California owner needs help with DMV Records

[snakeoilbrian]

Does anyone know how to find out the first owner of my car sold here in California? Thanks, Brian

[isaak-gt500kr]

If it's a Shelby it could be in the registry. I could check for you if I have the year & Shelby serial number.

Update - I saw your info in another post. Not much in the registry regarding your car.

[patty.dilabio]

Hi Brian ! I think you would begin with D.M.V. in Sacramento.Some/most states keep old records for several years.Often times writing to them via snail mail works best,Does your car still have original black-yellow plates?Maybe someone on this forum has tried this recently,and can let us know what has happened.Good luck,and keep us posted with results.
P.D.

[DeLa1Rob]

If anyone has had any luck dealing with the beuracracy of their State's DMV, I would love to hear how they did it.

The older these cars get, the harder it is to document their history.

robin

[JohnW]

Brian,

If you go to the CA DMV website there's a form you can print off to get your Vehicle Registration Information (you must be the current registered owner). I just received mine today in the mail. But the bad news is that they only keep data back to the mid 80's. The reports only cost $5, but in my case money wasted since I bought the car in 1982 from the second owner. I know the names of both the first owner and the second owner, but nothing shows up about them on the report I got. And I think you can just walk in to the nearest DMV office and do this in person if you don't mind waiting in line. It took 2-3 weeks for me to get my report through the mail.

John