thp427

I think it would be a great gift to my Dad if I could buy him a Corvette like he used to have. He sold it while in college once my brother came along (they didn't mind holding one child on Mom's lap, but two was too many.) While he talks about the car, he is way too frugal to actually buy one.

What would be particularly neat is if I could buy the SAME CAR he used to have. Problem is, he doesn't have the VIN or any info on who bought it. Any ideas here?

Here is what I do know: '63 convertible, silver blue color with black interior and a 4 speed. Had a '65 365 HP engine and 3.70 gears.

Sold in Ames, Iowa in spring of 1972 for $1200.

Any chance anyone here has the car -- or a way to track it down? Already checked with his old insurance company, and they don't keep records with the VIN that long.

sub006

Pretty mom, nice '66 caps, what more could a man need? A station wagon, I guess!

He didn't save a registration copy or DMV bill somewhere?

Heck, if you found the car it'd likely cost at least 30 times more than he sold it for! Drive it first, sometimes the memories are sweetened over the years.

65hihp

The good news is that it should not be too terribly difficult to buy a car all but identical to the one in your photo and for a very good price. It is a buyer's market and I bet you will find a few 63s matching that description if you search Hemmings and other on-line ads. It would be a needle in a haystack to find the exact same car, but since no one knows what the VIN was on Dad's car, who is to say the one you ultimately find is NOT the one he once had?
Get busy with your search, and good luck.

ps- one place to start is by listing your specs and photo in the C1& C2 Cars for Sale/ Wanted Forum

amtronic1

This would be a great place for that NCRS VIN offer to be useful -- to be able to do a search on the database for all '63s sold in that area.

mstanton

I went through the same thing with my Dad's 65. No VIN. No luck with DMV, insurance, or county tax records. I searched the house looking for documents that might have the VIN. I found orginal dealer brochure, lapel pin and patch, boxes of Corvette News, and even canceled checks that were used to make the payments on the car but nothing with the VIN.

65hihp

I don't think too many people knew or cared what a VIN was back then.
The cars serial number. Who cared about that back in the 60s? You might know what your license tag said, but beyond that, huh? Not important.
It's a little different now....

thp427

Yeah,
I don't really expect to find it -- but it would sure be neat if someone saw the posting and recognized (or was the buyer 30 years ago) of the car.

LSUvetteguy

I would start by running an ad in the Ames newspaper. "Does anyone remember this car?" Couldn't hurt. M2C

sub006

And offer a cash reward for information leading to it!

gilbybarr

Is it possible he financed anything on it? The bank might still have his loan paperwork. I found a loan form on my old '68 coupe which I had 35 years ago.....the VIN is on it. Other than that, I have nothing to ID the car either. Good luck.....but as noted above, you can buy another close one that would serve the same purpose.

vett67@gmail.com

I am trying to do the same thing for a 1967 Corvette I bought new. I will let you know if I can find a way to locate mine. Ask that you do the same for me if you determine how.

RK-TECT

Here's a suggestion that might work... the DMV in Iowa might have records that date back to 1972 or before. Although there are now privacy laws, he was the original owner and sold the car to the second owner. If they have the records on microfilm, he should be entitled to a copy of whatever they have on file for a nominal fee; usually the title and registration. The VIN will definitely be on those documents. You can go to their website or contact them for a copy of the application form. I was lucky in another state and had a similar experience getting records for my '65 back to 1972 (transfer from original owner to second owner)! Once you have the VIN, you can check the C2 Registry online and you may just get lucky, too

Revfan

It might be easiest to find a similar car... since you don't know the VIN

Here are some
http://inv.idealclassiccars.net/view...in-Sarasota-FL $46K ask


63 Silver Blue $49K Ask
http://www.cars-on-line.com/58134.html


Best of luck, and keep us posted!

Revfan

If those prices scared you off... here is one for $33K Ask
http://classicauto-showplace.com/node/13673

Frankie the Fink

There are a bunch of classic car dealers in Sarasota, FL and you have to be REAL careful with those outfits. I passed on a Z-28 at one of them with a NOM passed off as completely original and looked at several C2s (including a SWC) at some others and they were overpriced junk.