[FWB]

you will need your local police to have what is called "a hand search" done to the record. nothing going back to 1988 is in the electronic data base once a car is not registered for a certain period its info is purged.
i just did this on a CA car myself. be forewarned the info may not be that comprehensive. likely will not tell you manufacturer, just owner and dates of registration if it is even found.