Hunting up old truck

[78 Chevyrado]

Been a while fellas, just been so busy and then I got very sick for the last 5 months or so...

The 78 C20's doing fine, no new projects on it, and no new damage either.    It just hums along like a top!

Onto the question...    Is it even possible to find out where my old 77 truck is nowadays?  It was my first vehicle.  I miss it.



I'd like to try to find my old '77 and possibly buy it back.  I'm thinking now it may be impossible.

I still have the VIN and Such.  Actually I have every paper ever for that truck from the dealership at new till I sold it.

I tried to do a VIN search and all the sites require the new 17 digit VINs or it doesn't work.  I'm feelin hopeless now.

VIN# is CCL147A194934.

I sold it in 2002, and in 2003 sometime I last saw it driving around Another city about 35 miles from me, but that's it.  nothing else till now.  Its not on the NCIB's list as stolen or totalled, but ya know that doesn't say a whole lot.


I'll get over it, just the system is screwin me over again...  if you don't own a car with a 17 digit VIN everything from tags to insurance and everything gets harder...


Any help appreciated guys

Thanks,
Kenny

[zieg85]

It is probably long gone, my suggestion is to build one just like it...

[78 Chevyrado]

It is probably long gone, my suggestion is to build one just like it...

Awww, I know, but I hoped yall wouldn't say it and I wouldn't think it...

It's not a huge deal to me, unless it happened, then it would be huge, It's just a lofty thought I dream about some days...

[zieg85]

You can try to have the VIN run by a police officer if you know one to see if it is still registered in your state.  I know there should be a paper trail if it is still current.  I remember back in 1987 I moved to Indiana and all out of state vehicles required a VIN check.  My VIN on my 72 K20 didn't match the title on 1 or 2 digits.  Back then everything was hand written.  The mistake was 2 owners ago in AZ where the truck originally came from which was info I wasn't aware of...

[Boone83K10]

unless it has been wrecked, then it is probably still floating around. because it is pre-81 it WILL be harder to find because it doesn't have a standard vin.

[78 Chevyrado]

I don't know any cops anymore.   So I'm kinda at a roadblock.   Will tell ya one funny thing my mom said today.  My mom n dad bought the truck new off the lot and she said if I do find it I may have to fight her to determine if she or I gets to keep it.   

My mom loves that truck as much as I do.  It's her favorite vehicle they've ever had.  Well it's my most vehicle I've ever had too.

Actually she went with me when I sold it, it went in trade to a ford dealer where I got my focus ZTS.  She said it right when we were leaving the lot in my new car, and left my truck behind, she said she felt like we just had a beloved dog put down...  So The new focus i'd gotten was needed and It's a great car, I've just always felt a lil bit of betrayal in there to leaving my truck at "some dealer"...   Financially it was right and worked in my favor big time...  But I still miss my truck sometimes very badly.

Yall know how pretty and tough and cool my 78 c20 is... YES IT IS, but it's NOT my 77.  I'd never get rid of the 78, but it'd be so cool to have em both someday.  sitting side by side again, like they used to be.

But even if I find it, I dunno if i get to keep it...  Cuz my mom told me today if i find it she wants it restored and it to be her truck.   she lives next door to me.  and now i think if i do find it, it will be hers.  but either way I don't wanna find it any less. Cuz she'd let me drive it anytime.  My mom n dad can drive any of my vehicles anytime they want, and they let me drive theirs anytime i want...  soI'd love to find that truck.

If I cannot find my truck, ill prolly skip out on the whole thing, but if I could find mine, I'd buy it back even at fairly unreasonable cost.

[78 Chevyrado]

Just a memorandum for my truck...  1977 C10 Chevy Sport.  Rollbar was stock.

When I last Had it...  Bout 6 mos before I sold it...



Traded it for this...  After yellowing the tires n lowering.  It has been an excellent car.  no question there.  It was worth it.


Me, 3 yrs old behind the truck, with my grandad in the background.  (the grandad I got my 78 from).  my 78 still lives in the center bay of that very same garage today.


Me, 3.5 yrs, with my old 77, at grandad's house.  my 78 was at that time behind the middle garage door.



So while I'm not dead set to find it, but I'd so love to.  I don't care how bad the condition.   I'd buy it for a probably unreasonable price just to have it back.  It's my first love, far as vehicles go.

When I was 15 or 16, I could have had my parents 69 mustang, but I'da rather of had the truck...  and that mustang was a hotrod... 

[78 Chevyrado]

Both my fav trucks have ever been, in same spot, different times.

2001


2007  my trucks changed a lot since 2007 but here it is back in '07

[thirsty]

Any chance you could get any info on who bought it when you traded it in and do some detective work of your own?
Would love to see you get it back.

[78 Chevyrado]

I probably could, but it would be costly, as I know no one in the know in my state.  I don't wanna spend $$$ just to find out it was scrapped or crushed.   

I'm pretty po'd all these sites only go back to '81 or so with their 17 digit vin.  there were more cars made withOUT the 17 digit vin then with.  but it's an old car so eh to the devil with it... (heavy sarcasm)...   Right after this hunting of my old vin, i watched a counting cars where they refound a guys firebird off an old VIN.   dunno whjat they did but i bet im not willing to pay that money for them to find it for me.  I want it, but not at a stupid price.   maybe a really dumb price, but not stoopid.   


Here's what I find on sites about such things...

Tracking down a pre-1981 car by its VIN is made even more difficult by the federal Drivers Privacy Protection Act (DPPA), which limits access to DMV or DOT records. Further compounding this difficulty is the fact that DMVs often purge older records to make way for new records. With limited records and limited access to those records, finding a pre-1981 car by its VIN is a formidable task.

I'd put $200-$500 on finding it but that's it and it better be real dang good info.

[78 Chevyrado]

I managed to find at expense, that, the truck was last titled in GA (dunno where)  april of 2013.   

Even if I don't find it I'm elated it's still on the road by this time.  That was such a good truck, it may never die.  It was a good one, went way better than most.  truck was surprising in most ways.

[Irish_Alley]

what i would do. is go to the dmv. tell them you just "purchased" a 77 c20 CCL147A194934. the problem is it came with no title "lost title" and you want to get a bill of sale from the owner


or skip all that
and fill these out. you need to fill them both out. the mv20 is your request for information
http://motor.etax.dor.ga.gov/motor/TitleSection/forms/pdf/MV_Motor_Vehicle_Data_Request_Form_MV20.pdf
its only $1 for tag/title/lien info and $5 for title history

and the mv20a is saying why you want that info
http://motor.etax.dor.ga.gov/forms/pdf/motor/MV_Subpoena_or_Information_Request_Form_MV20A.pdf

and send my paypal $200 ;-) good luck

[78 Chevyrado]

dang.  Tell you what Irish...  If I find everything out, you will get your $200.  You will have earned it.


My dad recalled my mom used to know some cops n judges, and I should press her to find them and call in some favors.  I'ma try it.  if your way works Irish, you'll get $200.  No foolin. 

I wawnt ma truck back.  I'm getting a huge bug about this too.  we'll see how it goes... 

[nlauffer]

Let us know how it goes.  It's not exactly legal, but I was a police officer not too long ago in my town and might be able to get the vin ran for you.  I haven't asked any of them yet, though.

[Irish_Alley]

lol no money needed, just seeing someone happy if something works out and they appreciate my help is all i need. at work some of us have access to tag/vin info BUT even if you check you own info they will bring you in and ask questions. in most cases you get fired. all that being said if you still want to pay me. i hate to turn down money, but you could donate $25 to capt so i can get my "Site Supporter" tag back;D