Ownership History
 

I have a 1930 A registered in NY. Have any of you had luck working with the DMV to trace the history of ownership of your car? Or maybe you have found another way to do it. I am interested on where the car lived in its life. Any ideas or experience. Perhaps an "Ancestry.com" for cars??

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Re: Ownership History
 

really not feasible. DMVs cant keep up with business as it is.


records rarely go back more then 10 yrs in any state.

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Here in New Jersey the DMV only keeps records back 7 years. However, I've been told that their database is not the only one which exists and the state police have records going back further. Probably only a rumor......

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Each state will be a little different.

Florida database only goes back to 1978.

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Its funny you mentioned Ancestry. I found the original owners of my 31 Slant Fordor. I was told that the people that had owned the car originally lived in Malone, NY and their name was Schoo. With some searches on the US Census for 1930 I found the original owners, their address and where he worked. With some research on the Ford dealer, I looked into the city directory for Malone and found the Ford dealer's name. Being a late 31 the closest Ford assembly plant was in Buffalo, NY. It all makes an interesting history if you use the clues you have.

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My experience with the NY DMV is negative. Not like it used to be.

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Only 7 years! What happens if you own the same car for more than that? Has it dropped off their system/ Oh, wait it can't have done that. They find it every time registration and insurance is due.

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I tried Michigan, sent in all the paperwork they requested/payment....waited, waited, waited and they finally sent it back to me basically saying they were not interested in looking into it. :(

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I am sure these days privacy issues come into play.

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Purchased my 1931 Tudor in May 1994. Went to MVA for title search and they produced 12, all the way back to March 1931 in SW Baltimore, MD. This A has never been titled outside the state of MD. Since 5/94 she has been "driven" just over 55K miles to 13 states. The odom now shows just over 104K miles. This sweetheart just loves the open road.

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James, PM sent

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My car has 1931 Michigan title. It sold for 334.20 on 3/13/31. First owner started at Highland Park 1919 then later transferred to Rouge.

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When I bought my 1932 Model B in 1981, I researched previous ownerships. I did have a couple of previous registrations that helped a lot. I actually found the second owner who did visit my house and verified it was his car because it had the holes which he made in the cowl for a radio antenna. He had purchased the car in 1934. He said he drove it all through WWII to work. Because the gas gage didn't work very well (hydraulic tube type), he would fill it up Friday afternoon and drive it all week. He remembered that the car had been sold by the Ford dealer in Ledyard, CT as new and was traded in a year and half later. The previous owners name was Rose and with some research at the town office tax department I found this person's signature on some papers on file. It is unusual to know the complete history of a car this old. Ed

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I can go back a good 50+ years of ownership on my Phaeton..., but anything before that I have no idea and the DMV was no help at all.

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For my UK regeistered '30 Fordor I have the original log book which lists all the owners up until the 70's. Better yet - I could have breakfast and drive to the seaside to every address for a quick photoshoot and be home for lunch... Assuming the houses are still standing!