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Post by ck on Feb 13, 2020 1:25:51 GMT -5
Hello all. Just recently joined the forum after doing some searching on the internet. Always had a fascination with the ‘65 4-4-2’s as my father owned one new back in 1965. He sold it around 1972 a few years before I was born and purchased a ‘72 Pontiac LeMans which he still has to this day. Having said that, I grew up a Pontiac guy and have three late model Firebirds myself, but my entire life hearing my dads stories about his 4-4-2 and how much he loved that car has always had me dreaming of someday being able to locate that car. I know a few details of it and have seen pictures but other than that I’m not sure if he would have any info like VIN number or anything like that. After browsing here a few days I wondered if anyone might have any info on how I may be able to locate a car this way by knowing specifics about the car etc, and being a 55 year old car always a chance it’s not even out there anymore. Appreciate anyone’s thoughts and input you might be able to offer. I’ll leave the details I know below. Mods not sure if this is the place to post an ad like this. If not my apologies.
What I know about the car from talking to my dad over the years. He was the original owner, a 1965 4-4-2 Holiday Coupe. I always assumed it was a post car and would have to look at pics (which has been forever) to verify, but I’m not certain a Holiday Coupe would be a post car. It was a 400, 4 speed car with either a 355 or 390 geared posi trac rear I believe. It was Ocean Mist in color, with black bucket seat interior and white headliner if I remember correctly. Not sure what trim level etc, but believe it was also a non-A/C car as well. Do not believe it had the original engine when he sold it either. Believe the wheels were painted to match with the poverty type caps when new, but believe the pictures I’ve seen wheels were painted silver with no caps.
Been a long time ago and maybe not relevant now, but one specific this I remember him saying about the car. He ran into a guy trailering his old car some time after he sold it. He said he knew it was his car because it had tar on the underside of it from driving down and freshly surfaced blacktop road while he still owned it. Always found this to be an intersecting tidbit to the story.
Like I said, probably quite a long shot here but always thought some day I’d try to locate it. Seeing as he or I am not getting any younger figured I start now! From one fellow enthusiast to another, truly appreciate anyone’s leads/thoughts/input.
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Post by BR[] on Feb 13, 2020 6:55:10 GMT -5
Finding his, is a big long shot. Finding one just like his, the odds get a lot better. FYI: The Holiday Coupe is not the post car. That is the Sport Coupe and the plain jane post is the Standard coupe.
Now, as far as the tar underneath........ not going to be too much help. Many people tared the bottom for undercoat (at least in the north east where they salt the roads) vin may help a little.
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Post by stan65cutlass on Feb 13, 2020 11:28:50 GMT -5
do you know the dealership he bought it new from ? also may help
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Post by familyrides1965 on Feb 13, 2020 22:43:14 GMT -5
I always find pictures help out as well as last known physical address with ideally the new owners name.
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Post by ck on Feb 16, 2020 13:00:42 GMT -5
Hey all thanks for the replies. I will have to ask my dad to find that picture of it. And see if he might have anything that would have the VIN on it by chance. Been a long time so guessing not but who knows. I know when he bought it he was living in Coal Valley, IL in the Quad City area, and I believed purchased it new across the river from Vincent J. Neu Oldsmobile in Davenport, IA. Yes could always find one like his I’m sure but having his original would be just that much sweeter. If it’s out there!
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Post by john442 on Feb 25, 2020 19:51:48 GMT -5
I too wondered about finding cars after so many years.
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Post by island65cruiser on Mar 1, 2020 8:40:40 GMT -5
The guys on this site or the Oldsmobile Club of America are your best bet if if you have the VIN. I spent many years as a PI. Retired now. If you can find a name an address for the next buyer, or any successive owner, it is possible to track the people, rather than the car, through public records, and if they're all still alive or relatives are, walk through the ownership chain.
DMV's won't help because of privacy laws, but commercial databases and the internet are amazing today. I can guide you through the process if it helps. You will need a name, and any other identifier like city and state, an address, date of birth, DL number, past phone number to identify people. I can refer you to inexpensive search firms that can track this stuff pretty reasonably. If you happen to know anyone who has a contact in the Fraud department of an insurance company, if that car is registered and on the road, they can find it. They have better resources than the FBI! Good luck on your search.
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Post by ck on May 3, 2020 16:27:03 GMT -5
Well yesterday my parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and we did a lot of reminiscing and looking at pictures. Found a couple of his old car. Dad says he’d love to have that car back lol. One other key thing hey mentioned that I’m not sure if it’s true or not but he said that he found out while owning his that his 442 was the last built for that year and he waited til late in the year to get it after ordering it. If that was true I thought that was kinda neat. Any well to tell from that perspective? Anyone know what the last car for that year was?
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Post by island65cruiser on May 3, 2020 19:32:05 GMT -5
If it was truly the last car built for that year, I would bet the VIN could be obtained from General Motors, or The Oldsmobile Club of America. You don't mention what state the car was in, but some states will help you locate a vehicle, some will not. My experience has been that they may not give you the owners name, but may give your contact information to them with your permission. I would also contact Hagerty, and Grundy, and any other collector car insurance company to see if they have it insured, and if so, see if they could hook you up with a current, or recent owner. If your dad still has the same car insurance company that he had then, they will probably have the VIN on file and may find it for him. Insurance companies have incredible records. If you have a goocan d picture, and can find the VIN, you try putting your search out on Facebook, You Tube and other social media. If you throw enough stuff on the wall, something may stick. Good luck.
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Post by RIP OLDS on May 3, 2020 20:09:32 GMT -5
Three methods that might help:
Step 1
Use the license plate number. The motor vehicles department in your state uses the license plate number as well as the VIN to identify all vehicles. You can research any transfer of ownership using the license plate number. The motor vehicles department in your state might not agree to reveal personal details regarding the present owner, but the department will be able to locate the vehicle in the system. Once the vehicle is located they can also provide you with the VIN if you so choose.
Step 2
Search for the car using your driver's license number. Every motor vehicles bureau maintains a comprehensive individual record of its drivers, demarcated by driver's license number. These records will include all cars registered under your name. Once the car is located in the system, the bureau can give you the VIN for use in the future.
Contact the insurance company that insured the car while you were the owner. Inform them that you want to locate the VIN number of the car. The company will ask you to verify some information to make sure you are who you say you are. Upon verification of your identity, the insurance company will comply with your request and provide you with the VIN.
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Post by RIP OLDS on May 3, 2020 20:17:38 GMT -5
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Post by RIP OLDS on May 3, 2020 20:21:29 GMT -5
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