My cars history at this club

kikbak · #1 (**permalink**) 10-16-2009, 02:04 PM

Hi all, I have a 1981 alfa spider 2000 veloce, inported to England around 20 years ago. A friend of mine owned her for all this time with very little use, and now I own her. wanted one since I was little. On the windscreen there is a club badge from this club, and I still have a licence plate from califoria, and wondered if this could be traced, as to maybe a little of her history.

It just seems that she had a life in california before she lived in yorkshire England, and it would be nice to keep that as she can't tell us.
Not totally sure how the plates work in The USA. but if any one can help, would the plate number help...........Thank you for your time Phil

Racer Z · #2 (**permalink**) 10-16-2009, 09:46 PM

Plates are governed by each State, each State being independent of the other. Your only concern is California, as you said it came with a California plate.

I live in, and grew up here in sunny Southern California. I am by no means an expert. In California, the plate belongs to the car and stays with it as it gets sold to the next person. You should contact the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) of California. Using the VIN and the Plate numbers, you should be able to trace it's history. I don't know of any private agency that does this, but....

The link to the California DMV is: California Department of Motor Vehicles

My best guess is that a US Military person took it with them while stationed in England and sold it.

**AR4me** · #3 (**permalink**) 10-16-2009, 10:04 PM

With the VIN number you can get a carfax report - this will tell you off smogs, locations, miles, etc. This report is mostly used to check a vehicles history for accidents, odometer rollback, etc. prior to purchase, but it will provide you some basic info as to whereabouts.
Jes

kikbak · #4 (**permalink**) 10-17-2009, 03:52 AM

Thank you for your help,
that gives me a start point. I just wondered if you kept records, and the membership asked for car reg number. Many of the car clubs I have been a member of here, record car reg numbers along with the member, so I thought maybe the old owner could still be a member.
It may be of interest to them also that the car is now here.

Big thanks for your help, and for the info.......... Phil......

**sidewaysalfa** · #5 (**permalink**) 10-17-2009, 05:39 PM

Phil,
An idea: Calif Smog Check records.
DCA BAR Vehicle Smog Test History
You mention a decal. Is it an Alfa Romeo Owners Club, or ARA (Alfa Romeo Association)? That may narrow down the search. The ARA is located around the San Francisco area. AROC folks are all over the state.
National AROC has no real records of Alfas owned.
California is a big place with I think 6 Alfa Romeo club (5 AROC and 1 ARA) chapters. We probably have 600 to 700 members statewide. And who knows how many Alfas we all have owned.
A photo, with any unusual characteristics would help.
Good luck in your search.