Stolen 1969 Firebird Found?

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davidds91
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Stolen 1969 Firebird Found?

Post by davidds91 » Mon Aug 08, 2016 7:09 pm

Can anyone give me some advice on the best way to approach this issue? I recently saw what could likely be my stolen 1969 Firebird but how do I go about investigating the car without pissing off the current owner? I mean, as long as it has been, it is quite likely the person who currently owns does not know it is stolen and if it turns out to be mine, I'm sure they are not going to want to give it up or even let me inspect it close up to see if it is or not.

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NBrehm
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Re: Stolen 1969 Firebird Found?

Post by NBrehm » Mon Aug 08, 2016 10:01 pm

Only legal way is to call the police. But you can also try just asking the guy, Problem is if he IS the thief you may get in over your head
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NBrehm
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Re: Stolen 1969 Firebird Found?

Post by NBrehm » Mon Aug 08, 2016 10:22 pm

And whether the guy bought it or not, if it is your car he will have to give it to you.
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FIRSTLAST
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Re: Stolen 1969 Firebird Found?

Post by FIRSTLAST » Tue Aug 09, 2016 10:27 am

Private investigator? You need a VIN photo shot to get going.

I had a stolen high priced lawnmower for estates about 2 hours. Took it to John Deere dealer for a under warranty belt replacement, they do a serial number verificatiin, call Sheriff. 3 days later, Sheriff talking to me like I'm the perp, demands my proof of ownership.

I am out $7500 on that one. Hot property got fenced through a equipment auction. But this is happening daily with vehicles, which is why you never post your Vin on a auction. How would you like to owe bank all the money for a cool car you needed financing, which you never got to posess. Daily occurences these days. Credit hell, ruined marriages result.

btw, the crooks are now stealing house deeds, transferring ownership. The onus is on you to prove document forging and fight the fraud. It's why you never let people near your power of attorney. Be better off having a decent law firm manage that than a friend of the family.
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randybirdhawk
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Re: Stolen 1969 Firebird Found?

Post by randybirdhawk » Tue Aug 09, 2016 1:29 pm

Out of 75,362 1969 coupes built, what really makes you think that one is it?

I would just show interest and tell the owner you use to have one and would like to look it. Ask if they are interested in selling it and look at the vin just to help confirm what they really have. If you still think it's it and you have pretty good proof walk away, call the police.

Good luck, be careful.
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davidds91
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Re: Stolen 1969 Firebird Found?

Post by davidds91 » Tue Aug 09, 2016 5:39 pm

There are many attributes that make me think its mine that I do not want to post here but I checked the vin and while it is not a match, that doesn't mean anything. Dashboards can be changed out. What I would like to do is check the numbers on the engine and frame.

TTOP350
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Re: Stolen 1969 Firebird Found?

Post by TTOP350 » Wed Aug 10, 2016 7:35 pm

Did those have the vin on the firewall like the 2nd and 3rdgens ?
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davidds91
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Re: Stolen 1969 Firebird Found?

Post by davidds91 » Wed Aug 10, 2016 10:59 pm

I'm told the vin's are also on the engine block and frames. I'd love to get a look at it.

tazman71
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Re: Stolen 1969 Firebird Found?

Post by tazman71 » Thu Aug 11, 2016 12:22 pm

my guess is that unless it is in super shape, any vin on the frame will be rusted away. If you even know where to look for it. As far as the engine vin goes, this may not prove the car was yours. Engines are swapped every day not to mention an easy one to grind off.

My opinion is that you just forget it on this car. If the vin doesn't match, all you are going to do is get upset if the rest doesn't prove it was your car.
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Scott Chab
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Re: Stolen 1969 Firebird Found?

Post by Scott Chab » Thu Aug 11, 2016 1:28 pm

tazman71 wrote:my guess is that unless it is in super shape, any vin on the frame will be rusted away. If you even know where to look for it. As far as the engine vin goes, this may not prove the car was yours. Engines are swapped every day not to mention an easy one to grind off.

My opinion is that you just forget it on this car. If the vin doesn't match, all you are going to do is get upset if the rest doesn't prove it was your car.
^^ This.
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davidds91
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Re: Stolen 1969 Firebird Found?

Post by davidds91 » Thu Aug 11, 2016 2:48 pm

The car I found is in excellent condition. Spotless to say the least, just as I remember it and it is unlikely the engine and transmission were replaced as I had just rebuilt and installed them just before it was stolen and no one is going to change out a frame unless the car was is an extremely bad accident.

davidds91
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Re: Stolen 1969 Firebird Found?

Post by davidds91 » Thu Aug 11, 2016 2:49 pm

And for all I know, the person who has this car is on this forum which is why I don't want to give too much info here.

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Scott Chab
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Re: Stolen 1969 Firebird Found?

Post by Scott Chab » Thu Aug 11, 2016 6:48 pm

I'm willing to bet that the odds that the owner is on this forum are about 1:1,000,000.
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davidds91
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Re: Stolen 1969 Firebird Found?

Post by davidds91 » Thu Aug 11, 2016 11:41 pm

Well, considering there were only 75,362 built, I would put the odds much better than that. Thanks for the negative reinforcement. :evil:

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Re: Stolen 1969 Firebird Found?

Post by BLACK-HAWK » Fri Aug 12, 2016 2:04 pm

Why not just ask the guy to check it out because you're a Pontiac enthusiast first? 2nd to worst thing he can say is no..
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