Obtaining Title Info from 1957

[mikelbonin]

My question involves vehicle registration or title in the state of: Texas

My dad will turn 80 in a few years and I want to find his old race car for his birthday. All I have is basic visual detail of the car ... no VIN, no plate #, no subsequent owners. My only hope is that it is the only car like it purchased new in Southeast TX.

Does a database, whether electronic or hard copies, exist to search Texas registrations from 1957? Companies that specialize in this? Is it possible to check driving records for tickets (and I'm sure he got more than a few from racing!) that might include a plate number? Any other ideas to get to the ultimate info ... the VIN?

Thanks,
Mike Bonin

[flyingron]

A car specifically built as a race car back then was probably never titled in Texas. Race cars also tend not to have a whole lot of longevity. If it is something uncommon your best bet would be to search current databases and contact racers and antique car collectors hoping to find a lead on it. If this car is something that there are marque clubs for they can be a very valuable source of information. Often they've managed to dig up the original manufacturer's paper records.

[mikelbonin]

Thanks. For clarification, it was a licensed, titled street car that he drag raced in stock class. 1957 Chevy 210 post sedan with 283 and fuel injection.

I am working the suggested angle but it seems tracing backwards from thousands of potential candidate cars hoping it to be my dad's is a lot tougher than scanning hundreds of titles in a database hoping to run across it.

Does a database, whether electronic or hard copies, exist to search Texas registrations from 1957? Companies that specialize in this? Is it possible to check driving records for tickets (and I'm sure he got more than a few from racing!) that might include a plate number? Any other ideas to get to the ultimate info ... the VIN?