Looking for my Dads old 67. Last seen in Ca mid 90s. Red.
 

Hey everybody. I am trying to track down my dads old 67 GTO. I'm hoping someone here on the forum might recognize the car or can provide any leads. I was about 12 or 13 yrs old at the time my dad sold it so it is hard to remember some details.

My father sold the car to a man named Ted Reynolds AKA Tall Ted (he was about 6'6") of Visalia, Ca. in the mid 90s somewhere between 93 - 94 I believe.

Mr. Reynolds sold the car to someone who supposedly totally restored the car to show condition. I may be wrong but I think he said the guy was from Detroit. Its been a long time so again I may be wrong.

My father and Mr. Reynolds are now sadly both deceased and can not help with my search.

The car was a original 4 speed car. No A/C. I don't think the car had power steering or brakes originally but could be wrong. I think the car was Red with black interior when new. I also think I remember my Dad telling me that the car was PHS documented and had a 400 HO when new. Again I might be mistaken.

Here is a picture of the car to show what the car looked like before it was restored and at the time of sale. I know its a long shot but hoping someone might know the car. Maybe if I'm REALLY lucky the owner will be a member of the forums...

Some unique features of this car before it was restored - The tail panel was painted satin black. My father hand painted a red pontiac indian head under the trunk key hole.. At the time he owned it the car was being used as a drag car. Had aluminum dash insert with aftermarket gauges. Only had one seat which of course was the drivers seat. Had monster tach mounted on the cowl.

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/d...z/DadsGTO1.jpg

Good luck finding it.

I have my dad's old '66 and do not plan on selling it ever. Fortunately it never left his garage for 24 years.

I'll echo what 6grrrs said about the good luck. This sale took place not too long ago, within 15 years or so, have you tried CaFax or some other search options? I know insurance agents have a database of insurance claims that go back pretty far, so maybe the car has been in a fender bender or something, check with your agent. With a real "restoration" possibly done, is there any chance the car is currently insured with one of the big classic car insureres? I don't know if they could ever help even if it was, privacy issues and all, never hurts to try.
One other long shot, contact a private detective, maybe for $500 or so, he could trace the vin and get an answer, maybe a little sketchy, but it may work.

Good luck,
Scott

I recently ordered a title history search on my Formula from the California DMV and got info on the cars previous owners from the mid '80's to present so if you just have the VIN, they will do a search for about $20-$30

Thanks guys. Unfortunatly I do not have the VIN at this time. I do have some of my dads old pontiac books. . He has notes scribbled down here and there. Maybe I can find the VIN somewhere.

I don't expect to find the car without knowing the VIN but still wanted to at least give it a shot..

Look for old insurance info in your dad's papers. V.I.N.s are usually noted on that sort of paperwork.

I looked thru what stuff I was able to find that used to belong to my Dad couldn't find the VIN anywhere.

I doubt PHS has any records of the people they sent PHS documents too and the car. Would be nice if they did..

Your innsurance company might have the vin on file still. How about a pic that shows the California black plate?

unfortunatly I don't think my dad ever had insurance on the car. It was never driven on the street and spent 99.9% of the time locked up in the garage... I have my mom on the case as well. She is looking for more pics of the car and try to run across any other info she might be able to come across.

Found somemore pictures taken at Famoso Raceway. One showing the old California Plate (SWF 169) Here ya go..

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/d...an_Pic0002.jpg

This one was to big for my scanner so the back of the car is cut off..

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/d...an_Pic0003.jpg

Very interesting.In 2001 I bought 2 1967 gtos from an area policeman in Visalia,Ca.He had a pecan farm and owned several gto's. The cars I bought had been setting the the field for several years and were in very bad shape. One car I restored and the other was used as a parts car. The parts car had the back taillight panel cut out and the passenger side crushed in. No motor,transmission or hood. The car was red with red interior. I may be able to find the VIN if you think that would help.

E-mail me at:[email protected]

Thanks for your reply Steve

I am doubtful that your red parts car is the same car but willing to check into it unless you can rule it out from the information I have given you..

Sent you a email..

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Did you use the license plate number at the DMV to try and get the vin?

Here in Ca I think the DMV drops a car from the system when it hasn't been registered for 5 yrs.. Its been to long there would be no record of it..

Here is a car I saw when buying some parts this spring. Guy said he bought it out of CA years ago. Was a factory HO 4-spd car. Red with black guts. I thought the tailpanel was blacked out but didn't take a rear pic when I was there. Race car with history. I should have saved his number..... probably not the car but it's close.

hmmm, makes me wonder

Interesting..

Very cool. As far as I know I have no vintage pictures of my car actually going down the track. I'm a little jealous...

Good luck in your search. It's a good looking car and I can appreciate your desire to find it.

K

Its been awhile. Back to the top once again.

I saw a '67 on ebay about 2 months ago that was identical to this one. It was back east, in New York or Pennsylvania. The odd thing was, it was an HO car, with a factory 3.90 gear, and manual everything. No power steering, brakes, etc. It was an original paint car, a real clean survivor. The odd thing is, the original build sheet and POP was posted, and the car was sold new in Delano, CA, which is between Visalia and Famoso. So this car obviously was ordered for and used for racing. It was super clean, and super solid. Was your car purchased in Delano? I wish I could remember the dealers name and the buyers name, because that was posted on the auction. I thought it was strange that a car local to me that I was interested in was all the way across the country!!

have you tried the various gto clubs are the area which you believe it in

Wow thats very interesting. To bad ebays completed auctions only go back a couple weeks :( I know the car was built in southern cal but not sure where it was sold.

No I havent but thats a good idea thanks.

here is an archive of the eBay auction referred to above by GeeTeeOhhGuy:

http://auto.localcarsale.net/?i=1967...item41696cf122

Hey thanks alot for that. :)

Def not the car but very nice looking for sure. looks to be very similiar optioned.

Back to the top.

10 years and it drops out of the computer in California.

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Are u a GTOAA member? If so u can look at the January roster issue which is sorted by state. U could contact folks in Minn. And maybe track it down and find out if the one GTO JOHN was talking about was your Dads. Only 12 or 13 k HO'S were made in 67. Even fewer were 4 speeds and how many red ones were moved from CA to the midwest and we're racers? Maybe GTO JOHN recalls where he saw it? would bet that was the car.