Tracking down a 1916 Model T

[WarbirdPhotog]

Hello all! Just signed up on the forums here. I'm hunting for a 1916 Ford Model T Touring Car that used to be owned by my grandfather, Richard C Dietz. Back in 2012, my grandfather passed away. My grandmother sold the Model T in a panic shortly after. It was originally supposed to be handed down to my father.

For the last few years, I've been trying to hunt down the Model T with very little information. Unfortunately, my grandmother could not recall any information about the vehicle or who she sold it to, and she had misplaced all the details. Sadly, my grandmother passed away about two weeks ago. But, looking through her items, we discovered a letter she sent to American Collector's Insurance Inc, cancelling the insurance, and she lists the VIN as 6408. This is the biggest leap of info we've had so far.

I realize the current owner might not want to sell it (I own a US Army 1944 GPW Jeep and a 1940 Ford Deluxe Sedan and wouldn't want to part with them!), but we're trying to find the owner, or even where it might be, and see if they'd be up for parting with it. I've reached out to a few different Model T clubs in Southern California, as the Model T was originally based in Santa Ana, CA, where my grandparents lived, and that's where it was sold. It's a bit of a needle in a haystack, but I hope with the VIN information, we might get a lead.

I remember riding in it when I was young; it was all black with two rows of seats and no top installed. My grandfather had the top for it, but never put it on. Any help you guys might have to help us track this special Model T down and see if the owner is willing to sell it would be greatly appreciated!

[RajoRacer]

I believe there might be 1 or 2 numbers missing - that number would be like a '09.

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

It might help to know your grandfather's name and in what city or state the car was sold. As already mentioned, the VIN number makes no sense for 1916, unless it was given a new VIN by some DMV office.

[speedytinc]

Contact the Orange county model t ford club. Some of the old timers might remember him IF he was a member.
Will need his name.

[WarbirdPhotog]

Thanks for the info so far. That's a bummer that the number is not quite right. It did seem awfully short. Unfortunately, checking over the letter again, I can confirm that's what she wrote (not to say she wasn't mistaken). I have the American Collector's Insurance policy number, so I've thought about reaching out to them and seeing if they would perhaps give me any info (Vin, License Plate, etc) they might still have on file, if any. I have my Jeep and '40 Ford through them, so they might possibly help since I'm family.

My grandfather's name was Richard C Dietz. My grandmother's name was Peggy Dietz.The vehicle was sold in Santa Ana, CA 92705 in July 2012.

Edit: I mentioned in the original post that I've contacted several Model T groups. This includes the Orange County and Long Beach clubs. Waiting on a reply. I didn't think about giving them my Grandfather's name, however. I don't recall him being a part of those groups, as I don't remember him going to any meets. But it's tough to say.

[WarbirdPhotog]

We found a photo from a long time ago of the family (I'm holding the dog, I'm 42 now!). Grandparents are sitting in the front seats.

[RajoRacer]

What a great family photo ! Hopefully, someone will be able to assist in your search !

[kmatt2]

I am guessing that the insurance form showing the four digit VIN that you list as 6408 , and the fact that the car was in southern California , that the number is a California Assigned Identification Number. If the car is still in California and currently registered or on non-opp you may be able to find some one who is authorized to run a VIN check for a 1916 Ford with that VIN. It would be a big help if you could find a picture of the car from the front or back or another form that shows the license plate number. Good luck in your search.

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

Interesting that the hood has louvers all the way along the side panels. This is not typical, is it? Maybe a clue to identification, albeit a small one.

[KWTownsend]

Go online to California DMV and do a title search.

[Steve Jelf]

Jerry's comment on the hood is on the mark. That's not the stock 15-16 Ford hood in the photo. The correct hood would have six louvers.

[Kevin Pharis]

Hood is correct and has 6 louvers… but if you look close you will see 3 extra louvers out in front with unequal spacing to the original 6. Definitely a unique modification that could help to identify this specific car. Hoods are readily available and easy to change, so car may not retain this uniqueness forever

[speedytinc]

The name is familiar. I believe they were members of the OCMTFC. I dont recall seeing this T out, especially if it never had a top.
Consider the number (vin?) you have may be a horseless carriage or historical vehicle plate #.
I dont recall the T being offered for sale within the club.
I will inquire Thursday night on the matter with some of the old timers.

[Bmettli]

I had sold my 1953 Chevy in 2008 when I got out of college. I wanted it back 15 years later and I had a copy of the title with the VIN. You can't find the current owner name doing a standard title search. Someone told me to reach out to a Private Eye service and they can run it and contact the owner on my behalf. I did and paid $700 for the service. Talked to the owner and bought the car back later that week. But bottom line for you is that you need the correct VIN to proceed with tracking. Perhaps you can run your family name through the DMV and get a list of all the cars registered in the past to your family member.

[WarbirdPhotog]

Thanks for all the ideas everyone! Some of those are a bit of a dead end with my Grandmother now passed away (a lot of DMV forms require her to be the one requesting it seems).

The name is familiar. I believe they were members of the OCMTFC. I dont recall seeing this T out, especially if it never had a top. Consider the number (vin?) you have may be a horseless carriage or historical vehicle plate #. I dont recall the T being offered for sale within the club. I will inquire Thursday night on the matter with some of the old timers.

Thank you for asking! I have yet to get any reply to the Model T groups I emailed thus far (or American Collector's Insurance). We're trying to find more information, but that letter is the only thing we have at this point. She lists it as the 'V.I.N.' number in the letter, but that's not to say she didn't know it was a special number. I know it didn't have historical plates or non-California plates, as we have an unused set of historical plates that he was planning to switch the CA ones over to and never did. I can confirm the number on the historical plates are not related to what the Model T had when it was sold. So that's another dead end, sadly.

Go online to California DMV and do a title search.

How can we do this without my Grandmother putting in the request? Now that she's gone, wouldn't I need her information? She hasn't had a driver's license in many years. So I'm not sure how we can go about requesting that info without proof.

I am guessing that the insurance form showing the four digit VIN that you list as 6408 , and the fact that the car was in southern California , that the number is a California Assigned Identification Number. If the car is still in California and currently registered or on non-opp you may be able to find some one who is authorized to run a VIN check for a 1916 Ford with that VIN. It would be a big help if you could find a picture of the car from the front or back or another form that shows the license plate number. Good luck in your search.

Good info! It could have been a CAIN, and she didn't realize it was not the VIN. I suppose it could be a partial VIN as well that she had from the insurance. Who would have access to a VIN check? Is that something I can go into the DMV and ask?
Sadly, photos of the Model T are just as difficult to find as the information. Just about any photos of the Model T we have are either cropped above the plates or side views.

[DHort]

The DMV should be able to use the death certificates to allow you to track information without her filling in the forms.