trying to find my Dad's 1985 928s
11-08-2019, 03:55 PM
#76
11-09-2019, 06:07 AM
#78
Rennlist Member
There are a couple coastal NC guys here. Fingers crossed it's been kept high and dry, last year was pretty wet.
Am in middle of NC this morning, but am headed north, Wilmington is out of my range.
Am in middle of NC this morning, but am headed north, Wilmington is out of my range.
11-09-2019, 12:11 PM
#79
Rennlist Member
Wow! This is amazing. Can't wait to see where it leads.
11-09-2019, 03:33 PM
#80
Nordschleife Master
So what is your plan?
What do you want to happen?
The last time I remember this happening, the car was found, but it was owned by a fairly wealthy person who valued his privacy and did not wish to be contacted.
The 'searcher' accepted that, was simply happy that the car was still intact and owned by someone who took good care of it and proceeded to find one that was as similar as possible (he came very close, IIRC).
If you want it back, you may have to pay a premium for it.
Personally, I have no desire to sell my 928. However, everything is for sale. There was a thread about this a while back, and I said that it would take $25k to get my car out of my garage. It's likely worth more like $12k, but that's not the point.
If someone like you approached me, that's what it would take to get my car.
Depending on how 'stalky' the approach by the person wanting it was, the price might be higher.
Not everyone is comfortable with having the previous owner of their car looking for it.
Recently, Drooman found #2. He had the VIN, but found that if a 'cop friend' ran it for him, the cop potentially faced sanctions, including getting fired
There are privacy rules in place for a reason.
I'm not implying that you have any nefarious intentions, but it could appear that way if you aren't careful.
What do you want to happen?
The last time I remember this happening, the car was found, but it was owned by a fairly wealthy person who valued his privacy and did not wish to be contacted.
The 'searcher' accepted that, was simply happy that the car was still intact and owned by someone who took good care of it and proceeded to find one that was as similar as possible (he came very close, IIRC).
If you want it back, you may have to pay a premium for it.
Personally, I have no desire to sell my 928. However, everything is for sale. There was a thread about this a while back, and I said that it would take $25k to get my car out of my garage. It's likely worth more like $12k, but that's not the point.
If someone like you approached me, that's what it would take to get my car.
Depending on how 'stalky' the approach by the person wanting it was, the price might be higher.
Not everyone is comfortable with having the previous owner of their car looking for it.
Recently, Drooman found #2. He had the VIN, but found that if a 'cop friend' ran it for him, the cop potentially faced sanctions, including getting fired
There are privacy rules in place for a reason.
I'm not implying that you have any nefarious intentions, but it could appear that way if you aren't careful.
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Wesley Comeaux (11-09-2019)
11-09-2019, 04:55 PM
#81
Joe I have been thinking of the best way to approach the current owner. Yes there are privacy protection acts in place and I have not violated those. I don't know how I can approach them without seeming like a stalker. "Hi I used the internet to track you down" no matter what that seems creepy. I also understand that the car could have sentimental value for them as well. Just knowing the car isn't rotting in a salvage yard is a win. I was about to propose the question to the current owners here, what would be the best way to approach the current owner? I thought about just writing a letter and mailing some pics of the car with an explanation of my interest. A phone call could be difficult. I thought about having a car broker make contact. I'm open to suggestions.
Just to be clear my trooper friend actually came up empty. I got closer with CarFax and AutoCheck. Then I made some calls around the Wilmington area collision repair and Porsche dealer. I called the NC DMV and even though they can't give me any info they can confirm a few things. Through all of that I found the car.
Just to be clear my trooper friend actually came up empty. I got closer with CarFax and AutoCheck. Then I made some calls around the Wilmington area collision repair and Porsche dealer. I called the NC DMV and even though they can't give me any info they can confirm a few things. Through all of that I found the car.
11-09-2019, 07:44 PM
#82
Rennlist Member
About twenty years ago, I was interested in a private home in my at-the-time city designed by a famous architect. I wrote a short letter addressed "To The Owners", explaining my interest in their home and asking if it was possible to see it. The owners called me and very graciously invited my wife and I into their home (which was amazing).
So, that's my recommendation: Send a hand-written letter to the home. Explain your interest in the car, and explain that you found the car by diligent search of the internet. Do all of this in no more than three sentences. Include prints of the pics you posted here. Then leave your address, email, and phone number and say that you'd love to talk to them about the car, and that if they're ever interested in parting with it that you would be very grateful if they'd give you a chance at it.
And if they don't get back to you, let it go.
Here's another idea: Contact the local PCA region and give them the same explanation of your interest. The owner may be a member, and they may pass along your message.
So, that's my recommendation: Send a hand-written letter to the home. Explain your interest in the car, and explain that you found the car by diligent search of the internet. Do all of this in no more than three sentences. Include prints of the pics you posted here. Then leave your address, email, and phone number and say that you'd love to talk to them about the car, and that if they're ever interested in parting with it that you would be very grateful if they'd give you a chance at it.
And if they don't get back to you, let it go.
Here's another idea: Contact the local PCA region and give them the same explanation of your interest. The owner may be a member, and they may pass along your message.
The following 2 users liked this post by Shawn Stanford:
AirtekHVAC (11-09-2019),
Wesley Comeaux (11-09-2019)
11-09-2019, 08:20 PM
#83
Nordschleife Master
It didn't sound (read?) like you had broken any laws. But it was starting to sound a little bit borderline. At least 'approaching'.
Good to know that you are aware of the privacy/stalker issues and are trying to avoid them.
I mostly agree with Shawn.
Written letter. Include copies of the pics. Explain the main points in a few sentences in the first paragraph.
I would then add more, starting off with "If you are still reading this and haven't thrown it away yet". Maybe a bit more about your attachment to the car. A couple happy memories. Maybe a bit more about how you found it, including the part that there's a pretty active and dedicated community of wingnuts, weirdos & miscreants who really love these cars (don't put it quite that way
) who helped you find it. Maybe even point them to here, so they can see how the car was located.
Even with the 'extra' stuff, no more than one page.
PCA is also a good idea. They get this sort of thing every so often. They will not give you any info about the owner, but will pass the request along.
Good to know that you are aware of the privacy/stalker issues and are trying to avoid them.
I mostly agree with Shawn.
Written letter. Include copies of the pics. Explain the main points in a few sentences in the first paragraph.
I would then add more, starting off with "If you are still reading this and haven't thrown it away yet". Maybe a bit more about your attachment to the car. A couple happy memories. Maybe a bit more about how you found it, including the part that there's a pretty active and dedicated community of wingnuts, weirdos & miscreants who really love these cars (don't put it quite that way
) who helped you find it. Maybe even point them to here, so they can see how the car was located.Even with the 'extra' stuff, no more than one page.
PCA is also a good idea. They get this sort of thing every so often. They will not give you any info about the owner, but will pass the request along.
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Wesley Comeaux (11-09-2019)
11-09-2019, 10:23 PM
#84
Burning Brakes
I am thrilled you at least found the car. I agree with Shawn with a personal hand written letter. Try it and let us know later the outcome.
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Wesley Comeaux (11-09-2019)
11-09-2019, 10:29 PM
#85
Rennlist Member
One thought for the letter, you might say after much internet search you think you have found the car or have narrowed it down to a couple and would like to talk with them to confirm. This way your not quite as stalker like and it gets them involved in the treasure hunt so to speak.
Good luck!
Good luck!
The following 2 users liked this post by jetson8859:
linderpat (11-09-2019),
Wesley Comeaux (11-09-2019)
11-09-2019, 11:17 PM
#86
Those are great ideas for the letter. Ill start drafting a brief letter to who i think the owner is. I have a couple of more leads on possible shops that may have worked on the car. Im going to chase those down first as i could hopefully use them to reach out and that would seem less stalker like.
11-09-2019, 11:25 PM
#87
Rennlist Member
What Jetson said. Make the approach, and make it personal to demonstrate your sincerity.
11-10-2019, 05:03 AM
#88
Nordschleife Master
No need to apologize. That's not that long of a post.
Interesting question. FWIW, you aren't the first to come on here asking this sort of thing. There have been some partial successes in the past.
Do you have any pics? Especially of the custom console?
Do you remember any other options? The guys with VIN data suffer from some pretty serious OCD. If you can provide some of the options, they can narrow it down some. 85 Euro automatic just doesn't do it (color, both exterior & interior aren't in their data base).
Any records at all?
One that might be of help is any insurance bill or card. That will have a VIN.
You may try to find the agent who handled your dad. They tend to keep everything. Forever.
I'll guess your dad is no longer around. If I'm wrong, he'd be a good resource to figure out who may have the VIN on record.
Good luck
Interesting question. FWIW, you aren't the first to come on here asking this sort of thing. There have been some partial successes in the past.
Do you have any pics? Especially of the custom console?
Do you remember any other options? The guys with VIN data suffer from some pretty serious OCD. If you can provide some of the options, they can narrow it down some. 85 Euro automatic just doesn't do it (color, both exterior & interior aren't in their data base).
Any records at all?
One that might be of help is any insurance bill or card. That will have a VIN.
You may try to find the agent who handled your dad. They tend to keep everything. Forever.
I'll guess your dad is no longer around. If I'm wrong, he'd be a good resource to figure out who may have the VIN on record.
Good luck
Last edited by alex70; 11-10-2019 at 05:24 AM.
11-10-2019, 08:39 AM
#89
Rennlist Member
After making contact, If you get an invite to see the car;
BE SURE TO BRING A WAD OF 100’s!!!!
😀
glad you found it!
BE SURE TO BRING A WAD OF 100’s!!!!
😀
glad you found it!
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Wesley Comeaux (11-11-2019)
11-10-2019, 11:01 AM
#90
Rennlist Member
Wes, I have been following this thread a bit out of curiosity, because I love a good mystery. It has not been very clear just what your interest might be in this car, other than just knowing where it is. At the end of the thread, to this point, it appears that you may actually be interested in owning the car. If that is the case, I think the letter approach is entirely flawed. It also shows a lact of sincerity. I get letters all the time about interest in my vacant house next door and I simply throw them in the trash. That is about 90 percent likely to happen to your letter. On the other hand, if you really are sincere about wanting to own this car, and if you can actually afford it, whatever that might take, I suggest a different approach.
What I suggest is that you schedule some time off and simply go to where the car is, in person. Is that reduntant? Find a Saturday morning there and go to the owner's house and knock on the door and tell him, if he is there, who you are, name only, and that you have heard that he has a Porsche Nine twenty-eight, and that it might be for sale. From there I could go through different senarios about how it might go, and if you really are interested in buying the car, I'll go through them with you. If you are not interested enough to go there, the senarios don't matter.
What I suggest is that you schedule some time off and simply go to where the car is, in person. Is that reduntant? Find a Saturday morning there and go to the owner's house and knock on the door and tell him, if he is there, who you are, name only, and that you have heard that he has a Porsche Nine twenty-eight, and that it might be for sale. From there I could go through different senarios about how it might go, and if you really are interested in buying the car, I'll go through them with you. If you are not interested enough to go there, the senarios don't matter.