Trying to find the original owner?

[Als 70 L78 Nova]

I have tracked down two previous owners of my 1970 L78 Nova SS. I talked to the person in Orlando Florida who purchased the Nova from a used car lot in Orland Florida called Cumbie Hayward Used Cars in 1971. If you don't count the used car lot as an owner, I am assuming that this is owner number 2. He states that the car was indeed a real L78 4-speed car. Of course, the problem is that he has no idea who owned the car prior to Cumbie Hayward owning it. To make matters worse, Cumbie Hayward has since closed. Owner #2 did tell me who he sold the car to and I have also talked to this person (owner #3) who actually rebuilt the engine for owner #2 in the 70's and at that time asked for first refusal if owner #2 ever decided to sell it. Owner #3 also states that the car was a real L78 Nova SS 4-speed car. OK, does anyone out there have any ideas? I have an original title dated 8/16/96 in the name of the 3rd owner and it also shows the date of the previous title as 4/19/72. Can I get any info from the DMV in Florida? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Al Barlow
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/dillon14/L78%20Nova%20Photos/PriortoRestoration.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/dillon14/L78%20Nova%20Photos/5-10-0870.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/dillon14/L78%20Nova%20Photos/5-10-0827.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/dillon14/L78%20Nova%20Photos/5-10-0810.jpg

[mockingbird812]

Cool '70 Al! Love the FB paint, short console, http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif and buckets!

Good luck on your search. Keep getting the word out. You have good leads back to early '70's. List it on the various Nova sites too.

[njsteve]

Actually FLordia used to be one of the best DMVs for keeping records. It's been a while (like 10 years) but back when I lived there the DMV kept microfiche records of every document from the day a car came into the state. I bought a resto project Dodge and did the request from DMV and got everything back to the 1970 MSO that was on record. (the car was sold originally in Florida). But the rules have probably changed since then.

Whatever you do - DO IT NOW. Do not wait because sometimes they have "purgefests" at the end of the year and you dont want to find out your info was purged a week before you got around to making a phone call.

[Als 70 L78 Nova]

I just got off the phone with the Florida DMV and they state that they only go back 10 years. Man this sucks. So close but yet so far. I wonder if anyone out there knows anything about the Cumbie Hayward used car lot. I know Cumbie is an avenue in Orlando so I am assuming that the owner's last name was Hayward. Just assuming.

[SuperNovaSS]

I would try to put the request in at the Florida DMV anyway. Sometimes they say 10 years but they have it all.



Jason

[GenOne]

[ QUOTE ]
I would try to put the request in at the Florida DMV anyway. Sometimes they say 10 years but they have it all.







Jason

[/ QUOTE ]
I agree with trying - PA says 10 years but I went for it anyway and got the history on one of my cars. Doesn't hurt to try -

Jeff

[quick-bowtie]

Al,
I also agree with the 2 above post, write them a letter expalining what your looking for or better yet talk to the local DMV again and offer alittle cash to who you talk to if they help you out..

Ive had two Florida cars that we sold to new in the state and both had great paper work from the state. (Statement of Origin, First title app, first title registered etc..) The paper work the state keeps is some great stuff, but I dont think any of it would list the car as a L78. Good luck I Hope you can find the original owner.

[Als 70 L78 Nova]

Can anyone tell me how I submit to the Florida DMV for the title information?

[Salvatore]

Al, Go to Yahoo Search and type in Florida DMV. They have a website! Wasn't this car for sale not to long ago? Sam

[1969l78]

I would love to find the owner history on my nova but I think california does not give out info. Good luck in search.

[Salvatore]

The owner history starts with you!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[1969l78]

I know one thing, I will be the last owner till the day I kick the bucket. So I hope I have here for another 60+ years!!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Als 70 L78 Nova]

Andy, I know the title would not designate the car as an L78 but if I can find the original owner, a statement from that person would be valuable in itself. Besides that, I love to put together the history on these cars. And yes, the car is for sale but that doesn't mean I am quitting my search for the original owner. Even if I sell the car, the history needs to go with it if at all possible.

[WILMASBOYL78]

[ QUOTE ]
I know one thing, I will be the last owner till the day I kick the bucket. So I hope I have here for another 60+ years!!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I only hope you are around long enough to buy me dinner http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif

[69hurstSC]

Al,

I have tried tiresome trying to back track my 1969 Road Runner as well as my 69 AMC Hurst SC/rambler. I will never give up, but some days it feels absolutely impossible. I cant even get past my own personal ownership of my RR which goes back to 96. I have the previous owners full name, but have been unsuccesfull in trying to find him. As far as the SC/rambler, I have it back to 72, where the 2nd owner slightly remembers things about the car, but doesnt remember the town he purchased it in. One more quick story about my friends 1966 Formula S Barracuda. While restoring his car he found a fuel reciept. In fact it dated back to 66. He had the same problem as you, the car was purchased off a used car lot and there were NO previous records. However, the used car lot owner remembered that he believed the car came from Washington State. In my research, the sales reciept indicated that the car was in Washington D.C. Unfortunately we can only assume that the owners had taken the Barracuda on a vacation, as the address on the reciept indicated that they might have been seeing the sights in D.C. Again, we have a FULL name on the reciept, and a dead end.

My Advice:
You have a dealership lot. Thats good. That means most likely the Nova was a local trade in. Get an ad in the local papers, and post on ANY local message boards stating EXACTLY what car you have down to color and drivetrain.
You also have a name on the dealership. Pound the phone books on that name of Hayword. It seems you eliminated the name Cumbee from the name of the owner. Also, find the street named Cumbee and start making phone calls to businesses that appear to be that age and older. You can do this by googling business names on that street and finding there websites. Some boast "been in business for 50 years". Well, they might remember that business. You would be suprised at how many wayward calls i've made! LOL
If the DMV is a dead issue, theres always one last hope. Make your way down to Florida and attend a local show. Bring pics of the Nova and ground and pound.
Al, I hope this isnt an effort to increase the value of your Nova on a sale. Everyone knows that providing original docs ups the value. I hope this is just the love of collector cars thats driving your search. Hope these tips help.

[Als 70 L78 Nova]

69hurstSC,

Thanks for all of the info. As to ownership history and price, I have had the car for sale for a while. If I find the info or not, my price will not change. I really do want to add the history to the car if at all possible.

By the way, I have attached a few photos of the Hemi Road Runners I have previously owned as well as the S/C Rambler.

Al
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/dillon14/1969SCRambler.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/dillon14/68Hemi4-speed-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/dillon14/68Hemi4-speed-2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/dillon14/68HemiAuto-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/dillon14/68HemiAuto-2.jpg

[mockingbird812]

Wow, quite a matching pair of RRs! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[Salvatore]

[ QUOTE ]
I know one thing, I will be the last owner till the day I kick the bucket. So I hope I have here for another 60+ years!!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]Yea right! Famous last words. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif

[69hurstSC]

wow, nice SC and RR!! i can imagine quite a few cars fell victim to that wolf in lambs wool which is that hemi RR!

[JRSully]

AL, if you are in law enforcement, you may have an inside track to the NICB which if you get to it, and the person doing it on your behalf goes the whole nine yards in the system, may give the dealer it was either ordered by and/or delivered to new. If you have that info and the dealer is still around, the original paperwork from when it was sold new may stillbe around and that would be the Holy Grail of paperwork and info. Did the guy who sold you the car (Ponytail guy.,?) have any info. That was a nice Hemi RR he had as I recall

[Als 70 L78 Nova]

Jim,

What type of information would I have to give the NICB and how would they be able to track down the original dealer?

Thanks,
Al

[JRSully]

year make and VIN, and if you get through, you should get an invoice # date of delivery and dealer name and location. I was able to get them done on both of my Nova's. It is a very hard system to access for the average person due to privacy laws, but you should have a great shot. Good luck

[Als 70 L78 Nova]

Thanks, I'll work on it.

[1969l78]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I know one thing, I will be the last owner till the day I kick the bucket. So I hope I have here for another 60+ years!!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]Yea right! Famous last words. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I just took her for a nice 30 mile trip, she runs like a champ, unless you give me a million then I might talk about it http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[lwkitt427]

HELLO LES HERE IN NEW ORLEANS OUR DMV USED TO KEEP ALL THE RECORDS , AND IF YOU PAID A $20.00 FEE THEY WOULD RESEARCH THE CARS VIN AND GIVE A COPY OF ALL THE TITLE TRANSFERS. THEY HAVE GOOTEN A LITTLE TOUGHER NOW DAYS REALLY NOT WANTING TO TAKE THE TIME TO DO, AND NOW THEY SAY THEY ONLY TEN YEARS BACK. BUT ON A 1972 HURST OLDS I BOUGHT I WA ABLE TO GET A FREIND WHO KNOW A JUDGE AND THE JUDGE WROTE S SIMPLE LETTER REQUESTING THAT THURO TILE SEARCH BE DONE ON THAT CAR, AND I STRICK GOLD GOT ALL THE PAST OWNERS AND O GOT A COPY OF THE WINDOW STICKER FROM THE DEALER THAT SOLD THE CAR NEW AND THE HAND WRIITTEN ALES ORDER. SO DO NOT GIVE ON THE DMV. SOME TIMES THE SQUEAKY BEARING GETS THE GREASE BE NICE ABOUT IT BUT EXPLAIN HOW INPORTANT IT IS TO YOU TO HAVE THIS INFORMATIOM. ALSO NOW IN LA YOU HAVE BE BE THE REGISTERED OWNER. YOU USE TO JUST HAVE HAVE THE CARS VIN BOY THOSE WHERE THE GOOD OLD DAYS. ALSO I BOUGHT A 1969 MUSTANGE MACH ONE OUT PA. AND WHEN THE SELLER GOT TO LOOKING AT HIS PAPER WORK WHO RELAIEZED HE HAD THE WRONG TITLE FROM THE GUY HE BOUGHT THE CAR FROM. AND THE PA DMV TOLD HIM THE SAME THING ONLY TEEN YEARS BUT WITH A NICE LETTER AND A $50.0 FEE SOMEONE TOOK THE TIME TO GO TO THE OLD WAREHOUSE AND GO THROUGHT THE BOXES AND FOUND THE ORGINAL TITLE. SO STAY AFTER THEM. A LITTLE CASH OFFERING NEVER HURTS.