Finding orginal owners

[JeffDeWitt]

Now that I've found the dealership that sold my truck I'm wondering about who bought it.

The dealership is long gone and the man who owned it passed away a few months ago, so there is no telling what happened to it's records even if they still exist. The local library was VERY helpful in finding the dealership and I've now asked them if they can help with this task, maybe they have access to some tax records.

The state history people are looking into it but don't seem very hopeful, they have title records going UP to about 1940 and recent ones but are doubtful any exist from around 1960.

Did Studebaker keep any records on the purchaser? Are such records available (I've sent a note to the museum).

Any other suggestions?

Thanks!

[jlmccuan]

They had the warranty punch card for my Avanti as well as the shipper and of course the production order. Try to get any of that stuff for your GM.

[studeclunker]

I'm basically the second owner of Bess. She passed through a middle-man (or should I say handy-man) who was charged with, 'getting rid of that old junker.' Her words, not mine. Aparently, the old girl who had driven Bess and faithfully cared for her, had been hospitalized for dimentia in the late seventies. Her husband took some of the parts off the engine to fix them and aparently they were lost during the cleanup. The lady died ten years ago and her husband was placed in a nursing home three years before he died. Bess sat in a shed till the cleanup where she had been resting since her owner went off to the home. When the daughter arranged for the property to be cleared out, she wanted the car, 'disposed of,' and didn't care how. Sad, but there you have it.

I was lucky enough to get the old girl four years ago, or so, and was very glad to do so, when the handy-man listed the car on the 'bay. Hopefully, some of these afore mentioned 'estate sales' produce such happy endings.

[JeffDeWitt]

Well I got some good news and some bad news from the Oregon DMV.

The good news is they think they can provide a copy of my trucks original title.

The bad news is they will scrub the owners name off it.

[studeclunker]

Well I got some good news and some bad news from the Oregon DMV.

The good news is they think they can provide a copy of my trucks original title.

The bad news is they will scrub the owners name off it.

LOL, isn't that just like the bureauacracy?

[rusty65]

I don't know if this gentleman was the original owner of Sarah, but he certianly owned it in 1968:
A Mr. D. Cunningham of Falls Church, VA took her to a local Esso to get some work done.
Balance rear wheels and lubricate chassis: total with tax=$6.83!
I have an address and the license plate number it had at the time.I don't think I'm going there any time soon,but I may GoogleMap it just for kicks.....

[JeffDeWitt]

LOL, isn't that just like the bureauacracy?

I think it's really the federal governments fault, not Oragon's.

Oregon DMV is not allowed to provide
personal information due to the privacy act.

[Mike Sal]

Unless your lucky, most cars, especially orphan brand cars, go thru an evolution:

New; The pride and joy of the owner. Probably kept lots of records.
Late model used; Owned with some pride by the guy who can't swing enough for a new car. May keep some records.
Old used; The back row of the used car lot. All records are usually out the window.
Kid's car used; Sold cheap & receiving the least amount of maintenance.
Back yard used; This is where some of us found our studebakers....in somebody's back yard after it quit running. Who knows on history.
Rolling restoration; almost an exclusive rite of all stude people....drive em while you fix em. Start your own records.
New (from restoration); Some of us have several, some have none. You'll pass your records along to the next guy.
Mike Sal