US car history

[andrewh]

I am looking into the history of a car that was supplied new through Jaguar New York to Columbia Pictures. It occurred to me that it may have been to someone interesting. First, were all E types supplied through NY regardless of where in the US they then went? And does anyone know if there is any other archive which may help with my quest?

[Riv944]

Hi Andrew
Try a search of the VIN on xkedata.com to see if there is any info from a previous owner. If nothing there you could try a post on Jag Lovers.com E Type forum again with the VIN and any other details you g=have to see if anyone knows of it.
Good luck.

Ian

[PeterCrespin]

Well East coast cars are hip
I really dig those tyres they wear
And the Southern cars with the way they drive
They knock me out when I'm down there

The Mid-West farmer's E-types really make you feel alright
And the Northern cars with the way they go
They keep their owners warm at night

I wish they all could be California cars...

In that era West Coast Jags were imported by Charles Hornburg whose Jag dealership is still in the same building on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, LA. It's just doen the road from the London Hotel Jag use for press.

East Coast cars were imported/distributed by Max Hoffman.

Try Jaguar Heritage archives. It's the same digitised production record in the UK and USA but Mike Cook the archivist over there might have info. Email mlcooknj at msn dot com. (The second letter is lower case L not upper case I)

Pete

[andrewh]

thank you Peter, for your Beach Boys rendition and the contact . I have sent him an e mail so I await with interest hearing that this was the Steve McQueen 3.8 E type!

[andrewh]

I didn't have any success in finding out additional ownership information from Heritage although they were most helpful. Are there any US readers here who can tell me whether there are any California vehicle registration archives available?

[Moeregaard]

I didn't have any success in finding out additional ownership information from Heritage although they were most helpful. Are there any US readers here who can tell me whether there are any California vehicle registration archives available?

The California DMV will perform a title search, but I believe you have to do this in person. Muddying the waters just a little more, I've been told that they performed a major purge of older files in 1995, making it even less likely that a search for a 50-year-old car's information will be successful. Today, xkedata.com is probably our best resource.

[rolando38]

Yes, i wrote to tha californian DMV and got n? answer at all

[andrewh]

Thank you friends. I will try the Californian authorities but given what you have experienced perhaps it will fail to throw anything up. The car was sold to Oregon a few years back so at the moment I don't even have the California plate number. I was hoping that the Oregon authorities have the details of the Califonia plate. It's a shame as I really enjoy piecing the history of cars together. I suppose one is always hopeful of finding photos and paperwork that have become separated from the car. I have out it on XKEDATA , 877488 but as yet no takers.

[andrewh]

Thank you friends. I will try the Californian authorities but given what you have experienced perhaps it will fail to throw anything up. The car was sold to Oregon a few years back so at the moment I don't even have the California plate number. I was hoping that the Oregon authorities have the details of the Califonia plate. It's a shame as I really enjoy piecing the history of cars together. I suppose one is always hopeful of finding photos and paperwork that have become separated from the car. I have out it on XKEDATA , 877488 but as yet no takers.