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Looking for Dads Vette

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Old Jun 18, 2022 | 05:27 PM
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Default Looking for Dads Vette

Hi,
I'm totally new, so im sorry if im in the wrong place, but I need help finding my dads car. My dad (Rob Limbaugh) passed away suddenly December 17 2021 and after finding out that he was looking for it again before he died, that sealed it for me. I have to find it. It was a flame red, 1999 hard top. My trail ended with its last owner being in Arkansas City, Kansas. I have the vin# 1G1YY12G8X5120095...but Kansas DMV has made it very clear that obtaining records for this reason is totally illegal, and although tempting, dad wouldn't want me to do anything illegal, so now I've hit a wall. Any ideas? I just want the owner to know that if he ever wants to sell it, I'd like a chance to get it back. Thank you

Last edited by RedVetteJr; Jun 18, 2022 at 09:12 PM.
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Old Jun 18, 2022 | 06:07 PM
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Maybe try running a Carfax on the VIIN and see if a recent service shows up. If so, perhaps the business would be willing to pass along your interest to the current owner.
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Old Jun 18, 2022 | 06:09 PM
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Download the "VIN Check Report for Used Cars" It's free and has ad's but it's what I used to track where my car went after I traded it in to a dealer. Think Carfax but you don't have to pay. Ended up a few states away. Sounds like you already know where it is so I guess that wouldn't be too much help but good luck on your search!
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Old Jun 18, 2022 | 06:10 PM
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Posing here is a good start, maybe the owner is a member. I searched that VIN and came up empty.
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Old Jun 18, 2022 | 08:49 PM
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Thank you everyone. People keep telling me to let it go, and I know that logically it makes absolutely no sense to want a 23 year old car that I know first hand has earned her zillion miles, but if any group is going to understand how much a car can be so much more than a car....its this group.
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Old Jun 18, 2022 | 08:51 PM
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Default Thats Her


Thats me in my dads car, about to surprise him with it 1500 miles away. He sold it to be "practical" but thankfully Im not practical, so I got it back for him as a surprise. It was the most terrifying drive of my life, but the look on his face was priceless. He sold it again a few years back to be "practical" again, and when he passed away his wife told me he was looking for it again. I have to find it
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Old Jun 18, 2022 | 08:55 PM
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Originally Posted by RedVetteJr
Hi,
I'm totally new, so im sorry if im in the wrong place, but I need help finding my dads car. My dad (Rob Limbaugh) passed away suddenly December 17 2021 and after finding out that he was looking for it again before he died, that sealed it for me. I have to find it. It was a flame red, 1999 hard top. My trail ended with its last owner being in Arkansas City, Kansas. I have the vin# 1G1YY1ZG8X5120095...but Kansas DMV has made it very clear that obtaining records for this reason is totally illegal, and although tempting, dad wouldn't want me to do anything illegal, so now I've hit a wall. Any ideas? I just want the owner to know that if he ever wants to sell it, I'd like a chance to get it back. Thank you
that vin is invalid. please double check, and re post
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Old Jun 18, 2022 | 08:58 PM
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That VIN shows invalid on https://www.vehiclehistory.com/

Can you double check the VIN?
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Old Jun 18, 2022 | 09:09 PM
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Thats from 2 owners ago, I probably typed something wrong.
I did, its a 2, not a Z.....oops
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Old Jun 18, 2022 | 09:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Speedrat
That VIN shows invalid on https://www.vehiclehistory.com/

Can you double check the VIN?
just said that too lol. OP if you don't have correct VIN ....also post the plate# and state
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Old Jun 18, 2022 | 09:12 PM
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Originally Posted by RedVetteJr

Thats from 2 owners ago, I probably typed something wrong.
I did, its a 2, not a Z.....oops
last shown service5/22/2018, vance chevrolet, 1601 N Main St, Miami, OK 74354 ....could still be in OK
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Old Jun 18, 2022 | 09:29 PM
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Last titled in Kansas.



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Old Jun 18, 2022 | 09:53 PM
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Originally Posted by slothman
last shown service5/22/2018, vance chevrolet, 1601 N Main St, Miami, OK 74354 ....could still be in OK
It was sold to someone in Arkansas City Kansas, but they couldn't remember the name or any other details, and I found a VIN lookup website that has it registered in Kansas, but of course the owners info is private, so that's where my trail ended.
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Old Jun 18, 2022 | 09:58 PM
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Originally Posted by ThomasR
Last titled in Kansas.


oh wow....8 owners? I thought it was 5....and I thought 5 was a lot. Even more reason to find the owner before it goes to the double digits and I never see it again. I don't get it, my dad ordered it in 98, and went to pick it up with like 3 miles on it. He had it until just a few years ago. I wonder why she's been passed around so much? Anyway, I hope I'm her last home.
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Old Jun 19, 2022 | 01:23 AM
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Best of luck in trying to track down your Dad's C5.
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Old Jun 19, 2022 | 01:53 AM
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The links below will help you understand some of the obstacles, and perhaps a resource or two.

Evidently, private investigators are exempt from dmv privacy law. That may be a viable route to take.


https://www.carvertical.com/landing/...nts&b=14f83321

https://cartreatments.com/find-a-car...viously-owned/

http://www.the-lost-car-registry.com/resources.php
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Old Jun 19, 2022 | 06:38 PM
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If you know the town /city , state search Corvette Clubs in that area. Try emailing club regarding Corvette giving them the vin number and state what your trying to do and why . Maybe they will read off email at monthly meeting and someone will recognize or own the car.

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Old Jun 20, 2022 | 09:33 PM
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It may not be the correct number of owners. Sometimes the info has a double or more entry.. Here are previous posts:

Car fax said my vette had 3 owners, but it was the same owner who had been transferred to each adjoining state 3 times. (CF member Ttiros) - Same here (CF member Draft1)Military people who transfer might be listed as a new owner whenever they register their cars in a new state. (FC member Studying4boards)

Depending on how it's reported, a dealer can be considered an owner.
From that perspective, the second person to buy buy the car is the 3rd owner...or 4th, if you count gm/dealer who had possession prior to the initial sale. May depend on the state and privacy laws.
If the dealers does not hold/sit on the signed over title, and instead process it thu DMV, then the dealer becomes the owner.
On resale, title is transferred again.
This would show 3 title transfers/3 owners.
Costs the dealer a bit more, but title is guaranteed clean, and no previous owner info is shown.
Cheaper for the dealer, and has only 2 recorded title transfers:
On trade, seller signs the title, dealer simply holds it until resale, then either submits paperwork to dmv on behalf of the new owner, or makes the new owner do so.
The latter is easier for the dealer, but provides the new owner with the name/address of the previous owner, which may violate privacy laws in some states.(CF member AJ98)
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Old Jun 21, 2022 | 01:42 AM
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Originally Posted by laurent_zo6
It may not be the correct number of owners. Sometimes the info has a double or more entry.. Here are previous posts:

Car fax said my vette had 3 owners, but it was the same owner who had been transferred to each adjoining state 3 times. (CF member Ttiros) - Same here (CF member Draft1)Military people who transfer might be listed as a new owner whenever they register their cars in a new state. (FC member Studying4boards)

Depending on how it's reported, a dealer can be considered an owner.
From that perspective, the second person to buy buy the car is the 3rd owner...or 4th, if you count gm/dealer who had possession prior to the initial sale. May depend on the state and privacy laws.
If the dealers does not hold/sit on the signed over title, and instead process it thu DMV, then the dealer becomes the owner.
On resale, title is transferred again.
This would show 3 title transfers/3 owners.
Costs the dealer a bit more, but title is guaranteed clean, and no previous owner info is shown.
Cheaper for the dealer, and has only 2 recorded title transfers:
On trade, seller signs the title, dealer simply holds it until resale, then either submits paperwork to dmv on behalf of the new owner, or makes the new owner do so.
The latter is easier for the dealer, but provides the new owner with the name/address of the previous owner, which may violate privacy laws in some states.(CF member AJ98)
I think its 5 owners, my dad was first....right off the line in 99, then he sold it to my grandpa to make ends meet. Then I bought it back from my grandpa and gave it back to dad for his birthday, then dad sold it to a Co worker, who sold it to someone, who sold it to someone I actually talked to and they said they sold it to someone in Ark City Kentucky in Dec 2020. They gave me the vin but couldn't remember the name . I honestly don't know what I'd be able to do if I found it...what's good but bad for me right now is how much vettes hold their value. So randomly buying a corvette will be tricky, but I just want to know she's safe, and I'll do everything I can to get her back someday if I can.
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Old Jun 21, 2022 | 01:59 AM
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Have you spoken with a private investigator? They are exempt from the dmv privacy laws and are allowed to get the owner info…










Last edited by vette4fl; Jun 21, 2022 at 02:00 PM.
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