Author Topic: On the hunt  (Read 14424 times)

OrignlZ

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On the hunt
« on: December 26, 2023, 07:05:45 PM »
Hi all,

I have been on the hunt for information on a 1969 Z-28 my dad owned back in the 80's. I truly understand that this is quite the long shot given the time line and the limited info I have but I'll keep throwing it out there and see if anything sticks! This car is very important to me and my family, and it would be very cool to know it's still out there and still being enjoyed. A little backstory on the car and our connection to it below.

My dad was a dyed in the wool bowtie guy, I grew up in what felt like a used car lot. He was always restoring a car (sometimes 2) and then selling to buy the next project. We had Chevelles, El Caminos, Corvettes and Camaros, but one Camaro in particular is the one I'm after. My dad bought this car in Northridge CA in December of 1979 and spent years restoring it back to stock while adding some options like a cowl hood (with functioning cowl) and rear spoiler. This car was featured on the cover of Car Craft in November of 85, the month after I as born. This is the car that I came home from the hospital in when I was born and it was the only car my Dad ever regretted selling. But it launched him into Corvettes so that was always how he justified it. He sold the car sometime between Nov of 86 and March of 87, but I don't have a concrete date on that.

Unfortunately, my Dad had been battling Lymphoma since Dec of 2016. He had been able to beat it back into remission but it reared it's ugly head again this year. It was a tough year and as time went on it seemed like there was less and less that he was interested in or enjoyed, but one thing we could always talk about was cars. The last conversation we had was about cars and how many he had (49), and of course the Camaro. He was struggling with cognitive issues, but when I could get him on cars he was sharp as a tack and I could tell he enjoyed talking about them. He passed on the day before Thanksgiving and it's become my mission to try and hunt this car down. It's been an almost cathartic experience and in its own way still makes me feel connected to him. I've met and talked to a lot of like minded car nuts over the last few months just looking for leads or who to talk to. At the most recent cars and coffee in my area someone recommend reaching out to Jerry MacNeish. I was able to get in contact with Jerry and he was kind enough to dig through his databases but came up empty. He gave me some recommendations along with coming here and seeing if anyone here had a hit on this car.

I went digging through the boxes of old car receipts my dad had to try and find any paperwork or identifying info on this car. I have pictures of it, but unfortunately they're limited and from the early 80's so you can't make out any stampings under the hood. I was able to find the VIN from the car when my dad put a personalized plate on the car (which I also found to go with the original emblems off the car that he gave me years ago). So the VIN is the only hard identifier I have on the car, I've tried to run it but I keep running into pre-81 errors so maybe I'm just not looking in the right place. Vin # 124379L512990. Anyway, sorry for the long first post but if anyone knows anything about this car or remembers seeing it in the valley way back when I'd love to hear from you!















On the hunt - 1969 VN built Z-28
VIN # 124379L512990

bcmiller

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Re: On the hunt
« Reply #1 on: December 26, 2023, 07:15:24 PM »
As of May 2022 it was in Nevada. You may want to check with the Nevada DMV to see if they can help you.

You could also hire a private investigator if that does not work out.

I will tell you a quick story though. Even if you find it, you may not be able to buy it back. I tracked down a car I had in high school and college.  I blew up 2 engines in it and one transmission. I also restored it and painted it. It had the original engine rebuilt when I sold it and a non-original M22. I tracked it down, but the current owner will not sell it. It sits in a machine shed covered in dust. So good luck. 
« Last Edit: December 27, 2023, 12:07:23 AM by bcmiller »
Bryon / 1968 Camaro SS 396 coupe - now old school 468 big block
1967 Camaro RS/SS 396 coupe L35/M40 - 4 generation family project
Looking for 68 Camaro with body # NOR 181016

group/7

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Re: On the hunt
« Reply #2 on: December 26, 2023, 09:26:31 PM »
Great story ! good luck in your search for you dad's car.

169INDY

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Re: On the hunt
« Reply #3 on: December 27, 2023, 12:02:09 AM »
You appear VERY organized and ready for the search. Be prepared to just find another 71/71 Blue Z as its place keeper, Be FUNDED and focused
Wishing you the best in this search!
Jim
68 SS/RS L35 Th-400 LOS
69 Pace Car L48 Th-350 LOS
68 Z28 M21 LOS

Danzo

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Re: On the hunt
« Reply #4 on: December 27, 2023, 01:04:38 AM »
OrignlZ Welcome! Never give up the hunt! Bryon do you have any other info? Do we have any members from Nevada? I found an old Z from 1985 in 2010(with the help of this site). It's out there. Love the short rear stripes.
Doc
 

Danzo

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Re: On the hunt
« Reply #5 on: December 27, 2023, 03:06:29 PM »
Maybe members rich69rs or Vince can help.

68camaroz28

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Re: On the hunt
« Reply #6 on: December 27, 2023, 03:46:12 PM »
Nice end of the year story to read and wish 2024 holds finding and possibly obtaining your Dad's old ride. And welcome to CRG.
Byron, knowing you a little I would not think you stopped keeping in touch with the current owner of your old camaro ride but sometimes just keeping in touch and building a relationship brings a huge award.
My nephew knew where his parents 67 Dodge RT they purchased new resided and owner would not sell. He did sell hm another RT he had with same color combo and sold same local dealership but again, not the one his parents owned. He kept in touch with the guy, talked to him at Carlisle, restored the RT purchased, and several years later sold him his parents RT. He call them RT1 & RT2.
Chick
68 Z/28 NOR 01B Orig motor/trans/rear
69 Z/28 NOR 07A Orig Block & GM Cross-ram/carbs
69 L34 Rest. Nova Father/Son Car
69 L78 Surv Nova Purch 4/69 31K miles
67 L89 Corv Tribute
68 Corv 427/400 Orig motor
07 Corv Z06
R 68Z build- http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=182584

bcmiller

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Re: On the hunt
« Reply #7 on: December 27, 2023, 04:23:27 PM »
Chick, I check in about once a year. If the car was actually being used it probably wouldn’t bother me as much.
Bryon / 1968 Camaro SS 396 coupe - now old school 468 big block
1967 Camaro RS/SS 396 coupe L35/M40 - 4 generation family project
Looking for 68 Camaro with body # NOR 181016

GMAD_Van Nuys

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Re: On the hunt
« Reply #8 on: December 27, 2023, 05:53:29 PM »
Back in the early 2000s, I saw a similar 1969 Z28 on the freeway while driving to San Diego.  The license plate was a CA blue plate "REALZ28."  The Z28 was in the right lane, going 55 mph, and I figured it must have had 4.56 gears.

X66

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Re: On the hunt
« Reply #9 on: December 28, 2023, 03:12:52 AM »
Welcome aboard I hope you find your dad's car. I love the old pics

OrignlZ

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Re: On the hunt
« Reply #10 on: December 28, 2023, 04:45:43 AM »
As of May 2022 it was in Nevada. You may want to check with the Nevada DMV to see if they can help you.

You could also hire a private investigator if that does not work out.

I will tell you a quick story though. Even if you find it, you may not be able to buy it back. I tracked down a car I had in high school and college.  I blew up 2 engines in it and one transmission. I also restored it and painted it. It had the original engine rebuilt when I sold it and a non-original M22. I tracked it down, but the current owner will not sell it. It sits in a machine shed covered in dust. So good luck.

This is incredible! I can't tell you how cool it is to know that this car is still out there. I didn't have particularly high hopes in being able to track it down based off my limited info on it so to find out it was still around last year is exciting. I appreciate the tips on moving forward, I'll see if I can get any info from the Nevada DMV. I'd love to try and get into contact with whoever owns it just to see what the car looks like today and share the story. I won't hold my breath for that person to be willing to sell it back to me, I know what these cars are worth to people  ;D.

You appear VERY organized and ready for the search. Be prepared to just find another 71/71 Blue Z as its place keeper, Be FUNDED and focused
Wishing you the best in this search!
Thank you! I've always had a love for this car, but also the 69 Camaro my whole life. As cool as it would be to be get this car back, I'd be happy with any 69 Z!

OrignlZ Welcome! Never give up the hunt! Bryon do you have any other info? Do we have any members from Nevada? I found an old Z from 1985 in 2010(with the help of this site). It's out there. Love the short rear stripes.
Doc
 
My dad was always very proud of those stripes, he used to tell me all the time how many people get them wrong when they repaint these cars. He was very particular about things being right.

Thank you to everyone for the welcome and the wishes of success. If anyone knows anyone in Nevada that may have seen this car or know who owns it I'd love to hear from you. I'm going to keep going down every avenue that pops up to try and get more info on where this car has been and how it got to where it is now.
On the hunt - 1969 VN built Z-28
VIN # 124379L512990

OrignlZ

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Re: On the hunt
« Reply #11 on: December 28, 2023, 04:57:20 AM »
Just for fun, here are a few more from the Car Craft shoot and some of my Dads many other cars. Our neighbors used to joke we were running a used car lot out of the house.





On the hunt - 1969 VN built Z-28
VIN # 124379L512990

rich69rs

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Re: On the hunt
« Reply #12 on: December 28, 2023, 03:37:52 PM »
I’ve checked Nevada DMV and you need both the VIN and current license plate information. We have the VIN - if we had the current plate I believe we could figure out where the car is.

Richard
Richard Thomas
1969 RS

bcmiller

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Re: On the hunt
« Reply #13 on: December 28, 2023, 04:00:42 PM »
I’ve checked Nevada DMV and you need both the VIN and current license plate information. We have the VIN - if we had the current plate I believe we could figure out where the car is.

Richard

That service is available on line.  We don't have the plate number and I have no idea how to get it.

It would be best to CALL them and see if they can help you. It might require you to go into one of the office and fill out a different form that is available only in the office.

If that does not work, hiring a PI is probably your next best shot at finding it unless someone in Nevada knows the car. My guess would be in the Las Vegas area.
Bryon / 1968 Camaro SS 396 coupe - now old school 468 big block
1967 Camaro RS/SS 396 coupe L35/M40 - 4 generation family project
Looking for 68 Camaro with body # NOR 181016

Danzo

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Re: On the hunt
« Reply #14 on: December 28, 2023, 07:18:24 PM »
Bryon, how did you obtain its whereabouts in 2022?
Ty, Doc.