Finding My Boss's CSX

LMH · #1 (**permalink**) 02-04-2009, 10:34 PM

Hey all
This IS LONG, so bare with me...
Shortly after I started my job a few years ago, my boss told me he owned a 289 Cobra back in the day. He was the second owner and traded a brand new station wagon for the Cobra. Apparently, the original owner had a baby on the way and the Cobra didn't fit into the picture.
I have been trying to find out what his chassis number was and where the car is today. (thanks for the help so far Ron!) There is a somewhat interesting story that goes along with the car but I would just like to find where it is today.

Here's the problem so far... Bill (my boss) doesn't have the memory he used to. (neither do I for that matter) He has no paperwork on the car and doesn't know the CSX number. He did not ever register the car with SAAC or the registry, so his name is not listed as a previous owner. He didn't remember the original owners name or the guy he "sold" it to either. He remembers selling the car around 72 or 73ish. He owned a new Pantera at the time also.
Ron checked the current registry for me but Bills name wasn't in there. I thought I'd hit a dead end.

A few weeks ago, a local AZ Cobra member, nicest man in the world AND alumninum (yes, I said aluminum) SPF owner, loaned me a bunch of his old records from when he owned CSX2335 ( thank you Gerry). Among the very cool stuff was an owners registry from 1976. I looked through it and found a car that was in Tucson in 1976 with a previous owner also having been in Tucson. I showed Bill the registry and the previous owner's name, we'll call him Mr. X, and with jogged memory says "that's the guy I sold the to!". He is sure that Mr. X is the guy he sold the Cobra to.
I thought I had found Bills chassis number.
The next problem then arose that Bills car was green with black interior and a search on that chassis number showed the car originally being white with red interior. Bill remembers buying the car around 1967-68 and I doubt it had both the interior and paint color changed in that short time frame. I may or may not have found Bills Cobra.

So I'm at a seemingly dead end again. I have been told that AZ does not keep old registration records, so I think that's a dead end.
Anyone have any other suggestions how to find Bill's original car?
Larry

BossCER · #2 (**permalink**) 02-04-2009, 11:02 PM

I would contact Mr. X if your boss is sure of the name. It is possible that Mr. X owned more than one Cobra.

LMH · #3 (**permalink**) 02-04-2009, 11:52 PM

It's possible Mr. X owned more than one car though I didn't see his name elsewhere in the 76 registry. I don't have any contact info on him either as it lists him only as a previous owner in Tucson. I'm not sure 100% he is the person Bill sold the car to, though Bill is.
The car was aquired from Bill through questionable means, so I don't want to cause anyone any grief. I don't think Bill cares much about the incident now and looks at it as stupidity of youth. He and I are just curious what his CSX # was and where it is now.
Larry

Rick Parker · #4 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 12:01 AM

Does he recall having any repair or service work done on it at any Dealers or garages that may still be around, sometimes they are notorious for keeping old repair records, or even insurance companies records may be available. Remember the dealer or garage record were not computerized at that time, all records were on hard copies of RO's (repair orders). You'll also have to potentially talk to retired folks (if available) who may have worked at the facilities. You might even pursue where he bought tires locally.
Good luck.

SLHetal · #5 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 12:47 AM

Larry,
I agree with Rick Parker's approach. Also, go to the SAAC Forum and post the same story in the CSX 2000 area (or any other area for that matter). You might also try finding your nearest SAAC regional club and post your story to their website, etc. You never know who's memory you may jog.
Sam

jay bentley · #6 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 06:45 AM

If the insurance agent is still in business, I would start there. A few years back I took a shot at trying to find my father's 1970 396 Chevelle. I went to the insurance agent he dealt with and within an afternoon they found it in some storage files. They had last insured the car around 1972 or so.

LMH · #7 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 06:58 AM

Interesting ideas!
I'll ask him about insurance and service today. Bills father owned a Lincoln/Mercury dealership that's now closed. I suspect that's where the car was serviced but I'll ask.

Is the SAAC fourm open to the public? I thought it was for owners only.
Thanks for the ideas!
Larry

mrmustang · #8 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LMH

Interesting ideas!
I'll ask him about insurance and service today. Bills father owned a Lincoln/Mercury dealership that's now closed. I suspect that's where the car was serviced but I'll ask.

Is the SAAC fourm open to the public? I thought it was for owners only.
Thanks for the ideas!
Larry

Open to the public:

http://saacforum.com/index.php

Bill S.

LMH · #9 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 11:08 AM

Thanks Bill!
I'll post it over there when my boss isn't looking!!

Larry

imagine2frolic · #10 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 03:08 PM

How about googling Mr. X's name?

LMH · #11 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 04:11 PM

Tried that too but to no avail.

I asked Bill today about both insurance and service on the car. The business that insured it was local and no longer in business and the car was worked on at his fathers dealership, also no longer around. Bill doesn't remember any mechanic from the business.

I'll see what SAAC brings.
Thanks for all the suggestions!
Larry

poboy427 · #12 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 05:41 PM

Contact the SAAC registrar for 289 Cobras. He can provide factory records of all green 289 cars built. That should help narrow the search some.

twobjshelbys · #13 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 09:18 PM

Man what a detective mystery! I hope you find everything.

PatBuckley · #14 (**permalink**) 02-06-2009, 07:13 AM

Sure sounds like a lot of effort being put into finding a car just so your boss can find out what the serial number is.

Given the present value of these things, I vote there is some other motive.

BDR561 · #15 (**permalink**) 02-06-2009, 07:19 AM

Quote:

The car was aquired from Bill through questionable means, so I don't want to cause anyone any grief

I was thinking the same....

Woodz428 · #16 (**permalink**) 02-06-2009, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatBuckley

Sure sounds like a lot of effort being put into finding a car just so your boss can find out what the serial number is.

Given the present value of these things, I vote there is some other motive.

I'd have to agree Pat.

LMH · #17 (**permalink**) 02-06-2009, 09:23 AM

There is no other motive besides curiosity. Bill doesn't need more money, trust me. I'm more interested in finding what car it was than he is.
So don't read more in to this than there is.
Larry

docg2929 · #18 (**permalink**) 08-02-2010, 01:32 PM

I have owned csx2335 for about 16 years. Bought it from a Ferrari dealer in Calfornia. It was originally red with a black interior. It survived a clutch explosion while drag racing. It was rebodied with a FIA body before I bought it and was used as a master for the moulds used to make the current replicas

LMH · #19 (**permalink**) 08-03-2010, 12:30 AM

Wow, thats interesting. I'll have to pass that info on to Gerry. Happen to have any current photo's of the car?

I haven't been doing much on the search for my bosses car lately. Not a lot of spare time. I did find however that "Mr. X" owned a second Cobra as per the registry. It also did not pan out to be my bosses car. If Bill is correct that Mr. X is the person he sold his car to, he must have owned three but not registered Bills car with the registry.
So the beat goes on!
Larry