Anyone ever look up the previous owner of their car?

Yes and with very positive results! Long winding story coming…..

I bought my first Ferrari, a 95 456GT, last year. Per the car fax, I am the 4th owner. On my first introduction on Fchat, just prior to looking at the car, I was asking some generic questions for the prepurchase inspection. I had another member reach out who apparently was also interested in the same car, but I was going to beat him to looking at it at the time. He had already found and was in touch with the second owner, who had it from about 2011-2015, and forwarded me their current email chain, as well as his contact info. That owner and I talked awhile during my purchase. He had had an article on Bring a Trailer, prior to their auction years, showcasing the car when he was selling it. A further VIN search revealed the subsequent dealer ad he sold it to as well is still online. Not long after that, I realized this owner was very active on here with my car in the 456/550 forum 10
+ years ago, so I have his old dialog, pictures, and other documented history and discussion.

When I finally closed the deal on my car, it came with very few records from a small independent dealer/flipper. Looking thru the car fax I had mostly registration and emissions visits only, but had one entry in 2019 from a Porsche shop that did some service. I sent them an email hoping that a Verde Mugello 456 may have stood out in memory from someone. The shop owner called me within minutes, and we chatted about the service visit it had. He knew that owner and wanted his permission to release anything to me, so he reach out to him and that guy texted me back within a day. That owner also had the car discussed on here during his tenure as well, including his Classified ad. He was very forthcoming giving me records from within the last few years, including a large Timing Belt service bill from his local Ferrari Dealer. Also mentioning another shop that had done shock rebuilds. That third shop, again with his permission, sent me all their service records as well. The good will of this owner, really was over the top when last summer he reached back out to me out of the blue, and said he found a key to my car, he wanted to send over…. A week later I had a Yellow Enzo (copy) key show up.

Circle back to owner number 2 from 2011-2015 The BaT article had mentioned the car had its transmission rebuilt in the 2000s, at a major shop on the west coast. I reached out to them, and with no hesitation, they provided me all their service records, including an extremely sobering bill for a Transmission rebuild indeed. I have the name of the original owner from those records, but haven’t reached out to him. He seems to be a big name in his respective industry too.

So buying a car with little to go on, heading into the prepurchase inspection.. I now have nearly a full history dating back to 2007. And nearly as an important, I was met with fantastic good will and friendly results at every turn of my sleuthing. The Ferrari community has been outstanding.

 

I tracked down the original owner of my 1975 308 GT4.

We had a good conversation about the car (green when he purchased it originally) and I got to tell him the story of it AFTER he sold it in 1979 to the owner I bought it from (sometime in 2018). He loved the update.

Recently I tracked down one of the early 2000’s owners of my ‘88 M3. He sent me a huge file of photos and told me of a lot of work he did that I don’t have receipts for. AND, why the drivers door was replaced! (the only non original panel). Problem now is…he wants to buy it back!

 

I pulled the seats out of my 1967 330 2+2 and found an old Swiss business card.

I contacted the gentleman who said he had been a passenger some 25 years or more ago.

Thanks to Kerry Chesbro, it’s easy to find the ownership history of that car.

Matt

 

Sounds morbid, but all previous owners of my cars are up in the great big autodrome.

 

The previous owner of my car used Ferrari Financial and I received his name with the documents from the car. I didn’t look him up. The dealer said he bought a new car every 3 years. Others here referencing talking to previous owners of an older car might be fun but I thought I would just be pestering the guy with my later model car. The machine gun world looks like a really fun hobby!

 

When I bought a 1986 928 manual I was the second owner on title and because the man I bought it from put it into a storage unit and never titled it, the DMV made me find the original buyer to sign the transfer. Thankfully he was a doctor in Colorado, and although then in his mid 80s had a part time practice. I called and he told me all these fun stories about driving it around CO in the 80s.

 

So on the flip side of things, what would a future owner of my car appreciate that I pass on (besides my service records)?

Also, I have a mix of electronic files and physical paperwork. Should I print out the electronic files?

 

I've spent a lot of time trying to learn the history of my 360. Apparently it started it's life in Newport Beach, CA, where it appears to have been daily driven for 7 years. It had a couple short term owners after before going to Florida with an owner who didn't drive it much but kept it for 5 years or so. His mom got sick in Wisconsin, he brought it with, the lease company thought he was hiding it, he couldn't afford the maintenance and then sold it to the dealership I bought it from. While Florida man didn't take good care of it, I always wondered who California man was.

I was able to find a couple old for sale ads using the vin, but the dealer that sold it had no info. My car has carbon seats with the Alcantara inserts which is a stupid rare option. I found a picture of a car appearing to be mine in Beverly Hills at the time. The exhaust tips are sagging which indicates a failed upper transmission mount that I later replaced. With it failing so fast and with California man dailying it, it makes sense that is the car. I searched for the plate and the other car it came back with is a white Laferrari. I talked to the owner of the caretaker's collection but he said it wasn't him. Still unsure. I also should add that according to carfax I'm the first non-leasing owner. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Sometimes you wouldn’t WANT to know. Unknowingly, I bought a car from someone running a Ponzi scheme…..and they probably already used their one phone call.

 

I haven't looked up a previous owner, but a previous owner found me. I posted my morgan 3 wheeler on reddit and the PO chimed in on the thread, I did learn that he sold it due to a recurring issue the dealership was never able to fix. So far, that issue hasn't cropped up, but makes you wonder if it ever will.

 

This is my ‘12 458 that I purchased from the Denver dealer in ‘15; i’m the second owner. I was told the gentleman who ordered it traded it in and ordered the same car in ‘15, the second picture. Apparently they had a slot open for a new car and he took it, (good customer of the dealer). I met the owner in 2019 we had lunch and had a great conversation.

Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Original owner of my F355 was Lino Saputo (Saputo Inc.)

Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

My 2005 430F1 started life in Beverly Hills Ferrari. The warranty card was still in the car signed by a Hollywood Movie Director who was easy to look up. He didn't have the most sterling reputation in Hollywood so I really didn't think he would appreciate any contact. I could only imagine the female pulchritude that had been passengers in it during that time. I did however go to Beverly Hills Ferrari and bought a license frame from them, returning the car to its originality, whenever anyone asked.

 

I met the new owner (2 down) of my very special Cali with Racing setas, CF and LaF wheels at a cars and coffee. I gave him all the data I had, pictures, and records which had disappeared. Nice guy. Glad to see that car was still being loved and not abused.

Looked up the collector who was the original owner of my 16M. He and the next owner passed away. Digital world makes it very small these days.

 

My 458 was previously 1 owned by the President of a huge bank(I won’t Disclose). The story gets interesting when I tried to activate the Sirius radio and Sirius started billing him again. The dealer contacted me about it and I contacted Sirius(known for worst customer service on the planet). I tried to explain this to multiple English challenged reps and finally demanded a supervisor. After explaining what was going on they transferred the billing over to me. Fast forward 3 months I start getting billed for a Sirius activation in a Phaeton that I knew I didn’t own. Sirius was now billing me for his new car. It took another month to straighten that out.

 

My 1971 365 GTC/4 has had 6 previous owners and is completely documented from day one. The first 3 owners have passed away, however I have spoken to the last 3 on several occasions to clear up some conflicting data in ownership/maintenance history. Great people willing to help out. One of them even sent me a folder full of receipts that he had.
Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

YES! I would love to hear from the previous owners of a red/tan 2003 360 gated modena from Ft. Lauderdale...

I have had no luck getting records or finding any. I am fine with the history of my car, would just like to hear it firsthand.


I just recently discovered the first previous owner of my '89 Maserati spyder, and they could not remember it! It appears as though they only had it for a few days/weeks/months. I thought I was the 3rd owner but am really the 4th owner.

 

Everything


Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app

 

A bit of Google research indicated that the first two owners (I’m the third) have passed. I wanted to at least contact each with an update; I’d like to know as a previous owner.

I deliberately list on FChat “my” last five (25349) in hopes another, perhaps a family member or even a PO(s) if Google was wrong, would search and contact me.

 

My 360 had an interesting first owner - Gil Nickel. He started Nickel and Nickel and Far Niente vineyards in Napa. He was also a well known car collector and successful racer of vintage cars in Europe. Pretty cool!

Sadly he died about a year after acquiring this car, so it was sold. Never knew it had been his until it showed up here.

 

I've always wanted to do this! But I am scared the first words out of their mouth would be something along the lines of "you just bought the biggest nightmare I've ever owned" or they would just hang up on me

 

When I was purchasing my F12 I had some questions so I tracked down an old add with a phone number and spoke to the original owner. He was very helpful and we had a great conversation. He was curious to know how the car was doing.

I often look for my old F430. I'm hoping someone calls me on it one day.