Trying to find our old '74
08-06-2010, 11:01 AM
#1
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Trying to find our old 1974 convertible. Brown/tan l82 4-spd TEXAS
My dad had a 1974 Corvette, that I was practically born in. He sold it probably around 2002-2004. I dont remember the exact year. The person who bought it, purchased it from us in Indy and had the car shipped down to Dallas/Fort Worth. If I remember correctly, he had a vast collection of Corvettes, and he was even talking about making a Corvette museum of some sort.
I remember that it was a 1974 Dark Brown convertible, 350 4sp. White top, tan leather, power windows. I know the original color was a lighter brown, and he he was planning on restoring it to it's original state. However, it would not have been difficult because it had barely over 20,000 original miles on it.
I have the VIN, but not sure on how to trace a car with the VIN.
I remember that it was a 1974 Dark Brown convertible, 350 4sp. White top, tan leather, power windows. I know the original color was a lighter brown, and he he was planning on restoring it to it's original state. However, it would not have been difficult because it had barely over 20,000 original miles on it.
I have the VIN, but not sure on how to trace a car with the VIN.
Last edited by MJKvette; 07-23-2015 at 11:23 AM.
08-06-2010, 11:36 AM
#3
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You could begin with the Texas DMV; they might be able to do a title search.
Good luck.
Good luck.
08-06-2010, 12:35 PM
#4
Melting Slicks
See if the vin is listed here:
http://www.c3registry.org/index.php?uid=4949
Click on Show Registry
Might be lucky.
http://www.c3registry.org/index.php?uid=4949
Click on Show Registry
Might be lucky.
08-06-2010, 08:50 PM
#5
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Google National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS).
Go to one of the links (the 123 links seems best to me).
Plug the VIN into the site. If that car is registered anywhere (recently registered), the site will report that it has a record of this motor vehicle.
Pay the fee to get the record, and it will tell you what state the car is currently registered in, as well as any historical info for that vehicle.
It will NOT give you any personal information about the owner, just that the car is currently registered.
You can then contact Corvette clubs in that area and see if someone knows the car.
Go to one of the links (the 123 links seems best to me).
Plug the VIN into the site. If that car is registered anywhere (recently registered), the site will report that it has a record of this motor vehicle.
Pay the fee to get the record, and it will tell you what state the car is currently registered in, as well as any historical info for that vehicle.
It will NOT give you any personal information about the owner, just that the car is currently registered.
You can then contact Corvette clubs in that area and see if someone knows the car.
08-07-2010, 11:39 AM
#7
See if the vin is listed here:
http://www.c3registry.org/index.php?uid=4949
Click on Show Registry
Might be lucky.
http://www.c3registry.org/index.php?uid=4949
Click on Show Registry
Might be lucky.
08-20-2010, 02:58 PM
#8
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Thread Starter
I did a little more research today.
I found some photos of the day the Corvette was shipped. My dad was holding up an article in one of the pictures from the Ft Worth Star Telegram newspaper.
I went to the newspaper archive... and searched for Corvette Museum. I was browsing until I came across a familiar name.
That's the guy that bought the car: Tony Parella!
I did some more hunting around... and came across a youtube video about his collection and story.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-t9QbzIvHw
He is on the video at around 4:45.
Hmm... did some morreeee looking... and found a Corvette Club newspaper article, that is much more recent.
Hm... no 1974... but it does say those cars were only part of his collection. This was from a newsletter that was dated February 2010.
Getting warmer!
I found some photos of the day the Corvette was shipped. My dad was holding up an article in one of the pictures from the Ft Worth Star Telegram newspaper.
I went to the newspaper archive... and searched for Corvette Museum. I was browsing until I came across a familiar name.
Gordon Dickson Star-Telegram Staff Writer
Plans for an American Corvette Museum to be built by Southlake residents Anthony and Maureen Parella received a glowing review from the Grapevine City Council, which unanimously approved a conditional-use application Tuesday. The $25 million shrine to the Chevrolet Corvette, scheduled to open in 2003 at Texas 121 and Arlington Grapevine Road, will include examples of every Corvette model manufactured since 1953, a 300-seat IMAX theater, a 1950s-theme restaurant and more conference space...
Published on 2000-09-21, Page 6, Fort Worth Star-Telegram (TX) "
Plans for an American Corvette Museum to be built by Southlake residents Anthony and Maureen Parella received a glowing review from the Grapevine City Council, which unanimously approved a conditional-use application Tuesday. The $25 million shrine to the Chevrolet Corvette, scheduled to open in 2003 at Texas 121 and Arlington Grapevine Road, will include examples of every Corvette model manufactured since 1953, a 300-seat IMAX theater, a 1950s-theme restaurant and more conference space...
Published on 2000-09-21, Page 6, Fort Worth Star-Telegram (TX) "
I did some more hunting around... and came across a youtube video about his collection and story.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-t9QbzIvHw
He is on the video at around 4:45.
Hmm... did some morreeee looking... and found a Corvette Club newspaper article, that is much more recent.
Tour of Tony Parella’s Museum
By Charles Whitaker
On a cold morning in January, 20 to 25 Corvette Club of Texas members met at Tony Parella’s museum in Southlake and Tony
treated to a tour of the museum. He collects and restores Harley-Davidson motorcycles and Corvettes and he showed us Corvettes for
every year since the
fi rst Corvette was produced in 1953 through 1971, a 1973 and a 1976 and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway 1978,
1986, 1995 and 1998 Pace Cars. That was 28 very nice Corvettes either like new or fully restored. He told me that these Corvettes are
only part of his collection.
By Charles Whitaker
On a cold morning in January, 20 to 25 Corvette Club of Texas members met at Tony Parella’s museum in Southlake and Tony
treated to a tour of the museum. He collects and restores Harley-Davidson motorcycles and Corvettes and he showed us Corvettes for
every year since the
fi rst Corvette was produced in 1953 through 1971, a 1973 and a 1976 and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway 1978,
1986, 1995 and 1998 Pace Cars. That was 28 very nice Corvettes either like new or fully restored. He told me that these Corvettes are
only part of his collection.
Getting warmer!
03-25-2012, 01:24 PM
#10
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... back from the dead.
I found Tony.
He sold the car about 6 years ago.
He said he remembers the car very well, as it came from a dealership from his home town in NY.
He's going to try and check his records, but he said it's a long shot.
I found Tony.
He sold the car about 6 years ago.
He said he remembers the car very well, as it came from a dealership from his home town in NY.
He's going to try and check his records, but he said it's a long shot.
03-25-2012, 02:05 PM
#11
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03-25-2012, 02:06 PM
#12
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03-25-2012, 02:18 PM
#13
Burning Brakes
Honestly Im surprised that you've done this well so far, and hopefully this guy comes up with something. Any other information that may come from "favors" puts you into issues of privacy protection.
I remember coming across some sort of c3 registry a while back where many people put the VIN number of their car onto the site....you might get lucky
I remember coming across some sort of c3 registry a while back where many people put the VIN number of their car onto the site....you might get lucky
03-25-2012, 03:40 PM
#14
Instructor
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07-22-2015, 03:21 PM
#15
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Back from the dead...
I haven't been working on this that much, but I was able to find the Vin#.
It was an L-82.
I recall my dad sold this before he bought his brand new 2000 coupe. So it must have been 1999.
Keep your eye out.
It's not in the registry.
Thanks
I haven't been working on this that much, but I was able to find the Vin#.
It was an L-82.
I recall my dad sold this before he bought his brand new 2000 coupe. So it must have been 1999.
Keep your eye out.
It's not in the registry.
Thanks
07-22-2015, 06:50 PM
#18
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Me too. I've been the most surprised by retired fellow LEO who call for stuff like that and basically ask you to risk your future. They know better.