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Teej · 12-02-2011, 04:52 PM

I'd just like to find the original owner of my car but haven't had any luck. The DMV won't give me any information because of the privacy laws lately, and I'm kind of at a dead end. I have a copy of the previous title from the seller, it goes back to 68, but they bought it from a used car dealership in Tucson AZ so there is no 'name' on it or anyone that the previous owner might remember. That dealership is gone and its just an empty lot now...

So I was wondering if a PI would have access to the DMV database and be able to do a title search and if it would be worth it. My curiosity is just getting the better of me.... Has anyone had any luck with something like that and what it cost them? Or any other suggestions?

Keith Seymore · 12-02-2011, 06:43 PM

No - but I'm curious too.

I wonder what it would take to become a private investigator, so that a person could do their own investigations. I've always been interested in accident reconstruction/expert witness testimony, and there might be a tie in there as well.

K

242177P · 12-02-2011, 07:05 PM

My story is quite similar, history to '69. I could understand if it were a private sale, other than the name, they won't reveal any details of the dealership it was at back then. It wasn't from out of province, but they won't drop even a hint as to which municipality it was in. Trust me, the lady that did the check understood my objective and actually wanted to tell me, it was a risk she simply wasn't prepared to take. Commendable, but frustrating nonetheless.

Unless someone is willing to resort to bribery...

Teej · 12-02-2011, 07:19 PM

But could a PI get that info? Obviously I'd be paying them...

Ben M. · 12-02-2011, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teej

But could a PI get that info? Obviously I'd be paying them...

The biggest issue would be if they could still access the old paper records, as the chances of 43 year old DMV records being computer entered are not that high. I know California sometimes would have records in their archives and other times not, so there's no guarantee that even if you paid a PI they'd be any more successful at tracking down DMV records.

There's no harm in calling a few up and seeing if they'd try.

PonchoV8 · 12-02-2011, 10:20 PM

Jerry Sandusky used to own someone's car.

RAJ7395 · 12-02-2011, 10:35 PM

My 69 TA was originally sold in Cali.

So... if you find or here of a PI in Cali that can help recover information, Please let me know!

se1979ta · 12-02-2011, 11:34 PM

Older records may very well be on microfiche. As already mentioned, it's that access part that's difficult.

Formulabruce · 12-03-2011, 04:33 AM

Cash in the right hands in AZ will make it happen...My car was sold in NV ( Pat Clark Pontiac) but lived in AZ and was thinking about this myself, just a curiosity

ramairthreegto · 12-03-2011, 12:01 PM

I tried to get a VIN on a car my parents bought in 70/71 or so new off a lot, a 68 Daytona.
No information in our state even from people that were willing to look at records.
My Mom had an old friend that is P.I. look into it as a favor and the crumb trail is not there. Depending on where you are your mileage may vary.

The dealership is still there but a combination of a partial fire in the early 90s and going totally to computers in the late 90s did it in.

It is sad how much information from prior to the past few decades has been lost.

Although, so much information can be gathered and stored now there will probably be more problems with that.

242177P · 12-03-2011, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ramairthreegto

... a 69 Daytona.

Fixed it for you.

Shouldn't be too hard to find that car. Winged warrior fans seemingly know every one of those cars, and ones they don't know of intrigue them.

ramairthreegto · 12-03-2011, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 242177P

Fixed it for you.

Shouldn't be too hard to find that car. Winged warrior fans seemingly know every one of those cars, and ones they don't know of intrigue them.

Thanks, I think I know where it is.
Problem is, parents sold it around 76. No record of VIN that can be found in our possesion.

Only one car F6 with white stripe/interior auto 440 car went to our state.
That is the car in a guys mopar collection in GA. He bought it from someone that bought it from the town we sold it in.

But...
we did not buy that car from that dealership it went to.
We bought it from a dealership 3 hours or so away from there.
And the dealership we bought it from never received one.
It was bought new a year or two after it was made, with a couple of hundred miles of test drives on the odometer.

So,
I THINK I know where it is,
but don't have the VIN to prove it's the same car.

And as a guy that has about 17K into a NOM/converted from TH auto to Muncie 69 GTO nice driver, 5K into a 71 Javelin rough driver with original drivetrain, and 4K into a 74 Roadrunner yard driver that does not have the original motor, and consider myself lucky and happy,
let's just say that a restored Daytona is well out of my price range.

GTO JOHN · 12-04-2011, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ramairthreegto

I tried to get a VIN on a car my parents bought in 70/71 or so new off a lot, a 68 Daytona.
No information in our state even from people that were willing to look at records.
My Mom had an old friend that is P.I. look into it as a favor and the crumb trail is not there. Depending on where you are your mileage may vary.

The dealership is still there but a combination of a partial fire in the early 90s and going totally to computers in the late 90s did it in.

It is sad how much information from prior to the past few decades has been lost.

Although, so much information can be gathered and stored now there will probably be more problems with that.

Those F6 Green Daytonas with white interior are a dime a dozen.....

sdbob · 12-06-2011, 11:05 AM

A officer found a 74 SD 4spd for me. I had the block. Could't make the deal until a couple a mos. ago. then Igot a 74 SD for the block which was reunited with the car.

Don Keefe · 12-06-2011, 02:45 PM

Glad to see you are in Florida. My cousin, Russ Aloi is a private investigator and I have referred others to him for such jobs. Tell him I sent you and if anyone can do it, Russ can.

http://www.invex-investigations.net/...ions/Home.html

Teej · 12-06-2011, 04:53 PM

Thanks Don, I dropped them an e-mail and I'll let everyone know what I find out about the process.

Mr_GTO · 12-06-2011, 04:59 PM

Try a state title search. You might get lucky. My old man did a few times.

Teej · 12-06-2011, 05:08 PM

Any suggestions on how exactly to do a state title search? I've been searching by VIN or title number (on the previous titles) but haven't been able to find ANY records.

Teej · 12-06-2011, 05:10 PM

Oh, and I got a message back from the PI in FL.

"There was a time when that information was available, however, as you have found out it is no longer available. I do not have a search capability which would provide that any longer. My work is mainly in the criminal and civil investigations, and I hope you don't need my services in either area!
Good Luck"

Not sure what he means by the info is no longer available.. Whether that means that he doesn't have access or it was destroyed or what... Either way it doesn't sound promising.

Don Keefe · 12-06-2011, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teej

Oh, and I got a message back from the PI in FL.

"There was a time when that information was available, however, as you have found out it is no longer available. I do not have a search capability which would provide that any longer. My work is mainly in the criminal and civil investigations, and I hope you don't need my services in either area!
Good Luck"

Not sure what he means by the info is no longer available.. Whether that means that he doesn't have access or it was destroyed or what... Either way it doesn't sound promising.

The state must have limited access in some way- it used to be possible in Florida.

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