How do I track down a VIN from the 80's?

[rage2]

So in the 80's, my parents bought a used Austin Mini. It was our first family car in Canada. Car eventually broke down, and we sold it to one of my dad's co-workers. He fixed the car up, repainted it, and moved to Vancouver.

Fast forward to today, a co-worker of mine apparently owns an Austin Mini out of Vancouver that's eerily similar to that same car. I want to figure out if it's the same car. Most of the stories of the car matched (broken interior, wrecked electrical etc).

Is there any way to get my dad to go to the registry and pull up his records from the 80's?

[eiysa101]

http://oneguyrambling.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/future460.jpg

[J@Tuner]

I would think insurance companies would probably keep better long term records and have them more available to consumers than the registry? Just a guess, good luck!

[dannie]

Yup, have your dad go in to the registry and explain what he is looking for. As long as the clerk has a few brains, they can pulll it up and give him the info.

If the vehicle was registered to your mom though, not him.... they will need her there.

They will not give you the name of the current registered owner, but they can give you the VIN of any vehicles previously registered to him.

[J@Tuner]

^^ Interesting, thanks :)

[dannie]

^ No prob. The only thing that could be an issue is that the computer system that is now in place has only been there since 1983 and some records from the earlier 80s may not have transferred. So, hopefully it will be there :)

[Masked Bandit]

If your family happens to be insured through a broker they may be able to find old VIN's on something called an Autoplus. Finding a car from that far back is a bit of a long shot but it doesn't cost anything to call your guy & ask.

[J-hop]

A carproof of your co-workers vin should at least tell you if his vehicle was previously registered in AB might even pinpoint a city (I'll have to check the most recent one I pulled but I think it will). That would be a quick way to eliminate the vehicle or warrant more in depth investigation of the car.

[rage2]

It's not in the insurance system. Will check registry next.

Car proof is already planned as soon as I get my coworkers VIN.

Thanks for the help!

[J-hop]

Originally posted by rage2
It's not in the insurance system. Will check registry next.

Car proof is already planned as soon as I get my coworkers VIN.

Thanks for the help!

cool yea, I just double checked, and for some of the history it gives a municipality, but the oldest AB entry available for my car (1984), doesn't pinpoint a municipality

[Tik-Tok]

Originally posted by rage2
It's not in the insurance system. Will check registry next.

Car proof is already planned as soon as I get my coworkers VIN.

Thanks for the help!

Probably doesn't have 17 digit VIN. Wasn't mandatory until 1981, and Mini stopped selling in '79...

[J-hop]

double post

[J-hop]

Originally posted by Tik-Tok


Probably doesn't have 17 digit VIN. Wasn't mandatory until 1981, and Mini stopped selling in '79...

what difference would that make though? my car has a 12 digit vin and i got one just fine by calling it in. Only the online carproof won't take less than 17 digits

[Tik-Tok]

Originally posted by J-hop Only the online carproof won't take less than 17 digits [/B]


Didn't know that.

Anyways Rage, you should tell him your brother was conceived in that Mini. :rofl:

[rage2]

Originally posted by Tik-Tok
Anyways Rage, you should tell him your brother was conceived in that Mini. :rofl:
He's on beyond so that won't work lol

[Zorac]

my carpoof only goes back to 96 on my 73. its a us car though, so maybe youll have better luck in canada.

[J-hop]

Originally posted by Zorac
my carpoof only goes back to 96 on my 73. its a us car though, so maybe youll have better luck in canada.

as mentioned above for my 73' I have records back to 84' (in Canada) so maybe the OP will get lucky

[Gibson]

Do the registries charge you for doing a check like this? Would love to find out if one my old cars is still on the road.

[dannie]

^ Yep, its a vehicle information report that you gotta buy if you wanna know if its still on the road. If you are just looking for a vin of a vehicle you had registered, no.