[xcelr8]

I know via VIN the DSO was Indianapolis, but not sure the dealer. Confident that's where the trail will end but thought I'd ask.

 

[Woodchuck]

If it's a '67 or later a Deluxe Marti Report will tell you, otherwise it's solely a search of old documentation to try and find out where.

 

[MustangGeezer]

When I got Diane, my 65, the original manual was in the glove box and the owner's name, address and all the vin info was typed in the inside cover by the dealer. I consider it a great treasure find.

 

[myfirstcar66]

I haven't met the original owner of my '66, but I HAVE talked to him on the phone! He told me where he bought it, but the place is long gone now.

 

[Magnus]

Do you have a dealer tag on the trunk? It could be the original one.

I know it seems unlikely but when I got the Marti report it turns out that the metal "Corcoran's Wellesley" tag riveted to my tail light panel was actually from the original dealer.

According to Google Maps it's apparently now a Toyota dealer.

It's kinda a long shot but it can happen.

 

[rhutt]

When I got Diane, my 65, the original manual was in the glove box and the owner's name, address and all the vin info was typed in the inside cover by the dealer. I consider it a great treasure find.

Like DustoffMedic, I was fortunate enough to find the original owners manual in the glove box of my '66 GT. Douglas Simms (son of the original owner) found a post here on VMF regarding my manual and contacted me in a PM. I found that the car was originally purchased as a 16th birthday gift for his sister, Dawn Marie. He also told me that the car was later given to the son of a longtime friend, Eddie Arcaro. Arcaro is considered probably the greatest jockey of all time. He is the only jockey to ever win the Triple Crown, twice. The second win was aboard Citation. It was Arcaro's son who returned the car to California from Las Vegas.

 

[MustangGeezer]

rhutt - - -
Very, very cool! I remember Eddie Arcaro well. It's great to find a connection to history.

 

[rhutt]

Here's a picture of Chester Simms. At the time, he was an ownership partner in the Flamingo Hotel and Casino.
(He's the one on the left)

 

[GypsyR]

At one time I bought a car without a title. Part of the procedure to get a new title was to do a "title search" through the North Carolina DMV. Done for me by a registered dealer, I don't know if average Joe can do so. Point being that the results we ended up with were a name by name trail all the way back the original dealership that sold the car. Which I thought was pretty neat bonus info.
Apparently procedure and ability to do such things varies wildly by state. Doesn't hurt to ask though.

 

[4ocious]

At one time I bought a car without a title. Part of the procedure to get a new title was to do a "title search" through the North Carolina DMV. Done for me by a registered dealer, I don't know if average Joe can do so. Point being that the results we ended up with were a name by name trail all the way back the original dealership that sold the car. Which I thought was pretty neat bonus info.
Apparently procedure and ability to do such things varies wildly by state. Doesn't hurt to ask though.

All my years in the car biz were in North Carolina and every time a car was traded in without a title we ran a title search through some gov't office in Raleigh. I just assumed it was like that in every state, I guess not.

 

[awhtx]

Do you have a dealer tag on the trunk?

My '65 Fastback still had one of those metal dealership tags attached with 2 screws (no double sided tape back then) on the trunk lid. Fred Jones Ford, OKC.

 

[rpm]

And once you find the original dealer, if you're a dork like me you buy the dealer licence plate frame.

 

[rhutt]

And once you find the original dealer, if you're a dork like me you buy the dealer licence plate frame.

I don't think you have to be a dork to run a period correct Dealer LP frame. I am considering one that I found online. Just not sure if it would look strange having a Las Vegas frame with California plates.

 

[rpm]

I'd much rather have a Las Vegas frame on my car than one from that place San Francisco.

 

[66#3]

Good call on the dealer frame @rpm

My original buyer was kind enough to include all sorts of buying/maintenance records with the owner's manual, so I had it easy. The "cool factor" amped up when I checked old newspaper advertisements. I know my car was built in very late July '66. I see that the dealership had one of those "buy these leftover '66s"-type sales and advertised it in the newspaper. It is fun to think that the ad was for my car.