Just out of curiosity I went to BeenVerified and typed in the VIN for my 1966 Vette. It came back with:

Is there any possible way they can identify my car as an original L72? (Which I don't think it is.)

 

Sorry, no.

 

I didn't think so.

 

All the vin tells you is it's made by Chevy, coupe or convertible the year. Where it was assembled and when

 

They can’t even spell “Sting Ray,” so…

 

If you have the original protecto plate it will have the vin# on it that matches your vin on your vin tag. It will also have the engine, transmission and differential codes. If the engine code has "IPH" on the end of it. It's a real L72. (That's my understanding anyway.)

 

If you only used them for this one search and you don't have a continuous subscription, make sure you cancel the account. They have it set up so they will continue to ding your CC or PP account if you don't stop them. I forgot and two months later I caught it. I got a refund for the 3rd month, but not the 1st or 2nd. I was in such a hurry to contact previous owners I forgot to read the fine print.

On my car, I found the last three owners (back to the restoration in 2010), but the 1st is now a widow (restorer has passed) and will not communicate, the other is a car guy in Overland Park, KS, but he won't respond to emails of calls either and the final owner from 2013 until 2022. The last owner responds, but didn't know much and he ran into a wall trying to find out the previous owners too.

So, it was a two edged sword. Found owner history, but little on the restoration or history of the car. Such is life.

 

whaaaat!

 

I'm not sure what that last reply was all about! Seems misplaced.

Edit: Evidently you're talking about subscribing to BernVerified. No I didn't do that. I just typed in my VIN. I didn't subscribe to their service - and wouldn't.

 

Isn't the thousand dollar question as to using our "shorter", non 17 digit serial numbers? I thought this was not possible

 

Ok, guys let me give you a little background. I'll be 75 next month. I've loved Corvettes since I was 8. I got married when I was 19. By the time I was 22 I had 2 kids. Then life happened. At age 68 I was retired and the kids were grown and gone. I told my wife I wanted a Corvette. She said, "You don't need a Corvette." I said, "No one on God's green Earth needs a Corvette. It's not a need it's a want." I went looking. I looked at a dozen and almost bought 2 or 3. I was torn between a C2 or a C6. I decided a C2 would be much more expensive and more work to maintain. I decided on a C6 and knew I wanted a wide body. I found my '12 Grand Sport 4LT with 12,800 miles on it on the forum and drove the 400 miles to Savannah Ga in a rental car and drove it home. I simply love that car and will never sell it. I still stay in touch with the previous owner. He has a new C8. A month ago my brother (who is in poor health) gave me his 1966 4-speed roadster. It's been sitting inside for years. I went to Georgia again and trailered it back to Florida. It needs everything. I know absolutely nothing about C2 Corvettes except I love them. I've been following a thread about the member doing his own frame off restoration of his '64. That is way over my head. I will restore this '66 and put it back on the road. I'll pay for much of the work. But, I will come to the forum on a regular basis and ask some stupid questions, like can you determine the engine from the VIN. Thanks for any help. I'm looking forward to the journey. (BTW, I have 10 other old Chevys from 1932 to 1966, some national award winners).

 

it wasn't until 1972 that GM put a place letter in the vin for the engine type. so anything else before that is guess. some more correct than others. just think of your car as a base 327/300 3 speed until otherwise proven different

 

Yes Olsarge, I was talking about paying for the "been verified" service. I wanted to know all the previous title owners they could find, including photo copies of BofS and titles, so it cost $19.00, but it was worth it to me, as I confirmed what I was told by selling dealer and I found 2 additional owners in the chain as well.

My mistake was not reading the fine print that I had to cancel the service within 7 days or they would continue to bill me and I could use the service for as long as I paid. I I expect if you were a dealer or did a lot of buying and selling of used cars, then having their subscription would be great.

 

I understand. Sorry, I misread your first post. From your experience how accurate are their searches. Do they go back to day one on a 1966 car. That would certainly be interesting information and probably worth the $19. Thanks for the info.

 

They are only as accurate as the info previous owners provided. One of your car’s previous owners seems to have failed.

 

Yes, Factoid is correct. The history information is only as good as the info recorded.

And, if certain states only keep title records for a decade or two (tossed when they went digital or ???), any previous history is lost to time. I was able to go back to 2010 only. The car was supposedly restored by a gentleman in a small town in Texas, when he died his widow sold the car to a fellow in OP, KS in 2010. That fellow traded it to Hendrick Chevrolet in OP, KS and had it on the showroom floor for several months, until selling to a fellow in SD. The OP, KS. owner (2010-2013) most likely knows a lot more about my car than I do, but he wouldn't respond. I may try to seek him out again. it's been a year.