How can I find out which dealer my 73 originally sold at?

[WH23G3G]

I'm trying to figure out which dealer my 73 Charger was originally sold at. Is there anyway I could figure it out or at least figure out which city/state it was sold in originally? I got it from a guy here in Cartersville,Ga 2.5 years ago. He said he got it from an auction. I have the title which was last issued in 1994 in Texas. So on this title, it shows the guy I bought it from in Georgia, the guy he bought it from in Georgia, and the first owner in Texas. I'm not sure if there was a previous owner before 1994. Is there anyway to find out which dealer it was sold at by the order number off the fender tag?

[Ghoste]

I think you're pretty much limited to trying to track down all of those previous owners to get info.

[WH23G3G]

How do you go about tracking down the previous owners? I can't even get ahold of the guy I bought the car from here in Georgia anymore, although he didn't seem to be doing well finacially, so I know longer can get ahold of him via the phone number I had when I originally contacted him to buy the car. He could of even removed the broadcast sheet, because he had taken the rear seat out to do something. Although, it was probably there, some others said they've found it under the carpet. But regardless mine, no longer exists anymore I'm sure. There was a Dodge dealership in the town of Texas which it was last titled in 1994. But I haven't found out how long they've been open. How does the Govier guy find out where it was sold at originally? It says on his website for $45 extra he can research your car if you just have the fender tag and want a window sticker made. A lot of people I've asked have told me the same thing, if he can find out, there's no reason why anyone else can't. But I don't know where to even start. The DMV said they can't give any information on previous owners. 

[JimShine]

I believe the dealer info is available for certain year cars (pre 1967?). After that the records are gone as they are said to have burned.

Try asking your DMV for a title search. It will cost a few bucks, but this will usually provide you with a list of previous titled owners.

[WH23G3G]

I've had mine for about 2 years now, I haven't titled or insured it or anything because I was doing such extensive work. Is that what everyone here normally does? I was going to wait until it's closer to being finished to get it titled. It says here in Georgia for this year, does not require a title. I have the title from the previous owner and the bill of sale we made up. There are 3 total previous owner's on the title I have, but it's a Texas title. Would I ask my DMV in Georgia to do a title search or the one in Texas?

[JimShine]

I think you should ask texas for search then. There are also some places that charge a fee and do all the legwork for you. One place I thought about was Abika.com. In their service they search each state DMV records for your VIN and will provide you with copies of the old titles when available (some states put them on Microfiche).

[WH23G3G]

I just took a look at the Abika.com doing a title search for Texas and apparently any other state costs $99.98. That's more than everything for Govier to do it. I think he charged like $45 for a window sticker and $35 or something to research it without a broadcast sheet. So I might be stuck doing that.

[JimShine]

Be sure he will absolutely be able to get that info. Then you still wont have a full record of past owners. To me that is just as important as who sold it. But then again, I am the guy who will call up on a Sunday afternoon and chit chat about the car and see what they did to it over the years.

[WH23G3G]

I'm still so worried about there being a problem when I go to insure, tag, and register this car after I put all the money into making it right. I have the title from Texas the guy I bought it from had, but he didn't sign that one to me, he just gave it to me. All I have to show, is the bill of sale we made up on a piece of notebook paper, with the VIN, the price, and our signatures and printed names. Here in Georgia it says there is no title required for a 73, but still after hearing the story of the stand up General Lee, I still worry. I was actually going to purchase the window sticker from www.window-sticker.com because of there price, which I think was like $30. They say they need a fender tag rubbing and either the dealer name or general city area the car was purchased in. All I know is that in 1994 mine was titled in Lufkin, TX, that's the longest record I have of it. So I looked for a dealer in Lufkin, TX which seems to be a small town, and there was a Dodge dealer, but I don't know how long it's been there. So maybe mine had been there since it was new. I was going to try and find out what city it was first registered in on my own, rather than going to the DMV or Govier because of their fees. So I wanted to get some suggestions on how I can do that with the information I have. 

[Chargerguy74]

Hope you find out. I bought a car at an auction last year. Found a reciept dated 1978 in the glove box, with a single name on it. That alone helped me find 3 previous owners. Still trying to contact the first owner (furthest back) to see where it came from.

[JimShine]

The stand up General Lee had alot of other factors going on. I would say you are okay. I too have a car that I have a title to, but can't title it in my state. Not much I can do about it, unless I have it titled through my fathers address in a state that will title it.

[Ghoste]

Although the Standup General does point out how easy it is for lawyers to screw things up.

[WH23G3G]

I emailed the Texas DMV to see if they can do a title history for my Charger, which I have the 1994 Texas title and license plate. I hope to hear from them this week. I emailed www.window-sticker.com and they told me there were two dodge dealers in Lufkin, Texas, where the last titled owner lived, but he said there's no way to know which one it would have sold at even if it was sold in Lufkin,TX. An old Mopar Muscle Issue tells that the Texas records only go back to 1986. But I guess it's worth a try. The broadcast sheet is gone for good. I found a torn corner of it in the trunk, and the guy I bought it from said he didn't see it when he had the seat out. The carpet looks to be replaced, because it's not even cut to fit and it wasn't behind the kick panels or glove box. Hopefully I'll find something out, as I'm starting to make some real progress putting the car back together.

[WH23G3G]

I checked with the Texas DMV about my Charger's history. I was told there was one title transaction on film showing that a Virginia title was submitted in support of the title that issued on July 18, 1994. Which is probably the Texas title I have dated 1994. I don't know which city in Virginia, I wasn't told that in the response. Is it important to order a copy of this film from the Texas DMV, they say that I can order it if I fill out a form and mail it in. Does this information mean that I need to check with the Virginia DMV to see if there were previous owners there? I was reading in the old Mopar Muscle issue, and it said that Virginia only kept records for 10 years. Is this as far as I can go now?

[HemiTom]

Bump!!

Im trying to figure the same thing out about my 72.

[ODZKing]

Yes, as Ghoste mentioned up to early 68, Chrysler Historical could tell you the dealer code. 
I got my originl dealer name from them.
70's cars ... tough.  If there is any paperwork with a dealer code on it that yopu have, that would do it, other wise you are limited to tracking down owners or guessing really. Tracking owners isn't fun, I can tell ya.