I’m trying to find my first car.. A 1972 Plymouth Duster VIN # VL29C2B393550

I had acquired the car when I was 16 in 1994.
Had it painted in a new coat of the original “Blue Sky” and the slant 6 swapped for a 360 with a 727 torqueflite backed up by a Ford 9 inch with posi. To complete that 70’s look it had cragars and functional sidepipes!

I had to part with the car in 2002 when living
In Kansas City, where I went to college. My now husband and I lost our jobs and had to move back to St Louis.

My classmates had seen the car around town for the next few years and then not at all..

I ended up with other cars, one being a ‘79 El Camino which is handy but the 350 just doesn’t perform like that mopar I had!

So long story short I’m asking how or the best way to go about finding a car I let go of so long ago.. I realize it may be drastically different now if still around or junked at some point and recycled into soup cans.. if so I’m at peace with that.. Thank you in advance!

 

DD -

Know any cops and feeling lucky?

A DMV search on the vin (if you have an old regs or ins card) might give you something, if it's still around.
Yeah, it might be a state by state thing.

Good luck,

Archer

 

Went through the DMV sites and looks to be something e mailed.. Contacted the Kansas and Missouri departments.. We’ll see what turns up!

 

DD -

Cool, keep us posted.
Love the side pipes, seriously thought about putting them on the Charger back in the 1980's, even had a set ready to go, but chickened out.

Archer

 

That’s cool, they would have looked great but in a way you dodged a bullet..

I got the JC Whitney specials.. Had issue with rust, and in comparison to the Flownasters I have on my El Camino now they didn’t sound that great... The exhaust pipe that ran from the manifold to the side pipe hung kind of low.. High centered on it a time or two and crushed it

Living on a gravel road didn’t help either but being late teens/early 20’s I didn’t care.. Had fun power sliding it in and out of my driveway though!

I certainly will keep you guys posted!

 

Man, I always get a little emo/nostalgic feeling when someone reconnects with their first cool ride. I wish you the best of luck and I'll be watching this thread!

 

I sure hope to!

Stumbled on this.. seems to have some further detail that could help
myself or anyone else on here find “The one that got away”

http://the-lost-car-registry.com/resources.php

 

Have gotten a little further.. Missouri won’t release vehicle records so I’ll have to find another way there..

There’s a privacy law as years ago a celebrity was murdered by a fan that tracked their whereabouts through vehicle records

Think I read dealers are able to access VIN info. I work at a custom car shop and they might be able to help out as far as the Missouri records

Kansas said a-ok on tracking the VIN so I’ll be filling out the form for them..

Upon more research a private investigator is the most surefire way to find out but not sure I want to spend hundreds of dollars just to find out it was scrapped years ago.

I found the names/numbers of the customers that looked at it.. One of the names is the buyer but it’s not indicated and I don’t remember who. I have the numbers which I could try but they’re from the pre cell phone days

In the meantime i’m contacting scrap yards and classic car establishments around Kansas City

The quest continues!

 

DD -

Sounds good.
Yeah, doubt a car PI would be worth the expense and sounds like you're doing everything he would do.

Archer

 

Only thing is a PI would have access to registration records via the VIN that are prohibited to the general public via that privacy law. Eliminating a lot of “leg work” but again not worth it if It turns out the car has been scrapped..
Had a lead from one of the classic car establishments but last few numbers of the VIN differed.. darn!
Got a few more I’m waiting to hear from and sent that form to the Kansas DMV.. fingers crossed!