Looking for a Mustang. Please help!!

Hi All,

I am looking for my Grandfather’s 1964.5 Mustang Convertible. I have the VIN, license plate number, Ford’s vehicle code number, even the original owner’s manual, but I am at loss as to how to find its current owner.

He purchased it new from Ron Tonkin in Portland, Oregon and sold it in 1991 to a local Mustang enthusiast named Ed Leach. Ed has since passed away, the car was sold, and I have had no luck trying to run the car down.

Here are the particulars on the car:

• 1964 ½ Mustang Convertible
• Body : Dearborne
• Color: Prairie Bronze
• Ford’s Vehicle Warranty # 5F08F102769
• VIN # SFD8F102768
• Oregon License Plate: DAE 118
• Last known Owner: Ed Leach , Beaverton OR.

Do you have any suggestions how I might be able to find this car?

I really appreciate you taking the time!
 
  • Sponsors (?)


Start Googling "Mustang registry"; there are quite a few pages. I found one that covered 64.5 - 66 Mustangs, which even had a "VIN Search" feature. I tried the warranty number you posted, no hits.

BTW: The warranty number and the VIN should match; your posted VIN has an incorrect sequence of letters and numbers, the Warranty Plate info looks to be 'correct' (starts with a 5 instead of an S ). Yeah, I tried changing the last digit on the warranty number to match the VIN; still no luck.

But, if you keep trying the various registries, you may get lucky. Mustangs were/are so popular, there are many registries to search through; and they don't necessarily share info.

EDIT: Now would be a great time for superdave to appear on the forum. SD was a great resource of information, and the proud owner of a "Stock as a Rock" 64.5 'vert; even down to the generator. And he lived up there in the Pacific NW. Unfortunately after his stroke, his eyesight was failing badly; and he couldn't spend a lot of time on the computer.
 
I am also having a very hard time decoding the VIN and warranty numbers on a couple different decoders. The best I get is it is a '65 convertable with a 260 V8. And in case you didn't know, all '64 1/2s are registered as '65s, so don't be put off by this. Some differences the car in question may have from the recognized '65 year are: generator instead of alternator, clear front parking lenses with amber bulbs instead of amber lenses and clear bulbs, possibly has 13" wheels and covers, most likely will not have reverse lamps (dealer option in '65), the letter "A" on the driver's fresh air vent knob, and other small items.

BTW, Hi Dave!
 
You can also start by contacting Oregon's DMV. When I purchased my Mustang from California I contacted their DMV to find some info out. You'll need to fill out some forms, pay a small fee, and wait until they mail you the results. I found a lot of info this way, it was well worth the effort.

Peter S.