I’m seeking documentation for my Mustang

Question:

From time to time I read articles that refer to current owners of “old” cars having complete documentation of their cars. In your February issue there is another reference to such by Steve Bimbi and his LS6 Chevelle.

I have a 1965 Mustang Fastback that I bought in 1976 in Independence, Missouri. Knowing that Ford destroyed production records for 1965 I have tried to use what I do know from the original “registered owners manual,” such as the original owner’s name, Darilyn R. Dickerson, the selling dealer, Glens Ford Sales in Prescott, Arizona, and a signature by Glen Harmes, and have gotten nowhere with a search for these clues on the Internet.

Having more questions now than I did in 1976, I also tried to search for the college student I bought the car from but quickly gave up because his name is Robert White and that’s a very common name. I did call two Robert Whites in Independence. The first call was answered by a female and when I presented my quest, she broke out laughing, saying her husband wasn’t even born in 1976. The second call was a man who said he never owned a Ford—click.

I called the current Ford dealer, Galpin Ford, in Prescott and asked the receptionist to ask the oldest mechanic there if he knew of Glens Ford Sales. A few minutes later she said no luck.

I have an old Navy buddy who went to Prescott recently and he and a friend who lives there asked folks that have lived there all their lives about the dealership and they went to a museum that had many old photos of the town but no one has any recollection of Glens Ford Sales. On the “registered owner plan,” next to the dealer name, is a P&A Code (whatever that is) that reads 75C471. It just doesn’t make sense that I have this info filled out in the Manual and there’s no knowledge of this dealer.

So my question is, is there some magical way to find “complete documentation?” Or do I chalk it up to I should’ve tried my search 30 years ago?

Answer:

I’m sorry, Charles, but I don’t have a “magic bullet” that will lead you to the documentation that you seek. And yes, you definitely should have done your search 30 years ago! I think a further search for Robert White is pointless because there are thousands across the country and the chances of finding the one you bought the car from are very small. Even if you were to find him, what are the chances he remembers or has some record of who he bought it from? Likewise for someone connected to the dealership—even if you tracked someone down—the chances that they would remember your particular car or have any records that pertain to its sale 45 years ago are extremely remote.

The lesson for other readers who are interested in speaking with early owners of their collectible vehicles and tracking down documentation is that they should not procrastinate further.