Looking for info from our Calif-members

[js27]

When I bought my 70 Challenger that was originally from Escondito CA. I tried to do a title search and called their DMV to trace the VIN but they told me their records only go back 5 years. Is this true or did I just get a lazy worker. Any suggestions ?
Thanks
JS27

[70 Challenger Lover]

What I have learned is that Ca. Does not retain vehicle information on cars after ten years of it being out of their system. A paid non operating status would keep it active forever I believe but if you park it in the garage, stop registering it each year, and never change it to non-op, after ten years, its like the car never existed. Possible it's changed to five years but I bet it's still ten.

This actually proved helpful to me when I bought my 64 Vette. It had been in storage for 30 years and I later learned it had massive frame and body issues from a major collision early in it's life that the seller conveniently forgot to disclose. Through research, I learned he bought it from an insurance auction in 1975. He had no title for it but looking back now, I am certain he had one that was labeled as Salvage and he knew that would tip me off. Because it was out of the dmv system for decades, there was no longer a record of this (assuming my guess about it being a salvage title was correct) so I took my time making the car perfect and registered it just like normal. I would never hide these details if I sold it but having a salvage title makes the car very hard to sell for a fair price.

[dvs cycles]

 :brainiac:That is the correct letter sequence for a late 70. My first car, 71 pinto , bought in January 1971 Was 128 CQT.

[IRON MAN]

js27: I read years ago the Calif DMV will not release names of previous owners for fear of the latest owner causing trouble if they bought a lemon, etc. Also, new car dealers who sell a used car are not allowed to disclose the previous owner's name.

70challenger Lover: If a salvaged title car is totaled in an accident most insurance companies will only recognize 50% of value. It is almost impossible to finance a salvaged title with a conventional car loan. If you purchase a vehicle with a salvaged title in California, the vehicle must pass a safety inspection every two years at the CHP Referee Station....hazzle to say the least. I do not know of a car dealership that will take in a car on trade if it has a salvaged title.

I was a Car Dealership Sales Manager most of my career in the auto business. Iron Man

[70 Challenger Lover]

js27: I read years ago the Calif DMV will not release names of previous owners for fear of the latest owner causing trouble if they bought a lemon, etc. Also, new car dealers who sell a used car are not allowed to disclose the previous owner's name.

70challenger Lover: If a salvaged title car is totaled in an accident most insurance companies will only recognize 50% of value. It is almost impossible to finance a salvaged title with a conventional car loan. If you purchase a vehicle with a salvaged title in California, the vehicle must pass a safety inspection every two years at the CHP Referee Station....hazzle to say the least. I do not know of a car dealership that will take in a car on trade if it has a salvaged title.

I was a Car Dealership Sales Manager most of my career in the auto business. Iron Man

If my car was a salvage car, there's no record of it anymore. Car is like new now and registered as normal

[IRON MAN]

When I bought my 70 Challenger that was originally from Escondito CA. I tried to do a title search and called their DMV to trace the VIN but they told me their records only go back 5 years. Is this true or did I just get a lazy worker. Any suggestions ?
Thanks
JS27

I was mainly addressing your original post regarding title search. The DMV clerk was just blowing you off, with a "playhouse ninety" (fake news). The rest was FYI just in case.

[YellowThumper]

Another way it can benefit you is if long stored car does drop off their records all you pay is to bring it back on. Cars that remain in their systems and have not been kept up for registration have to pay all back payments bringing it current.
All about taking your $$$ here in Cal...

And yes, it is almost impossible to get past information in California. There were a couple highly publicized murders that were a result of info being found out thru DMV.

[js27]

Thanks for the info--I guess I am at a Dead End as far as finding the original owner of my car.
JS27

[dvs cycles]

Thanks for the info--I guess I am at a Dead End as far as finding the original owner of my car.
JS27

I'm at the other end of that wanting to know if the '73 'Cuda I bought new in California is still Alive and on the books. Plate was 118 HSV.

[70 Challenger Lover]

086 CAW is no longer in the Ca. dmv system. No way to know when it dropped out.

118 HSV is also no longer in the Ca. Dmv system. No way to know when it dropped out or if it was registered in a different state. To find out if it was registered in another state, you would need the VIN and then have to check one state at a time.

[dvs cycles]

086 CAW is no longer in the Ca. dmv system. No way to know when it dropped out.

118 HSV is also no longer in the Ca. Dmv system. No way to know when it dropped out or if it was registered in a different state. To find out if it was registered in another state, you would need the VIN and then have to check one state at a time.

Thank you for that information. I suspect that it was probably raced and wrecked back in 1974/75 after I traded it in. I've dug through all my stuff and kept nothing with vin or otherwise. Like a STUPID 18 year old I remember ripping out the build sheet from under the seat while running speaker wires to the back.
Need a time machine to go back and slap myself!

[70 Challenger Lover]

086 CAW is no longer in the Ca. dmv system. No way to know when it dropped out.

118 HSV is also no longer in the Ca. Dmv system. No way to know when it dropped out or if it was registered in a different state. To find out if it was registered in another state, you would need the VIN and then have to check one state at a time.

Thank you for that information. I suspect that it was probably raced and wrecked back in 1974/75 after I traded it in. I've dug through all my stuff and kept nothing with vin or otherwise. Like a STUPID 18 year old I remember ripping out the build sheet from under the seat while running speaker wires to the back.
Need a time machine to go back and slap myself!

Welcome...I was hoping to give you better news than that. It might be out there but hard to say anymore.

[hemitomcat]

I learned to drive on a 71 pinto.  Could lay rubber in 3 of the 4 gears...

[hemitomcat]

Hi JS,

I read thru all the email thread on your delimina. 

I would recommend the following:

1.  contract the local mopar clubs in the Los Angeles area.  Ask for the officiers to see if anyone remembers the car.  See if you can put an ad in the local car club newsletter to get info.

2.  Go to all of the craigslist parts for sale sections in Los Angeles.  Post a pic of your car say your trying to learn the history of the car.  You will probably have to repost it for about 6 months to find anything out...

Best of luck.  I'm still trying to find one of my old cars that I loved as a kid.  I found the 2nd to last owner, but not the current one...