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Oct 12, 2022 | 02:32 PM

1ole4d

Thread Starter

Laughing Gas

Joined: Jul 2001

Posts: 849

Likes: 14

From: Fayetteville, NC

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I got this wild hair up my rear to try and find my old stepside. It is the one in my photo album and profile picture. It is a 1978 F150 4x4 and it had the 351M with the NP435 4spd. I have the original VIN to confirm if it's the real one. I traded it into Capital Ford in Rockingham, NC back around 2003 or so. From there I can only assume it went to an auction. If anyone knows the where abouts of her please reach out. I would love to locate it and buy it back.

Oct 12, 2022 | 02:59 PM

FuzzFace2

FTE Legend

Joined: Nov 2015

Posts: 30,886

Likes: 4,119

From: Angier, NC

If looking thru adds look up "flare side" as that is what Ford called that bed style but other also call it step side so you need to look it up both ways.
Good luck
Dave ----

Oct 12, 2022 | 03:44 PM

Viper Pilot

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Feb 2022

Posts: 1,370

Likes: 706

Could you purchase a Carfax and run that VIN to see where it might have been registered last? That could help you narrow the location down a lot, or God forbid, at least know if it was scrapped or wrecked.

Oct 13, 2022 | 04:19 AM

79Fuzzie

Cross-Country

Joined: Aug 2022

Posts: 76

Likes: 15

Good luck, I second the carfax suggestion. One state is a lot easier than 50.
My guess is reporting it stolen would be a bad idea.

Oct 13, 2022 | 08:52 AM

1ole4d

Thread Starter

Laughing Gas

Joined: Jul 2001

Posts: 849

Likes: 14

From: Fayetteville, NC

Quote:

Originally Posted by Viper Pilot

That's not a bad idea. Thanks for that one.

Oct 13, 2022 | 09:15 AM

Viper Pilot

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Feb 2022

Posts: 1,370

Likes: 706

If you end up going that route, update us on what you find out. I'm interested in what happens with your search.

Oct 13, 2022 | 09:19 AM

1ole4d

Thread Starter

Laughing Gas

Joined: Jul 2001

Posts: 849

Likes: 14

From: Fayetteville, NC

So...apparently CarFax only does newer vehicles with the 17 digit VIN. The older ones are only 11. Bummer...

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Oct 13, 2022 | 02:58 PM

Rubiranch

Logistics Pro

Joined: Jun 2004

Posts: 4,758

Likes: 3,372

From: South Central Utah

Quote:

Originally Posted by Viper Pilot

Great idea.

Oct 13, 2022 | 03:41 PM

#10

Viper Pilot

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Feb 2022

Posts: 1,370

Likes: 706

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1ole4d

So...apparently CarFax only does newer vehicles with the 17 digit VIN. The older ones are only 11. Bummer...

Well that's a bummer. I think you're going to have to start with your DMV and hope you can find someone who's sympathetic. The only other thing I can think of doing, and it will probably be expensive, is to hire a private investigator to try and track it down.

Oct 14, 2022 | 06:28 PM

#11

Tumbleweed1972

Tuned

Joined: Feb 2020

Posts: 476

Likes: 91

From: Owen Sound Ontario

Quote:

Originally Posted by 77&79F250

Next I would ask very nicely at your local DMV if they can LEAGALY look for it or help you in any way.

I bought a truck in the scrap yard for parts. I went to the local Service Ontario and asked if the truck had been legally scrapped or not, they said no but they legally couldn't tell me who owned it. "Besides, Mrs Bradshaw in Campbellford wouldn't want you knocking on her door" Well after locating a phone book I paid her a visit, she remembered the truck and filed for lost ownership and I "bought" it from her and then got to drive my $500 scrap truck on the road. I just saw it the other day on Kijiji for $15,000. Of course I had to pay the old girl a visit for old times sake.

Oct 14, 2022 | 07:42 PM

#12

79Fuzzie

Cross-Country

Joined: Aug 2022

Posts: 76

Likes: 15

That's an awesome story! Wish our DMV had employees like that.

Oct 19, 2022 | 10:04 AM

#13

1ole4d

Thread Starter

Laughing Gas

Joined: Jul 2001

Posts: 849

Likes: 14

From: Fayetteville, NC

Quote:

Originally Posted by 77&79F250

You're right. It's Champion Ford, not Capital. Capital is the dealer in Raleigh. Champion is the one in Rockingham where I used to live. I rode past it a couple of weeks ago and it's still alive and kicking. I would honestly be surprised if they had a record of it after almost 20 years. I may give them a try just for grins and giggles.

Oct 19, 2022 | 10:40 AM

#14

tbear853

Hotshot

Joined: Feb 2004

Posts: 10,785

Likes: 2,595

From: The Shenandoah Valley

1ole4d ... you might try posting an interesting add in the personals, describe the circumstances, maybe just include the last two or three numbers of vin, asking for a resonse through the mail to a PO Box?
If that truck was bought by a soldier, even under the best of circumstances it could be anywhere.
Good luck either way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 79Fuzzie

That's an awesome story! Wish our DMV had employees like that.

Until the day a stranger shows up on your porch after tracking your tag to visit someone they saw driving across town last week?

Oct 19, 2022 | 03:10 PM

#15

5851a

Logistics Pro

Joined: Oct 2006

Posts: 4,029

Likes: 891

From: East Central Ia

Quote:

Originally Posted by Viper Pilot

I did hire a private detective once to find a girl that ran a red light and totaled my car. She evaporated after accident. State DMV was worthless. I don't know what the detective did, he found her, found her mother, found her foster mother, where she lived and where she worked. I had Sherriff serve papers and she was calling me crying on the phone what did she need to do to pay for. In reflection this sounds Ot and harsh, it wasn't, I had a court judgement and continued to make car payments for 2 years while laid off from work. Hired the detective and Bam one week later. Hope the new detectives are as good as the old ones.