Tips for locating the history of your vintage ride
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Tracing the history of a classic car can be a frustrating task, but here are a few quick tips so you can get the most information about your vehicle as possible.
Contact the experts
This one is tough because it is not available for all makes and models. Pontiac owners have it pretty good, considering the Pontiac Historical Society maintains records that can be accessed by providing a VIN and $75. Chevrolet owners are not as fortunate, as many of the muscle-car era documents were lost to a fire.
Google the VIN
20180426175934 "1987 Porsche 959 Komfort VIN plate")
A quick online search can reveal previous sale listings, allowing you to find contact for the person selling the car who can potentially have more info about the car’s past.
Using online tools to decode a VIN can also assist your search by telling you specifics about the car. For example, where it was built or any odd or interesting options can help narrow down a search area or make your car stand out from a larger number produced.
Join a national club
Join a national club coinciding with your car’s make and tell the story of you and your car to anyone who will listen. Spreading the word that you’re looking for details about your specific car could turn up some valuable information. Longtime club members might recognize the car and know of former owners. Adding it to a club registry can also help not only you, but future owners as well.
Contact the person who sold you the vehicle
Never discount that the person before you might have researched the car. Perhaps in your excitement to purchase it you did not get all the information they had. Reaching out to the previous owner can possibly get you one step closer to knowing the original owner.
20180426175606 "Contact the person who sold you the vehicle")
Search the car itself (under seats/carpet/in the trunk)
This one only works some of the time, mainly if the car has not been restored or significantly taken apart earlier in its life. An original car will often contain interesting pieces of history stashed in places that are rarely touched. Build sheets, old insurance ID cards or registrations, old school papers, even movie tickets can help locate a car and set up a timeline for ownership.
Visit the DMV
With the Driver Protection Act in effect, it is very difficult to get previous owner information from the Department of Motor Vehicles, as most information concerning registration is viewed as private and cannot be disclosed. In some states a private investigator can make a request for ownership history of a vehicle, but often they are required to provide the reason for the request.
Persistence
Finding out information on a car that has traded hands a dozen times over the last three decades will be frustrating. The biggest key to gathering information will be to keep looking, even after hitting multiple dead ends.
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Hey I’m looking for details on a 1968 Shelby 500 VIN number 8T03S179573-02740 any information would be helpful
Hi Frank!
Thank you for reaching out to the Ask Hagerty team. We would be happy to assist you with locating some history details for your 1968 Shelby 500. Could you reach out to our team at askhagerty@hagerty.com so we can get you as much information as possible? Thank you.
Hey I’m looking for details on a 1963 Corvette VIN number 30867S119822 any information would be helpful. Thanks.
Respectfully
Frank D.
Hi Frank DiSanzo,
Thank you for reaching out to the Ask Hagerty expert service. We would be happy to assist you with locating some details regarding the 1963 Corvette that you mentioned. If you could please email us at askhagerty@hagerty.com, we can can get this information over to you. Thank you for driving with Hagerty!
Hi just saw this reply….sorry and so I did send an email as you suggested!
Kind Regards
Frank
I just recently insured my 57 T Bird With Hagerty and I’m trying to get a car fax an the vehicle??
Any help finding history for 1937 Master 5GB 12 9301 engine 544444?
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Im looking for my old 1969 Road Runner vin RN23H9a362216
Looking for my 1969 Dodge Charger RT
Vin# XS29-L98-288894
Originally titled in Wisconsin
Still have the original window sticker
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David OHara- Hi! Iam looking to trace the History of a 1961 Corvette, can you help me?
I had a 72 Chevelle back in 1981 and I am trying to locate the car, we sold back in the late 80’s. Any tips on how to go about locating it? If I could find it, I would like to restore it as that was a car that and my wife dated in and she has passed.
Hi,I’m looking for any history on my 70 Chevelle SS Vin # 136370R258691 build date 6/70
Hi there my partner has had a 1973 Dodge Challenger 2 door hard top in storage for nearly 20 years and has now decided to restore it to its former glory. The only problem we have is we can not locate the documentation for it. Also no contacts details for the importation to NZ. Would you be able to assist in any information on this vehicle?
Vin: *JH23G2B347886*
Old registrations plates from California: 847FKJ
I also located an additional tag under the back seat:
2942638-B
LSI M 13685 2949
1968 Camaro Z/28. Originally sold in Springfield Missouri. I’d like to find some documents on the car.124378N418540
1968 Camaro Z28 vin #124378N443674
Would like to find any documentation for this vehicle
Just purchased a 66 Chevy vin# 166476C144644 believe it’s a California car looking for build sheet, any info would help in restoring