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Getting sentimental, and a research question

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Old Apr 2, 2013 | 09:11 AM
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Default Getting sentimental, and a research question

I recently put a rebuilt engine and tranny (original units) in my 1980 with the help of one of my college buddies. One of the songs that he pulled up on his Ipod while we were working was "Riding with Private Malone." The line 'this car was a dream of mine, now it belongs to you' really struck me. I think that one of the things that makes Vette's special is the fact that they ARE dreams. Nobody says, "Oh, I need a car... I guess I'll buy a Corvette." They are cars that people love. People work, and save, and search and finally if they really want a Corvette they get one, whether it's new or used. I was thinking, I am restoring something that was somebody's dream. And then it was someone else's dream. And now it's my dream. My fiancé wants the car after we get married and told me I can buy another one (my favorite year is '69) after I finish this one and give it to her after we are married. So one day it will be her dream. I thought, how cool is that. I was wondering if there is a way that I could run the VIN number on the car to find out who originally purchased it. I thought if they were still alive it might be neat to try to get in touch with them and maybe send them some pictures of the their former / my Vette. Thoughts?
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Old Apr 2, 2013 | 09:27 AM
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Originally Posted by 1980Guy
I was wondering if there is a way that I could run the VIN number on the car to find out who originally purchased it...
Probably not. Do you have any original factory documentation with the car which might list previous owners?

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Old Apr 2, 2013 | 11:09 AM
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Originally Posted by 1980Guy
I was wondering if there is a way that I could run the VIN number on the car to find out who originally purchased it.
Yes there is. Try here first. Not a guarantee but it's worth a try. If that doesn't work, try and back-track through previous sellers one at a time. There's another post on here where a gentleman traced his 68 all the way back to the original owner by putting forth a whole lot of effort but in the end he was able to do it. In fact I was contacted by a later owner of a 78 that I once owned who was doing that very thing. I don't know if he ever made it to the end but I was able to do my part and tell him who I purchased it from (neighborhood friend) and that person did the same when that same owner contacted him.

Terry

http://www.c3registry.org/index.php?uid=4432
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Old Apr 2, 2013 | 02:30 PM
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There's a company that will track down the ownership history of your car for you, I can't remember their name. I had it booked mark on my computer at home but it recently crashed and I haven't taken the time to recover my data off of it yet...
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Old Apr 2, 2013 | 03:32 PM
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Thanks for the info, guys! I actually have tried to search for the gentleman I bought the car from. I can't seem to find him and I lost his email address years ago. His name is Brent and he is from the Indianapolis area. He sold me mine to finance a restoration on a '71. Mine is by no means a show car. The seats are torn, the dash has two cracks in it, the tach doesn't work, etc. She is still a blast to drive though and she still turns heads. When I get it fixed up I would like to send some pictures to the original owner and find out who originally ordered my car.
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Old Apr 2, 2013 | 03:32 PM
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I got lucky and in the paperwork I got with the car were some service records with the original owns name on it in California. I took a shot and looked him up. I was not sure if he would be happy that I am modifying it, but it turns out he is happy that his dream car is now mine. We keep in touch and I send him pictures. I am glad that it worked out that way.
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Old Apr 2, 2013 | 09:59 PM
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Originally Posted by brent319
I got lucky and in the paperwork I got with the car were some service records with the original owns name on it in California. I took a shot and looked him up. I was not sure if he would be happy that I am modifying it, but it turns out he is happy that his dream car is now mine. We keep in touch and I send him pictures. I am glad that it worked out that way.
That is too cool. That's what I would like to try and do.
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