Finding your old car - Great Lakes 4x4. The largest offroad forum in the Midwest

Rob the plumber · September 7th, 2012, 09:02 PM

I know this has had to have come up before... Does anyone know of a way to find a car you owned in the past? Secretary of State? I've owned just over 50 cars in 22 years. I wouldn't mind hunting one of two of them down.

BlooMule · September 7th, 2012, 09:15 PM

I found the one I bought when I was 18 just by cleaning out my garage.

booblinker · September 7th, 2012, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlooMule

I found the one I bought when I was 18 just by cleaning out my garage.

chadcooper55 · September 7th, 2012, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob the plumber

I know this has had to have come up before... Does anyone know of a way to find a car you owned in the past? Secretary of State? I've owned just over 50 cars in 22 years. I wouldn't mind hunting one of two of them down.

Leave your memory as a memory. It will never be as sweet as you remember it.

Padilen · September 7th, 2012, 09:23 PM

I couldn't wait to be rid of it. Why would I want to find it.
My missing old cycles and my missing old snowmobile yes I'd like to find. They were in from the 70's+early 80's and great condition,running rideable when I saw/had them last in the late 90's.

snohog · September 8th, 2012, 04:02 PM

get someone from the DMV to run the vin for you.

Yetti · September 8th, 2012, 06:59 PM

I have had a couple find me. usually involves the police and impound yards looking to score some coin. best one was a car I sold in `90 found me in about 2004. the guy had jumped title and it was still in my name that long. Ypsi police found it and called after a month in impound. they wanted more for the fees then I sold it for

Rob the plumber · September 8th, 2012, 07:15 PM

A 68 Camaro found its way back to a friend off mine through an impound yard. It was really nice when he sold it in 1994. I think the guy never titled it, girlfriend kicked him out, car got impounded, and they called Steve. It was a fucking shell in 2010 that looked like it was living in a field.

Rob the plumber · September 8th, 2012, 07:16 PM

I don't even have the vin to my old high school car. I bet there is some way to cross reference your drivers license.

zook94 · September 8th, 2012, 10:49 PM

Going back before computers at the SOS won't work. Sometimes you can find vehicles if you fill out a form and send it to Lansing, but I wouldn't hold my breath, if it's pre-computer, you are going to be painfully surprised that they won't find anything. There are a few that I would like to look up. 1970 Camaro, 1972 Camaro SS, 1970 Impala 2 door notchback w/402 BB, 1970 Chevelle SS clone, 400 Small block, bored to 409, strip dominator intake, 750 Holley double pumper. Ran like a scalded dog in one place, but it would eat up a brand new transmission in 3 miles. It had a marine grind cam, and spun backwards, turning the pump on the auto tranny backwards. They don't work so good that way.

cerial · September 9th, 2012, 09:21 AM

I have a few that I would not mind having again. But, money is money and cars are cars. They can be replaced by something someone else has dumped cash in for less then you sold your old one for in some cases.
Good chance if you did find that cherry ride you have had years ago it has been rode hard with most of the cool stuff replaced. ie who drives a big block as a daily anymore good chance there would be a smaller engine in there now etc.

I had a 1991 Pontiac Lemans 2 door 5 speed that I absolutely loved the entire 4 months(That was a long time for me to keep a car back in 2000) that I had it. It had a throttle body spacer and I had a buddy flash the computer. I drove the thing over 10k in that 4 months driving down to Memphis and back. That was one of the few cars that I never got pulled over in despite there being a few moments I was expecting to.

Looking back at it the car was eh ok I guess it is still better then most new cars on fuel mileage. It is more about the memories you have not the car itself. Some of my best memories are in total POS that I ran for a few weeks then derby'd afterward or gave some body work or a zap, check, fix and sold for a small profit.

CheapThrillB2 · September 9th, 2012, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yetti

I have had a couple find me. usually involves the police and impound yards looking to score some coin. best one was a car I sold in `90 found me in about 2004. the guy had jumped title and it was still in my name that long. Ypsi police found it and called after a month in impound. they wanted more for the fees then I sold it for

Same here, sold a car for $500, 6 months later got a notice from impound for $1000.

My sister sold an old beater here in GR, two weeks later cops came knocking on her door. Car was used in a bank robbery in Detroit.

Nuggets · September 9th, 2012, 09:32 AM

I sold a Maserati Biturbo about 13 years ago that tracked me down. The person I sold it too never bothered to change the title, insure it, and had a bogus plate on it. The police officer seemed happy that he was going to nail the drunk douchebag that was driving my old car. I would be too.

jimhri · September 9th, 2012, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob the plumber

.............. I've owned just over 50 cars in 22 years. I wouldn't mind hunting one of two of them down.

WHAT's the point?

cerial · September 9th, 2012, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimhri

WHAT's the point?

haha

I have registered & insured that many under my name(and many under others). The point is to drive them, make a quick sell, make 1 good truck out of 3 bad ones, part them out, demo them, or to just be that guy driving the $300 pos at 40 mph towards the dirt ramp.

It is about having fun, wrenching, and being a backyard mechanic. If that somehow confuses you I'm sorry for your closed minded view.

September 7th, 2012, 09:02 PM	#1
Rob the plumber Licensed master plumber Join Date: 06-14-06 Location: New Baltimore, Michigan Posts: 4,582 iTrader: (27)	Finding your old car I know this has had to have come up before... Does anyone know of a way to find a car you owned in the past? Secretary of State? I've owned just over 50 cars in 22 years. I wouldn't mind hunting one of two of them down.

September 7th, 2012, 09:15 PM	#2
BlooMule Devout Atheist Join Date: 11-08-05 Location: A little North of Deetroit and a little South of Roseville Posts: 18,829 iTrader: (11)	I found the one I bought when I was 18 just by cleaning out my garage. __________________ Don't die a virgin, there are terrorists up there waiting for you!

September 7th, 2012, 09:23 PM	#5
Padilen Senior Member Join Date: 07-17-12 Location: LeRoy Michigan Posts: 399 iTrader: (0)	I couldn't wait to be rid of it. Why would I want to find it. My missing old cycles and my missing old snowmobile yes I'd like to find. They were in from the 70's+early 80's and great condition,running rideable when I saw/had them last in the late 90's.

September 8th, 2012, 04:02 PM	#6
snohog Senior Member Join Date: 12-09-07 Location: Howell, Mi Posts: 658 iTrader: (9)	get someone from the DMV to run the vin for you.

September 8th, 2012, 07:15 PM	#8
Rob the plumber Licensed master plumber Join Date: 06-14-06 Location: New Baltimore, Michigan Posts: 4,582 iTrader: (27)	A 68 Camaro found its way back to a friend off mine through an impound yard. It was really nice when he sold it in 1994. I think the guy never titled it, girlfriend kicked him out, car got impounded, and they called Steve. It was a fucking shell in 2010 that looked like it was living in a field.

September 8th, 2012, 07:16 PM	#9
Rob the plumber Licensed master plumber Join Date: 06-14-06 Location: New Baltimore, Michigan Posts: 4,582 iTrader: (27)	I don't even have the vin to my old high school car. I bet there is some way to cross reference your drivers license.

September 8th, 2012, 10:49 PM	#10
zook94 Resident Jerkoff Join Date: 11-05-05 Location: Saginaw, Michigan, USA, North America, Earth, Milky way Posts: 1,962 iTrader: (6)	Going back before computers at the SOS won't work. Sometimes you can find vehicles if you fill out a form and send it to Lansing, but I wouldn't hold my breath, if it's pre-computer, you are going to be painfully surprised that they won't find anything. There are a few that I would like to look up. 1970 Camaro, 1972 Camaro SS, 1970 Impala 2 door notchback w/402 BB, 1970 Chevelle SS clone, 400 Small block, bored to 409, strip dominator intake, 750 Holley double pumper. Ran like a scalded dog in one place, but it would eat up a brand new transmission in 3 miles. It had a marine grind cam, and spun backwards, turning the pump on the auto tranny backwards. They don't work so good that way.

September 9th, 2012, 09:21 AM	#11
cerial Insomniac Join Date: 09-06-08 Location: Middleville,MI/Newburgh,NY Posts: 1,302 iTrader: (2)	I have a few that I would not mind having again. But, money is money and cars are cars. They can be replaced by something someone else has dumped cash in for less then you sold your old one for in some cases. Good chance if you did find that cherry ride you have had years ago it has been rode hard with most of the cool stuff replaced. ie who drives a big block as a daily anymore good chance there would be a smaller engine in there now etc. I had a 1991 Pontiac Lemans 2 door 5 speed that I absolutely loved the entire 4 months(That was a long time for me to keep a car back in 2000) that I had it. It had a throttle body spacer and I had a buddy flash the computer. I drove the thing over 10k in that 4 months driving down to Memphis and back. That was one of the few cars that I never got pulled over in despite there being a few moments I was expecting to. Looking back at it the car was eh ok I guess it is still better then most new cars on fuel mileage. It is more about the memories you have not the car itself. Some of my best memories are in total POS that I ran for a few weeks then derby'd afterward or gave some body work or a zap, check, fix and sold for a small profit.

September 9th, 2012, 09:32 AM	#13
Nuggets Professional Pisser Offer Join Date: 09-15-06 Location: Bay City, MI Posts: 12,866 iTrader: (12)	I sold a Maserati Biturbo about 13 years ago that tracked me down. The person I sold it too never bothered to change the title, insure it, and had a bogus plate on it. The police officer seemed happy that he was going to nail the drunk douchebag that was driving my old car. I would be too.