How do I find a vehicle we sold 10 years ago?

OUTATIME · 05-06-2012, 05:56 PM

Similar to the owner of Papa John's, I want to try and find a motorcycle which my dad sold about 10 years ago. I have an old license plate which was registered in 1987 and that is about all I have left from it. I'm searching desperately for the VIN but no document has turned up with it.

I know this sounds crazy, but I was in love with that bike and was heartbroken when I learned my parents sold it - I was 17 at the time and my parents were very afraid that I'd try to take it out one day and mess myself up. Some time later my dad admitted to me that he wanted to teach me how to ride one day but never got the chance before he passed away. I am now 27 and believe me, I have some respect for a motor and I do no such stupid things I would have done when I was 17.

What I do know was that the buyer and his wife was from California and came ALL the way out to New Jersey (where we live) to transport the bike back to CA on the dolly on the back of his truck. From what I heard they were really nice people, and were elderly and retired.

The bike was a Hell Red 1980 BMW R65. Any help would be appreciated. Humor is appreciated too. Scolding, eye-rolling, or the silent "this dude is crazy" thought are all welcome as well.

This is not our bike, but one just like it:

The Stig · 05-06-2012, 06:12 PM

you'd need the VIN. That's the only way I can think of to track a car from that long ago.

upflying · 05-06-2012, 06:32 PM

Join a BMW Airhead forum, someone might recognize it.

Stingr69 · 05-07-2012, 11:45 AM

Call your car insurance company/agent and see if they have the VIN in thier records.

-Mark.

Mr_Draco · 05-07-2012, 12:10 PM

You will need the vin plus lots of time. Papa John got lucky and even then he had to offer a massive reward for information regarding it and it still took him years.

You can try contacting the DMV or your parents insurance agent and see if they have the vin in their system still. I don't think they keep information for that long but worth a shot and since it wasn't yours, I don't think they would be willing to give it out.

LIM3 · 05-07-2012, 01:01 PM

Good luck finding it. I hope it all work outs for you.

OUTATIME · 05-07-2012, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stingr69

Call your car insurance company/agent and see if they have the VIN in thier records.

-Mark.

This. I didn't even think of that. My parents have been with the same insurance company for like 20 years. I'm going to call them tomorrow.

05-06-2012, 05:56 PM	#1
OUTATIME Drives: 2010 IOM 2SS/RS Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 633	How do I find a vehicle we sold 10 years ago? Similar to the owner of Papa John's, I want to try and find a motorcycle which my dad sold about 10 years ago. I have an old license plate which was registered in 1987 and that is about all I have left from it. I'm searching desperately for the VIN but no document has turned up with it. I know this sounds crazy, but I was in love with that bike and was heartbroken when I learned my parents sold it - I was 17 at the time and my parents were very afraid that I'd try to take it out one day and mess myself up. Some time later my dad admitted to me that he wanted to teach me how to ride one day but never got the chance before he passed away. I am now 27 and believe me, I have some respect for a motor and I do no such stupid things I would have done when I was 17. What I do know was that the buyer and his wife was from California and came ALL the way out to New Jersey (where we live) to transport the bike back to CA on the dolly on the back of his truck. From what I heard they were really nice people, and were elderly and retired. The bike was a Hell Red 1980 BMW R65. Any help would be appreciated. Humor is appreciated too. Scolding, eye-rolling, or the silent "this dude is crazy" thought are all welcome as well. This is not our bike, but one just like it:

05-06-2012, 06:12 PM	#2
The Stig knows 2 facts about ducks Drives: ...and they're both wrong Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The HMS Invincible Posts: 25,072 View My Garage	you'd need the VIN. That's the only way I can think of to track a car from that long ago. __________________

05-07-2012, 01:01 PM	#6
LIM3 it's mind bottling.. Drives: SGM Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: miami floirda. Posts: 5,392	Good luck finding it. I hope it all work outs for you. __________________

05-06-2012, 06:32 PM	#3
upflying Drives: '86 Monte Carlo SS Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 3,119	Join a BMW Airhead forum, someone might recognize it.

05-07-2012, 11:45 AM	#4
Stingr69 '69 Owned Since '79 Drives: '69 Z/28 LeMans Blue w/White Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: LR AR Posts: 1,848 View My Garage	Call your car insurance company/agent and see if they have the VIN in thier records. -Mark.

05-07-2012, 12:10 PM	#5
Mr_Draco Drives: 2SS/RS Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 7,353	You will need the vin plus lots of time. Papa John got lucky and even then he had to offer a massive reward for information regarding it and it still took him years. You can try contacting the DMV or your parents insurance agent and see if they have the vin in their system still. I don't think they keep information for that long but worth a shot and since it wasn't yours, I don't think they would be willing to give it out.