I'm thinking of using a Private Investigator

[Magnumcharger]

It just occured to me that hiring an investigator might be the best idea.
A background: I'm in the Canadian Forces, and have been posted to various Bases across Canada over the years. In 1984, I was posted to CFB Shilo, Manitoba. While there, I bought a car off of a local soldier, a 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T. I traded it off to another fellow in Lockport, Manitoba in 1986. To this day, I regret having done this, and have been searching for it ever since.
Needless to say, I'd like to find it and try to buy it back.
I do not know the VIN number of the car, but it does have some distinctive features. I have names and dates, and lots of pictures.
Anybody else had experience in this type of thing?

[472 R/T SE]

That looks like a partial license plate read.  Do you have that?  Wouldn't that be a big help?

[bull]

That looks like a partial license plate read.  Do you have that?  Wouldn't that be a big help?

It would be a big help if the car still has the same license plate. If not it probably wouldn't help at all.

[Magnumcharger]

The plate "2FAS4U"...I still have it.
No, in Manitoba the plates change with ownership.

[472 R/T SE]

So Curtis, there are no records of VINs from a particular car simply by running an old plate?

[69charger2002]

there probably is a way of tracking in some states/places.. but i know louisiana for example they disappear out of the system after just 3 years.. i'm sure many other places are longer, but i doubt many keep records in the computer back to the 80's...

[RallyeMike]

An investigator is going to cost dough.
The car may not exist anymore.
If it does, it may not be for sale.
If it is, it's not likely to be a bargain for someone who spent this amount of effort to track it down.

Maybe it's best to find another cool car and start some new memories.

[Ghoste]

Up here, the plate is registeered to the owner, not the vehicle.  I don't know about Manitoba, but in Ontario you might be able to do a history of the vehicles the plate has been attached too.  A helpful friend in law enforcement may be able tohelp but they can get in a of trouble if they are caught using databanks for other purposes.
As for the private investigator, Mike is right, it's probably time to make new memories when you get to that point.  I can't imagine a PI doing it too cheaply and it might just be better to save that money for another car.

[Khyron]

motor vehicle should still have the VIN information when they issued you your plates.  Why not just do a DMV check?

[Magnumcharger]

In Manitoba, the licensing/insuring/registration is all done by a provincial corporation called AUTOPAC.
It's very similar to what they have in British Columbia, ICBC.
They keep records for only 5 years.
Things would be infinitely easier if I had any idea what the VIN would have been.

[FJMG]

    Having the VIN in Canada does not neccessarily make it any easier, My own car (which I have owned for many years now) dissappears for a couple of years in the 70's and that's when a lot of components were removed. I had the most success by travelling to the place where it was last known and asking a lot of questions, plenty of dead ends but a few lucky strikes. 
    As for your car, have you tried the manitoba mopar club? there are pics of a few 70 Challengers on the site.

[Magnumcharger]

Yeah, I've had an ongoing request on the Manitoba Mopar Association website for several years now.
Nothing solid from that crowd, as of yet.
I just spoke to my hired dick, and he said he had a car pretty well nailed down...but it wasn't the one afterall. I guess since I've waited this long, I can wait some more.
Strangely, I've had dreams....so many in fact, that I can't count them...that one day, this car will be mine again.
And it makes me so happy to think of that possibility...

Here's a copy of my post on the MMA website:
http://www.getphpbb.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=10&mforum=mbmopar

[Mean 318]

I have been down this road. The PIs I found said they couldnt help me!

[69bronzeT5]

I've managed to get a lot of luck finding my dad's '69 GTO but just trying around the GTO sites around this area and I made an ad on craigslist and I've gotten a few guys contact me. I've gotten a really good lead on it that I need to check into. Good luck with your search.

[72SE]

Have you posted over at
www.Cuda-Challenger.com or www.forebodiesonly.com
Might be worth a shot. And free! Mike

[Magnumcharger]

Have you posted over at
www.Cuda-Challenger.com or www.forebodiesonly.com
Might be worth a shot. Mike

Hmmmm...not yet...but maybe I should!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6786084465337045950

[Magnumcharger]

Actually, I had a posting at Cuda-Challenger.com.....which I refreshed as of today! Thanks for reminding me!
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=31545.0

[Todd Wilson]

there probably is a way of tracking in some states/places.. but i know louisiana for example they disappear out of the system after just 3 years.. i'm sure many other places are longer, but i doubt many keep records in the computer back to the 80's...

I agree.  Sold in 86.  Theres probably paper in a file cabinet somewhere in the court house but getting anyone to get off their butts and go look or even know where to look in my DMV would be next to impossible. Highly unlikely it got entered in the computer system when they changed over or may not exist now due to roll off of info.


Todd

[Beep Beep Dave]

Man that would be a tough choice picking a PI
I have it down to Magnum PI or Simon and Simon. I've never seen either one fail and they both have a Mopar connection

Probably couldn't hurt to put it on my website as Mopar of the Month...and I could use the video as Video of the Month.
Just need some pics and a write-up

Dave

[Magnumcharger]

Man that would be a tough choice picking a PI
I have it down to Magnum PI or Simon and Simon. I've never seen either one fail and they both have a Mopar connection

Probably couldn't hurt to put it on my website as Mopar of the Month...and I could use the video as Video of the Month.
Just need some pics and a write-up

Dave

Dave!!! You gotta deal!!!

[Beep Beep Dave]

If Magnum and Simon can't help you don't hesitate to use Jim Rockford
Dave

[Magnumcharger]

A few pictures of my old ride, shot between 1984 and 1986.
http://flickr.com/photos/dodgedeora/sets/72157613616386682/

[Charger_Fan]

Man, all those pics & not one of the fender tag, or VIN tag? Tisk, tisk.
Good lookin' Chally, I'd want it back too. I hope you can find it.

[hemi-hampton]

Seems like in the Mid 80's nobody knew or cared about Fender tags. Everytime I read them & Vins in the 80's everybody thought I was nuts LEON.