I'm not sure if anyone on here has the resources or knows someone with the resources to help me, but I thought I would give it a try. I have been searching down my dad's old 1973 corvette convertible for the last several years. He bought the car new in '73 and sold it in '84 after he decided the family should come first. He still has a picture of it sitting on his desk in his office and I've always known what that car meant to him. I just didn't realize how much until I bought my car and noticed that fire in his eyes i've never seen before as he was driving it. I have been trying to find the car so I can be first in line to buy it back if it ever goes for sale. Here's my problem. The car has a 13 digit vin number, so the modern searches don't recognize it. I finally was able to talk the lady at the bmv into running the vin to see if it was still registered and it was. She was not allowed to give me any information as to where the car was located. Does anyone know a way to search this car down? Also, I'm assuming several of you guys belong to a corvette club and attend the local meets. If anyone knows of a '73 corvette convertible that is dark blue with a white soft top and/or a black hard top (assuming it is still that color), I would love to know if it is around here. The car was bought in Indiana and was registered in this state until at least '84. Any help would be appreciated. I would just like to be able to find it so I can show my dad how much I appreciate all he has done for me to make me who I am today. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know.

thanks,
Bob

 

Bob:

First of all, I think it is a great thing that you are attempting to do this for your Dad. You obviously have his genes. You may want to start here: http://www.c3registry.org/

Also, you mentioned that you spoke to a person at the dmv who was able to tell you that the car is still registered? I'm assuming that was someone at the Indiana DMV. I suspect that your state DMV would only be able to tell you about registrations in that particular state and not for vehicles where the title was transfered out of State. That's a guess on my part but you might want to confirm that as it would make your search easier.

I'm thinking the owner of a 1973 may be active in the Corvette Community. I'd start by focusing on the largest Corvette clubs in your State. Some may have C3 subsection.

Anything else you may remember about the car would be helpful as well. For instance, did it have an automatic or manual transmission? Do you recall the color of the interior (options were black, midnight blue, dark red, medium saddle, dark saddle), etc.

Good Luck!

 

local and statewide Corv clubs as mentioned above, and the one that owner might be a part of as well: ncrs in ohio. national, w. chapters.

 

thanks for the tips. I will start looking into these clubs.

 

Depending on your state you may be able to go to your dmv and fill out a form assuming you have the vin number. For a fee dmv contacts the owner with your info and if the owner wishes to contact you they may.

 

Maybe a last resort.......most private investigators can get and disseminate DMV registration info. I don't think it costs very much and of course the laws in each state vary but might be worth a try. Good luck.

 

I realize that your motives are completely honest but I must say that I hope this can't be done, at least not easily. From a privacy standpoint, the last thing I would want is the former owner of my car snooping around and trying to contact me. If it can be found through the forum or some Corvette club, not so bad...but the idea of the DMV giving out any info on my car bothers me alot.

 

It's possible for sure. You may have seen a Chevy commercial a year or so ago where the son went on a mission to find his dad's '65 Impala SS. The son in the commercial is a friend of mine; an ophthalmologist in Fountain Valley, Ca. His dad sold the car to help put his son through medical school. You are doing EXACTLY the same thing he did for his dad. I think that is one of the coolest things a son can do! He ended up finding the car in Canada. He also didn't tell the guy he bought it from that it had family history...the price would have sky rocketed! Here's the video:

 

You can go on the FAA website, type in the registration number of ANY airplane and find the address of the owner. Easy as that. I do hope he finds his dad's car. There are a few decent people in this world that don't have evil motives but rather extraordinarily good ones.