Title search
 

My dad is thinking of selling his 65 L78 Corvette. He had a couple guys look at the car but they couldn't believe the car only had 5500 miles on it. My dad has owned the car for 42 years and has never tagged the car since he has owned it. Is there any way a title search would show the last time it was tagged?
Thanks

I doubt any state has registration records going back 42 years. The title will have a date issued.

Did he lose the title or are you talking about the license plate never being issued? If the title has been lost, it's going to be a nightmare depending on what state you live in.

No he has the title he was just trying to see if there was any record of the car being tagged. I guess it's hard for most people to believe a guy could own a car that long and never tagged it. He thought it might be worth more money if there was proof it hadn't been tagged since say 67. One guy offered 100k but dad thinks its worth more and its his car.

It's almost funny - the guy parks it for 42 years thinking it will help the value, and in the long run it hurts him because nobody believes him!

Bet now he wishes he'd just driven the wheels off it!

the tittle he has should have a date on when it was issued to the current owner.

and probably the number of miles, maybe. jim

Title was issued in 1969 and doesn't have a line on it for miles. The car was in a museum for 20 years so no need to tag the car.

I definitely want to see pics of this car.

Cars that have not received a new title after transfer have no records after 7 years. A friend in Chicago bought a 66 convert with 11000 miles on it in 2010. He went to title it last month, and discovered it had an old title to three owners before him 12 years ago, all out of state. He had to go back to each owner, and get the oldest title renewed in that owners name who then transferred that new title to his name so he could get the car titled and registered properly. What a nightmare. Thank God all were still alive and no one had conflict. Technically, the person on the old title could say it is "my car" and file for a lost title and come over to your Dad's and take the car.

Have you Dad get current title on the car in his name. It will save a lot of grief. Of course, PHOTO COPY all the original paperwork for history provenance.

I agree condition should tell the story about mileage.

What State? I would suggest that confirming documents are available from the museum showing when it was first offered there and when released. Due to insurance reasons, museums are required to keep a lot of detailed records. This could at least verify 20 years of its existence. Like others here, I would like to see pics of this 5500 mile '65, especially a high horse BB.

http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/a...g?t=1301451025
This is a pic i took with my phone not the best but you get the idea.

The next time i go out to my dads i will take some pics of the interior. The car looks like it was never set in. I hope to take a ride in the car before it goes.

Great looking car, my favorite color combination, and a Big Block. I love it. This car should be judged, and then be sold. If certified by Bloomington Gold or NCRS, the price goes wayyy up.


I was thinking the same as you, Dan, but so much for tire measurements, they have been changed to radials.

With 5500mi where are the original tires? It appears to have radials on it. How does the spare look? Is it a knock off also. It is a sharp car.:cheers:

The car didn't have original tires on it when he got it. It actually had white walls?

White walls were an option in 65.

I'm sure the original tires went up in smoke pretty early the original owner used to take the car to the drag strip when it was new so i'm sure they didn't last long. Dad actually bought the car at the track. And before you ask the car has been restored but it was in the 80s but the numbers are all correct and it still has lacquer paint. He says if he doesn't sell it he going to drive it some to enjoy it. Thats why it has radial tires on it now.

You state that your Dad bought the car in 69. It's hard to believe that the original owner liked to burn it up at the track, but did not drive it much. Are you sure the odometer was not disconnected in it's early years? That's a common deception in those days. What years were the twenty in the museum? I'm not doubting your knowlege of the car, but it sounds too good to be true. I'm not surprised that potential buyers are skeptical. Can your Dad contact the original owner? As previously suggested, documentation from the museum would be most valuable.

I sent you a PM about purchasing the car. YOU SAY YOUR DAD WANTS TO SELL? Is it for sale?

I'm not trying to be a d--k but if all you say is true this is one heck of a find for the collector car world. A unmolested 65 396 coupe black over red with KO's and side pipes keeped for 42 yrs in a controlled enviorment with only 5500 mi, you and your dad need to get the car verified. Have the NCRS do a flight judging to get the car a pedigree.You have to understand if all you are saying is true we should be seeing this car in magazines soon, and rolling through BJ's at over 200k. My tire question may seem simplistic but a car with so few miles should have the correct spare. How is your documentation? Do you have the POP card, owners manual, window sticker, or any original paper work from the selling dealer? If all is true then this is a car for the big players.

My question is why was the car repainted? Doesn't that make it not really original anymore?

I'm sorry I missed the 80's restoration part. Now its just a nice car with an intresting story, it is a good looking car in that pic. :cheers:

27 Roadster,

Looks like a super nice L78 - if possible you may want to post pictures of VIN Plate and Trim Plate located under the glovebox. Also Red Leather or vinyl. If leather and original very rare. Black code AA was rare - only 1191 total built all motors coupes and verts - Red Leather should be code 408 - Red vinyl code 407

Several interested parties would like to know when it was built.

You and father really should have it judged at Bloomington this year and maybe at a NCRS Regional - as many stated this could really enhance the value.

Even with the repaint in the '80's if all checks out and none of the rare parts (carb, exhaust Manifolds, TI ignition) were lost during it's venture into drag racing and you have POP + any other documentation this car should approach $120K. Value will all depend on options and proving that they are original.:thumbs:

Blue:rock:

Blue, with the way this post was going I was thinking about the bang this car would make in the NCRS. Then I read post 21, granted still a very desirable car but unmolested I could only imagine.