Finding previous owners

Got an e-mail a week ago about InstaVin:

"instaVIN is the only major history reporting service that provides vehicle history reports for classic cars (vehicles older than 1981). instaVIN reports provide title history, junk and salvage events, insurance total loss events, open lien status and historical sales and listing data. A free record check and free VIN check are provided prior to purchase and reports are just $6.99. "

Not sure if it'd give you the info you're looking for but might be worth a look? Let us know if it helps? No affiliation.

 

I have tried intermittently over the past few years to track down who owned my car before 1998 when my records begin and had zero luck. Depending on your car there are a few guys here on the board who MAY have that information in their own databases.



PDG

 

I have the name of a previous owner of mine but I haven't been able to track him down. I think the story was he was a pilot who kept the car in Cali for when he was in town. Either transferred or retired back to the mid-west somewhere.

 

I called one of the previous owners of my Euro 308 today and left a message for him to call me back. This was my first time reaching out to this person and I hope he does call me back.

I'm probably dreaming, but I hope to find a little more information about the car, maybe some stories about the car, if he knows anything about how it came to be imported, maybe some pictures, maybe even copies of old records if he has any.

When I bought my Euro 308 in 2011 I ordered the CarFax, obtained a letter from the DOT with the date of entry and some other details, and I requested a Title History from the state of Texas.

So, I am just now starting to follow up on the information I have and I am hoping to be learn more about my car soon...

 

I collect and restore classic American cars and always try tracking down the previous owners.
You have to contact DMV and order a title search.
Some cars I have had great success, other cars not so much. Its a crap shoot. Good luck

 

I found the original owner of my car, bought new in 1998, sold in 2000. Here is the problem, he died in 2000 (neadless to say why the car was sold). He was 67 at the time and a CEO to many very large companies..

 

This is one aspect of a full service history that I like. The names of owners and service shops are all in there someplace.

 

IMO there is a huge break in modern records, if you have a legit 5 digit VIN number.

Good luck!

 

You can probably search with DMV of some states. In Ontario they have to do it when they sell a used car. It's called seller package. I ordered the one for the TR I just bought and got the complete list of previous owners. But the car has been in province for it's entire life.