Avanti VIN Research

[Brian_RPV]

I’m new to this forum and have a question regarding the best way to track down a car based on an old license plate number.  My parents purchased a new 1963 Avanti and the Black California plate issued to the car at the time was KKE 285. I tried contacting California DMV, but they stated the date fell outside their active records.  Any thoughts on how to track down the VIN number? I’m curious where the car is today. The car was sold to a new owner around 1979 in the San Diego (California) area.  

[psdenno]

29 minutes ago, Brian_RPV said:

I’m new to this forum and have a question regarding the best way to track down a car based on an old license plate number.  My parents purchased a new 1963 Avanti and the Black California plate issued to the car at the time was KKE 285. I tried contacting California DMV, but they stated the date fell outside their active records.  Any thoughts on how to track down the VIN number? I’m curious where the car is today. The car was sold to a new owner around 1979 in the San Diego (California) area.  

Can you track down any old car insurance policy forms which would list the VIN or contact the insurance company that wrote the policy when your parents had the car?

[Nelson]

Were your parents the original owners? Do you know if it was supercharged, automatic, 4 speed. Color combination. Are you sure t was a 63 and not a 64 with square headlight glass versus round for 63?

[mfg]

Avantis have an excellent survival rate, as they were ‘special’ from day one…..

Would you mind listing the specifics of your parents Avanti.. as best as you can remember? (color in & out, engine type, etc)

[Brian_RPV]

My parents were the original owners - it was a 63 with round headlamps, an R1 in Avanti Gold with fawn interior, an automatic transmission, power steering, without air conditioning. It was purchased new in San Diego, California; I don’t have any old papers such as insurance policies, records, etc.  I’m looking for advice on how to use the known license plate (when new) to track down the VIN. Perhaps there is no way of obtaining records without being an DMV insider. Any insight is appreciated.