Tracking Down my Dad's XJ6

[stevo_gj]

Bit of an update:

 

Rang Qld transport again as suggested, got someone much nicer but they still said I had to speak to the Rights of Information branch and they doubted whether they would be able to help me.

 

Speaking to the ROI branch I found out that the only information I could apply for would be the VIN/chassis number, and it would cost $38 for each Rego number that I want to check. Damn obscured photo..

 

Then Mum remembered the name of the guy who used to work on the car, Robert Grieves. She gave him a call and he said he remembered my Dad and would try and look through the old card filing system they used for his details if they still had it. This card would have the rego number and VIN number on it if it wasn't lost.

 

I'm going to ring him Monday and see if he had any luck.

[Mr240z]

In Australia we have very strick privacy laws and cops can get sacked for looking up number plates without a good reason.

 

In America you just walk into a RTA or whatever there call and pay a small fee and get all the details. Which comes in handy for those road rage incidents.

 

The only real way to track it down would be a private eye, Thats if its still around as Jag's where worth next to nothing and are full of rust.

 

My old Boss brought a Walkinshaw XJSV12C that was real rare back in the day and that was worth jack when he traded it on a new XKR a few years ago..

 

Anyway Good Luck on your search, sounds like fun.

[NZeder]

In America you just walk into a RTA or whatever there call and pay a small fee and get all the details. Which comes in handy for those road rage incidents.

We have the same setup here in NZ too

[Mr240z]

We have the same setup here in NZ too

That is so dangerous, You cut someone off give them the finger a few words exchanged..

Than a couple of days later a bunch of biker's are knocking on your front door at home.

 

The sh$t I get up too on the bike and in the MX5, I'm glad we can't track number plates down.

[peter t]

I understand what you are trying to do but holy crap that don't look like a {Z} My old man's first car that I remember was FJ panel van that my brother and I had to share with a very large boxer dog that used to fart a lot. Mum and dad were in the front and had windows to wind down. What would the old FJ be worth today?

[Quandary]

The only real way to track it down would be a private eye

 

Ya was going to suggest the same thing.  They are usually ex-cops with the contacts and know-how.

[MaygZ]

Have you thought of running an ad in the 'Courier Mail'?  That might give you some leads to follow up.  If your story gets a few heart strings going, you might even get some free coverage on radio or a feel good story on TV.  Never know your luck.

[stevo_gj]

Have you thought of running an ad in the 'Courier Mail'?  That might give you some leads to follow up.  If your story gets a few heart strings going, you might even get some free coverage on radio or a feel good story on TV.  Never know your luck.

That's an interesting idea! My mum is a PR specialist so I could get her to help me structure the story for maximum effect. I'll see what she thinks

 

The only real way to track it down would be a private eye,

 

You know this isn't such a bad idea - if all my other leads run dry. I would have no idea where to look for a good one though.

 

I understand what you are trying to do but holy crap that don't look like a {Z} My old man's first car that I remember was FJ panel van that my brother and I had to share with a very large boxer dog that used to fart a lot. Mum and dad were in the front and had windows to wind down. What would the old FJ be worth today?

 

Depending on condition between $5-$15K at a guess. Yeah I love old euro cars. I think I just like all classic cars in general. I probably wouldn't get one of these Jags (even though they look sweet) except that it was my dad's car and he was at least as enthusiastic about it as I am about the Z. Mum says he kept it in concourse condition, cost him thousands. 

 

Edit: woo 1337 posts.

[RBZ 260]

get chummy with someone in rego department. cheapest option  as long as its still in your state once it leaves may be hard tracking it down (then u need to get chummy again....)

 

other option maybe an add in the paper or carsales. after a white jag  S2 year 5spd etc....... maybe bit of a story and u never know. u may get a call from someone that owns it.

[MickyG]

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/canwehelp/

 

I'd much rather watch the joyous reconciliation of a man & his long lost Jag than Aunty Beryl finding Shirlene from primary school in 1932 or learning about the origin of the word "disenfranchise"...

[gav240z]

Not sure if it helps. But I tried to use Gimp (Like Photoshop) to improve the clarity of the licence plate.

 

FWIW it has to be either 979-OKO or 979-OKQ

 

[FLEXZED]

hey Steve

 

my friend has tried at least 4 different combos on the plate BUT no go

 

 

sorry mate

 

Loui

[stevo_gj]

Ah thanks anyway guys. I'm going to call that old mechanic tomorrow and see if he's turned up anything

[stevo_gj]

Just an update:

 

The old car mechanic said he must have destroyed all of his old records and was unable to help me.

 

No word from the guys in the Jag car club yet. I haven't been able to give them anything except the photos really.

 

I've applied using the Rights to Information website provided by the QLD government to find the VIN number. Hopefully the rego number was indeed Q. 

[.]

Make a list of every bowls club and RSL in Australia. Then allocated them out to all the forum members to go and check. I'm sure it will be at one of them.

[stevo_gj]

Well a bit of a sad end to the story.

 

Turns out my half brother, who's a lot older than me, asked to purchase the car from my dad when he was selling it. My dad refused. He thought the car was such a lemon (cost him a lot of $$) that he didn't want his own son to own it.

 

I got the details back from the government's Rights to Information branch. They gave me the VIN number and they told me it was last registered in 1999. So obviously it's been taken off the road for more than 10 years.

 

In 1999:

The VIN was 2N7527DN

Engine no was 7L91454S

License Plate was changed to 810CVM in 1995 (must have been when he sold it)

 

Now coupling the fact that the car is most probably rusting in a wrecker/paddock somewhere, and that he didn't want his own son to buy the car from him, I've lost a bit of the motivation I had to track the car down.

 

Apparently when he lived in America he used to own an XK150, which was the Jaguar he was really passionate about. He told my half brother he always regretted not importing it when he moved here. Prices vary from $80K to $120K on carpoint so it's a bit out of my reach at the moment.

 

Just wanted to say thanks guys for the assistance and advice. I'm glad I gave it a go.