2TONE82

After a lot of detective work I was finally able to track down the original owner today.

The Readers Digest version; Found an envelope (post marked 3 Mar, 1982) with delivery paperwork in it after I bought the car. The hand written name on the address looked like F'Licks Dulling in Strasburg, OH. The guy I bought the car from (4th owner) had a copy of the transfer title with what turned out to be the 2nd and 3rd owners name and address on it. I was able to contact both of them in the past few days (scary what one can find on the internet) and the second owner remembered the original owner owning a drilling company in Strasburg. Did a search and came up with three company's but no Dulling or F'Licks. I decided to call one of the company's and by chance got a very helpful older lady on the phone who said "Oh, yes, Flicks Drilling is who you are looking for." She was able to provide a number and I was able to talk with the original owner, a Mr. Flickinger, the owner of Flick's Drilling (hence the F'Licks Dulling).

He was able to shed some light on a couple of things. One the speedo was changed out by him when the car had 301 miles on it. He had a '79 at the time and it had a 140 MPH speedo on it. He simply ordered a new '79 speedo from the same dealer he bought the car from and changed it out himself. So my car has 23,540 plus the 301 miles on it...Also, the tranny was rebuilt under warranty with approx 2800 miles on it.

I had heard that all of the '81 and '82 two-tone cars were made only when ordered and not at random like the solid color cars. He confirmed that he ordered the two-tone car to match his drilling rigs and company trucks. Says it was to show the competition how well he was doing...he laughs at that concept now.

He even offered to send some photos from when he bought the car. :cool:

1SGRET

:thumbs: :thumbs:

79VetteMike

Awesome history. That's what gives an otherwise common Vette a bit more value and mystique. Good score.

Markm10431

very :cool:

Bob Turner

That's a great story!! I'll bet the original owner was just as happy to talk to you as you were to him!

He now knows that the car is still out there and in good hands.

:cheers:

foundvettelifeisgood

:cool: You got me tempted to begin the hunt. :cheers:

Older Than Dirt

That's :cool: I'll be breezing through Madison tomorrow morning, but not in my vette, I'll be in my work truck. If I see ya I'll wave :seeya

joeveto

That's too cool.

Has he owned any other Vettes? Was he glad you contacted him?

I'd love to know my car's history. I ran into one woman who thought she used to own my car, but she was just drunk. :rolleyes:

And really, really nasty. :U

Oh well.

Older Than Dirt

:lolg: I bet she was trying to put the make on you! :rofl: :rofl:

LOTAHP

:thumbs: :thumbs: :cool:

I always wanted to see how many owners there were and for them to see the car now.

Question.... Where do I start if I can no longer get a hold of the person I bought the car from.

2TONE82

To share a little more that he told me...yes, he owned the '79, a '64 and the '82. Said he had to sell all of them when he had heart surgery...it was that or lose the business. Glad to say the business is still going strong and so is he.

He opened up a lot once he found out that I was a Corvette guy and just looking for answers like on that speedo.

He has grand children and perked up some more when I told him how my daughter and I drove my first two-tone car to the 5th anniversary of the NCM, joining about 8K other Vettes. I also told him that his car would make the same trip this year for the 10th anniversary...my 7 year old and 14 year old daughter will have to work out who gets to ride along...I've got a seat! :D

SharkAttack

:cool: - Nice story, glad to hear you discovered some valuable info on the Vete.

Eddie 70

Good story. I have been holding on to the number I found in the door of my car. One of these days I will give the number a call and see what happens.

silverja

Great story! I wonder what could have been if all us guys were our Corvettes original owners. Somehow I believe our Corvettes would have been better cared for if we were lucky enough to have been the original owners. All these stories confirm that each Corvette has now found its best home.

mvftw

I thought I had contacted the original owner. I'm the 4th owner I thought. I found paperwork from the second owner. Contacted him, he was very happy to hear from me. After some detective work I found the first owner, he wasn't so happy. He was older and seemed that I was trying to beat him out of something, when I asked if he had any paperwork. But he did say that the car was returned after a couple of months from a girl that had it. Maybe she worked for the dealer. But the dealer is closed now...so it ends with him.

Fevre

Neat story, thanks for sharing. :thumbs:

pillowmeto

the farthest ive traced mine back( 5 people) was to "some guy in jail"
:lol:
great find

MAtt

Desertdawg

:iagree: :cheers:

MGB

Good work! I've been trying to find the original owner of mine for a while now. I'm the 3rd. owner and have talked to the 2nd. owner but she bought the car from a dealer who is no longer in business. I even have the 1st. owners name and where the car was delivered when new. I've done everything I know of short of paying an agent to find him with no luck. The dealer where he bought the car is no longer in business. Got any ideas? Again good work. :cheers:

isosceles

I know who used to own my car and I DON'T want anything to do with him.


BUBBA is NOT going to know the location of his old Vette's new home!!! :jester


[Modified by isosceles, 1:05 PM 4/11/2004]