • 1556

              #7
              Re: Mystery Owner And A Christmas Miracle (i Hope)

              Mark, you have mail with CHUCK'S phone numbers. He lives in HAYMARKET, VA and has been a Corvette collector forever
              Over 80 Corvettes of fun ! Love Rochester Fuel Injection 57-65 cars. Love CORVETTE RACE CARS
              Co-Founder REGISTRY OF CORVETTE RACE CARS.COM

              Comment

              • Mark S.
                Expired
                • December 17, 2010
                • 38

                #8
                Re: Mystery Owner And A Christmas Miracle (i Hope)

                James --

                I have been able to find Chuck's address and sent him an email. He replied, and I just sent him the details of the info I'm looking for.

                Fingers crossed and thank you!!!!

                Mark

                Comment

                • Ronald L.
                  Extremely Frequent Poster
                  • October 18, 2009
                  • 3248

                  #9
                  Re: Mystery Owner And A Christmas Miracle (i Hope)

                  This was a very good way of getting a history search back on the main stream board. Anymore thoughts that its time to combine these as we only have one board that carries the traffic???

                  Comment

                  • Chuck G.
                    Extremely Frequent Poster
                    • May 31, 1982
                    • 2030

                    #10
                    Re: Mystery Owner And A Christmas Miracle (i Hope)

                    As soon as I read your post, I IMMEDIATELY thought of Chuck Berge.

                    Chuck has a large Corvette biz in Haymarket. I've been to his place many times.

                    He's a great guy. Surprised you've had trouble contacting him.

                    Chuck
                    1963 Corvette Conv. 327/360 NCRS Top Flight
                    2006 Corvette Conv. Velocity Yellow NCRS Top Flight
                    1956 Chevy Sedan. 350/4 Speed Hot Rod

                    Comment

                    • Mark S.
                      Expired
                      • December 17, 2010
                      • 38

                      #11
                      Re: Mystery Owner And A Christmas Miracle (i Hope)

                      Shot him an email last night. Got a reply asking how he can help. Explained what I had for info. I am sure he is busy so at some point, I hope to hear back from him. The other thing I could try again is calling VA DMV and asking one more time for the info, but it maybe useless due to the privacy laws in place. Any other ideas from others that have tried the DMV route?
                      Thanks!

                      Comment

                      • Mark S.
                        Expired
                        • December 17, 2010
                        • 38

                        #12
                        Re: Mystery Owner And A Christmas Miracle (i Hope)

                        UPDATE!
                        I shared several emails with a wonderful person from the VA DMV. They could not tell me names of past owners, but they did tell me my car was registered in VA from 1967-1993! They also told me the car had a Iowa title at the time it entered VA. I guess my Christmas miracle has happened! Just waiting on the shipping report to confirm. I may never know the Mystery owner from VA but to that person thank you for preserving my car and it will be well cared for!

                        Comment

                        • Brian M.
                          Extremely Frequent Poster
                          • February 1, 1997
                          • 1838

                          #13
                          Re: Mystery Owner And A Christmas Miracle (i Hope)

                          My DMV search in VA produced paperwork that had names blacked out, I was able to read the name thru the blackout.
                          Originally posted by Mark Stahl (52574)
                          UPDATE!
                          I shared several emails with a wonderful person from the VA DMV. They could not tell me names of past owners, but they did tell me my car was registered in VA from 1967-1993! They also told me the car had a Iowa title at the time it entered VA. I guess my Christmas miracle has happened! Just waiting on the shipping report to confirm. I may never know the Mystery owner from VA but to that person thank you for preserving my car and it will be well cared for!

                          Comment

                          • Ronald L.
                            Extremely Frequent Poster
                            • October 18, 2009
                            • 3248

                            #14
                            Re: Mystery Owner And A Christmas Miracle (i Hope)

                            Anyone have any luck with PA DMV???

                            They have the records in underground storage.

                            Comment

                            • Chuck G.
                              Extremely Frequent Poster
                              • May 31, 1982
                              • 2030

                              #15
                              Re: Mystery Owner And A Christmas Miracle (i Hope)

                              Link to Chuck Berge's biz, Still Cruisin' Corvettes



                              MANY years ago, probably in the 80's, I tried to get info from PA DMV with no luck.

                              The privacy laws really prevent them from giving info, even if they had access to it, and even if you're willing to pay for it.

                              Chuck
                              1963 Corvette Conv. 327/360 NCRS Top Flight
                              2006 Corvette Conv. Velocity Yellow NCRS Top Flight
                              1956 Chevy Sedan. 350/4 Speed Hot Rod

                              Comment

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