Unlocking Your Classic Car’s Past
Part of what makes classic cars so unique is their history. Maybe your precious jewel was once owned by a celebrity or was the first to come off the manufacturing line. Details like this can really help complete your classic car’s story, but can also vastly contribute to its resale price. But if you are not the car’s first owner, its history may be lost to you. Luckily, there are several ways to find out what kind of life your car led before it came into your possession. At Chimera Motors, premier classic car restoration in Orange County, we value the history of every car we work on, and through this post want to help you get in touch with your classic car’s history.
Vehicle Identification Number
Cracking the Vehicle Identification Number or VIN code can give you most of the answers you are looking for, as it contains all the necessary data about your classic car. From the exact time of manufacture to the place where it was assembled, the VIN offers more data than you can imagine. It can even help determine the original color scheme of the car.
A good place to start would be to determine the origin of the car, which means track the when and the where. Some big manufacturers have a number of different assembly locations, and the VIN can help you determine exactly where your car was built. The date can tell you the location of your car during the period the production ran and inform you of any changes it may have gone through. This information can vastly contribute to the value of your old-timer. If you are buying a classic car, seeing if the information the VIN offers checks out with the seller’s claims is a great way to determine if you are being tricked.
If you need to look up your classic car’s VIN, the best place to look is the internet. Just look up a good VIN decoder using your preferred search engine, and all the information it contains can be easily unlocked. If you prefer the old-fashioned way, you can consult the books that hold your car’s VIN information. Of course, cross-referencing the two is always a good idea, as this way you can confirm the information you receive.
The Department of Motor Vehicles
Not very popular among car owners, it’s true. However, the DMV may prove itself useful when it comes to unlocking your classic car’s past. You can file requests to determine the previous owners of the car. The DMV even offers online service, so you won’t even have to leave your home. If this fails, you can always visit the DMV office in the state where the purchase was made and just trace its lineage back to the roots. Of course, there will be a few fees to cover but don’t let that deter you from investigating your classic car’s origins, as these fees are only symbolic.
Get In Touch With Previous Owners
This is often the last step, as contacting the previous owners may not prove to be such an easy task. Older classic cars may have addresses or names which you can use to find the previous owners, provided that they haven’t moved, changed their number or passed away. If you can’t find the previous owner, skip the step and go to the one before them. If you can track down anyone who had owned your classic car, you could receive important information about its origins.
The Leading Classic Car Restoration in Orange County
Chimera Motors offers premier classic car service, repair, restoration and performance upgrades. Every car has a different story, and we are more than happy to be a part of it by giving your old-timer a royal treatment. Contact us at 714-907-0609 for any questions you might have about restoring your most valued possession.
