(I know there are some original owners on this site, so please excuse me for excluding you from this question:thumbsup:)

Let's say, You have an opportunity to talk to the actual original owner of your (67, 68, or 69) car, and they have a few pictures of your car when it was "new".

What would you offer to pay for the pictures?


Let's just say 3 pictures total, front, side, and rear. Quality as it can be expected from 67, 68, or 69.

I would love to find the original owner of my car and would be very interested to see pics of it then. I dont know what I would pay though. But finding the original owner would probably be near impossible.

I would love to find the original owner of my car and would be very interested to see pics of it then. I dont know what I would pay though...
I agree, but I would only pay for the cost of having copies made of the original pictures. There is nothing original left on my car so the pics really wouldn't interest me that much.

Why should someone pay anything more than the price of a copy? It would be very important to me to get pics of the car from back when it was new but I shouldn't have to pay big money for it. You either should do it out of the kindness of your heart or forget it! Haven't we let enough people rape our hobby and make way too much money already? In fact I was able to contact the original owner of the car that I am looking at purchasing by doing a Google search for the name off the protect-o-plate. I was able to talk with him at length about the original options and such and he was able to send me a pic of the car from 1969 three months after it was bought. Now would I pay money on ebay if I found paperwork on the car or vin coded parts that came off the car...absolutley!

This somewhat turned in a direction I didn't expect.
Alot of variables I know, but lets say:

IF you met the original owner of the car you own, and they said they had a couple pictures of the car when it was new. And you ASKED for them. IF they were willing to give them up IF they could find them. Would you OFFER some money? If so, how much??

$0.05, $0.50, $1.00, $10.00, $100.00, $1000.00,....Priceless;)....

Keep in mind, we are not talking "copies", we are talking pictures right from a scrapbook, or photo album.

I found a state registration form in the glove box dated 1997 which was the last time my car was registered, called his local 411, got his number and called him. Unfortunately neither the guy I bought it from here in Texas or this guy in Tennesee know anything about the car. I have the POP also and have thought about seeing iff I could find the original owners number just haven't gotten around to it yet. I agree it would be nice for the original owner to atleast make copies of the pics but I know I wouldn't pay big bucks for them.

This somewhat turned in a direction I didn't expect.
Alot of variables I know, but lets say:

IF you met the original owner of the car you own, and they said they had a couple pictures of the car when it was new. And you ASKED for them. IF they were willing to give them up IF they could find them. Would you OFFER some money? If so, how much??

$0.05, $0.50, $1.00, $10.00, $100.00, $1000.00,....Priceless;)....

Keep in mind, we are not talking "copies", we are talking pictures right from a scrapbook, or photo album.

I guess that depends on how much they mean to that person. I have pics of a Chevy Cavalier that I once owned that mean nothing to me and would give them away for free. I also have pics of my first Camaro that I bought and worked on with my dad that I wouldn't want to part with. Why can't you ask to just have copies made? Maybe they won't mean anything to him and he'll give em' to you!

I would gladly give him $1,000 provided that he also give me an affidavit which identified that he was the original owner of the car and it documented his time with the car.

mine is a 67 plain jane 6 banger (back then), that said i would offer $20 for the trouble of finding and mailing them to me.

What would the original owner pay to have his Camaro back?
I understand that this is way off topic but a local photographer just couldn't throw away any of the baby pics that he took of newborns in three hospitals. When he died, his daughter found boxes from the late '50s through early '70s. She adverties them for 15 dollars.
She could get more if she was heartless. The paper had an article about her telling of people who lost theirs or didn't have the money to purchase a photo back then. One about a mother whose ex-husband destroyed it during a divorce knowing it would hurt his wife because their baby was still born and it was the only photo.

I don't think the original owner would "hold up" anyone for a big chunk of cash just to hand over original pics. And I'd also accept a copy if it was good. To answer your question directly, I'd probably offer that person $20 to send me/give me a few old pics. I'd simply figure that the $20 would be enough to prod him/her to actually take a few minutes to dig em' up and mail them.

Unfortunately, my car is a mutt as far as pedigree goes, so holding on to original paperwork and such was probably never considered for quite some years back. But yeah, someone...somewhere...almost certainly has some pics (coincidental or not) of my car. If you're considering starting a "search service" for this, I think the concept is great. But for it to be a viable business venture you'd have to expand it for all makes/models to make it a long lasting venture and reach a larger audience (volume), and to keep a standard, reasonable price to attract enough takers. You could even "tier" the pricing (ie. 1940-1950 $69.99....1960-1970 $59.99 etc..).

Me now thinks that you've been scheming this entire time when collecting as many pics as possible of each of our cars? :) More power to you, bro! I think you could really turn this into something with a LOT of work, the right research tools, and if you're resourceful.

It has confounded me that I can't find a single picture of my 79' Z28 that I owned from 80' til' a divorce in 85'. I loved that car, but can't find a single pic.:confused: I'm sure my ex has some, as she always loved using a camera....and one of my sisters or even parents probably have it in some long forgotten old photos. Hell, in fact, I'm not sure I even have pics of my 84' Camaro, lol. I never was one to take pics of anything. All my old scrapbook pics of friends were mostly obtained from friends.

So tell us, what are you thinking up here? I'm intrigued, and I truly think if done right...you may have a very cool idea here.

Kevin,
You read a little too much into my mis-adventure. lol... Although you have given someone a new possible business venture here..;) Pictures..."Is it fake or real??" ;) Anyway back to the topic..I'll try to explain....

I have pictures of 95% of all my previous vehicles for the time periods I owned them. Rough guess 60 or so.., if someone where to find me that now owns one of them, I might part with a few, but some have sentimental value, more than someone could buy...Then again, everything has a price... (LOL)
Which is where my issue comes in.

The situation I have presented here is the one I am in. In the meantime, while I wait for the "findings" I thought I would throw this out there and see what others would do. I find it difficult to "tell" someone what to do with their money, so by presenting the situation to others, I'd like to see what others would do.

FWIW- No, I have NO hidden agenda, and I am not doing anything "funny" or otherwise with the pictures of your car(s) other than admiring and showing them off to friends and family. So don't be alarmed.:thumbsup: I am an automobile enthusiast and if I had the funds to do so, I'd own dozens, while I work my fingers to the bone, I am just going to buy and build one at a time for myself.

Kevin,
You read a little too much into my mis-adventure. lol... Although you have given someone a new possible business venture here..;) Pictures..."Is it fake or real??" ;) Anyway back to the topic..I'll try to explain....

I have pictures of 95% of all my previous vehicles for the time periods I owned them. Rough guess 60 or so.., if someone where to find me that now owns one of them, I might part with a few, but some have sentimental value, more than someone could buy...Then again, everything has a price... (LOL)
Which is where my issue comes in.

The situation I have presented here is the one I am in. In the meantime, while I wait for the "findings" I thought I would throw this out there and see what others would do. I find it difficult to "tell" someone what to do with their money, so by presenting the situation to others, I'd like to see what others would do.

FWIW- No, I have NO hidden agenda, and I am not doing anything "funny" or otherwise with the pictures of your car(s) other than admiring and showing them off to friends and family. So don't be alarmed.:thumbsup: I am an automobile enthusiast and if I had the funds to do so, I'd own dozens, while I work my fingers to the bone, I am just going to buy and build one at a time for myself.

Lol, I hear you. No, it wasn't meant as a question or "accusation" about your motives. Hell, it's your right to do what you want! I was merely curious...and I guess my imagination just kinda jumped ahead of itself :). Yeah, I think it would be a cool idea to do what I was alluding to. In fact, I just finished e-mailing the guy who owned my car...right before the guy that I bought it from who was "flipping it". I've asked him to supply me with ANY info on the previous owner if he can find it.

If someone were asking me for pics of a car I'd sold them (or they ended up getting down the line), I'd gladly do it for free. And if the pics had sentimental value, which most do, I'd have copies made. You can take a regular photo without the negative and have a pretty damn good copy made. I'd supply the copy if I wanted to keep the original(s), and that'd have to be good enough for....whoever.

i too would offer a $20 for his troubles. if he doesnt want to give it up, he is just being a butt head. wither way, i would give him a pic of your car the way it sits now and say thanks.

i too would offer a $20 for his troubles. if he doesnt want to give it up, he is just being a butt head.

x2. This seems like extortion to me... If I'd found an original owner, I'd ask for pictures...If he started some sort of "What are they worth to you?" game, I'd roll my eyes in dismay.

This somewhat turned in a direction I didn't expect.
Alot of variables I know, but lets say:

IF you met the original owner of the car you own, and they said they had a couple pictures of the car when it was new. And you ASKED for them. IF they were willing to give them up IF they could find them. Would you OFFER some money? If so, how much??

$0.05, $0.50, $1.00, $10.00, $100.00, $1000.00,....Priceless;)....

Keep in mind, we are not talking "copies", we are talking pictures right from a scrapbook, or photo album.


In this situation, I would't offer money, but would let the previous owner know how much I liked the car and would appreciate having an original picture of it.
If he came thru with it, I would probably give him a gift certificate of ~$50 to a local restaurant as a thank you.

FWIW- I am the 3rd owner.:thumbsup:

(I know there are some original owners on this site, so please excuse me for excluding you from this question:thumbsup:)

Let's say, You have an opportunity to talk to the actual original owner of your (67, 68, or 69) car, and they have a few pictures of your car when it was "new".

What would you offer to pay for the pictures?


Let's just say 3 pictures total, front, side, and rear. Quality as it can be expected from 67, 68, or 69.

I paid nothing I just asked polietly and recieved them same day by email.

I'm glad your not someone I need to talk to or deal with.

I've been hunting for pictures of my car for over 10 years...

First owner would be great....

However..first assignee is better!:thumbsup:

I would be willing to pay about 50 bucks for 3 original pics....but I would try everything possible to get them fo' free!

I'm glad your not someone I need to talk to or deal with.
Please explain....:confused:

I'd send him a gift certificate to Outback or similar, in advance of his providing the pics. Money seems like "payment," Dinner for 2 seems more like a "Thank You" in advance.

My brother was lucky enough to find the original owner of his RS/SS 396 Camaro...and received a couple of pictures and the original 1967 registration in the mail from his mother...who still lives in the same house as where the black and white picture was taken!

You can read about it here: http://www.chevypunch.com/issues/april2007.pdf

Here are some pics...

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Garys%20RS%20SS/colorshot.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Garys%20RS%20SS/tn_circa1978U-haul.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/tn_Mar1967.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/tn_Sept1978.jpg


Here's what it looks like now...

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/lotsayenkopics/Whatitlookslikenow.jpg

BTW, he got them for free...and sent her some flowers for her trouble :D

I guess I just need to be patient and sit and wait for the pictures to be available.
Worst case, I'll ask for copies.
Did someone mention an original could be copied or duplicated? Without using something like a zerox machine.

I guess I just need to be patient and sit and wait for the pictures to be available.
Worst case, I'll ask for copies.
Did someone mention an original could be copied or duplicated? Without using something like a zerox machine.


Scan into a computer at a high resolution...adjust the colors in a photo program and print out on photo paper...they come out well...:beers:

Did someone mention an original could be copied or duplicated? Without using something like a zerox machine.

Yep, I did. Heck, I remember bringing in a regular photo to a drug store over 30yrs ago and they made a copy for me. It was a tad blurry, but that was 30yrs ago. Either what Xplant said, or I'm sure there are other ways too.

Scan into a computer at a high resolution...adjust the colors in a photo program and print out on photo paper...they come out well...:beers:
I still have to wait and see if they are available. And then see if they are willing to do that (If they have a scanner).
I hope to get the originals, but I'll use this as a back up option #1.

Yep, I did. Heck, I remember bringing in a regular photo to a drug store over 30yrs ago and they made a copy for me. It was a tad blurry, but that was 30yrs ago. Either what Xplant said, or I'm sure there are other ways too.
I guess this goes back to how much trouble I put them through for this.:o

They are about 1100 miles or so from me.

I think what I'll do is ask if I can have the originals. If they don't want to part with them, maybe I'll ask if they will send them to me and I'll make the copies and send them back. I'll have to see what services are available.

I guess this goes back to how much trouble I put them through for this.:o

They are about 1100 miles or so from me.

I think what I'll do is ask if I can have the originals. If they don't want to part with them, maybe I'll ask if they will send them to me and I'll make the copies and send them back. I'll have to see what services are available.

Well, if they don't want to part with the originals...fat chance that they'd send them to you to let you send copies back :). If you trust them, just send them a gift card, $20 bill or something....something that will prod them...make them feel kinda obligated...to help you out. Just use your awesome people skills ;).

Hey, where do they live? Maybe a member could go see them or help in some way?

Im one of the fortunate ones that personally knows all the owners of my car, three before me. It actually shows four on the title search but one of those was a Dad to a daughter in law while he was in Vietnam. Ive ask all of them if they have any pics and no one seems to be able to find them. Thats ok, they have the pics and memories... I have the car!:thumbsup: Kevin

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y62/MDS59/69ss/69camaroleehendrix.jpg Got this and a complete car history on the 69 just by asking polietly. here is the 67 in my albums pics http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y62/MDS59/69ss/mar31155.jpg http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y62/MDS59/69ss/67photos052.jpg the last pic is the day it came home first time in the driveway so Im told

Nothing at all. I do not care. My car is better now than it ever was new. New, it was a snooze.:boring:

I don't think the original owner would "hold up" anyone for a big chunk of cash just to hand over original pics. And I'd also accept a copy if it was good. To answer your question directly, I'd probably offer that person $20 to send me/give me a few old pics. I'd simply figure that the $20 would be enough to prod him/her to actually take a few minutes to dig em' up and mail them.
Well, as you might have expected. The pictures were located:hurray:..that's the good news.
The first statement was - "Make me an offer".:sad:.. With this thread in mind, I did just that. Now I wait and see if I have insulted them or will be getting my pictures in the near future. I hope I get them, but as most of you pointed out (or thought) it has to turned into a money game. So I thought I would give an honest effort and see where it takes me. Wish me luck.

My car is NOT #s matching and needs alot of work. However, I thought it would be a cool piece of my car's history to have since it will probably never leave my possession. Not to mention, when the time comes, I am considering returning it to it's original exterior scheme.

Well, as you might have expected. The pictures were located:hurray:..that's the good news.
The first statement was - "Make me an offer".:sad:.. With this thread in mind, I did just that. Now I wait and see if I have insulted them or will be getting my pictures in the near future. I hope I get them, but as most of you pointed out (or thought) it has to turned into a money game. So I thought I would give an honest effort and see where it takes me. Wish me luck.

My car is NOT #s matching and needs alot of work. However, I thought it would be a cool piece of my car's history to have since it will probably never leave my possession. Not to mention, when the time comes, I am considering returning it to it's original exterior scheme.

So, what did you offer him? C'mon, spill it!

I think that really sux that someone would hold out on old pics for money. I'd like to believe that 100% of members here would do it for free...or at least for the simple cost of sending/mailing/copying them. The world is a strange place.:(

Yeah, I hope they work with you. If somebody wanted pics from me, I'd gladly scan them and e-mail them. If I wanted to get pics from someone, I'd offer them $20. I don't even know how to track down any of the previous owners of my car, so it's probably a moot point. But it sure would be cool to have pics. I'd be fine with copies, to be honest, and I'd consider spending $20 for copies money well spent.

In my opinion, I think that it depends on what the car is. With so many fakes and frauds in the hobby today, one of the most important things that you can has is original owner history, original paperwork and photos. Let's face it, original photos can help document your car especially if it is an SS, RS, COPO etc. If you are ever in a situation where you need to sell your car, IMO original documentation can be worth a great deal. As far as a price, I would leave that in the original owners hand. Then you can decide if the pictures are worth it enough to help you document your car.

So, what did you offer him? C'mon, spill it!

I think that really sux that someone would hold out on old pics for money. I'd like to believe that 100% of members here would do it for free...or at least for the simple cost of sending/mailing/copying them. The world is a strange place.:(

If I "win" the "auction"(LOL) I may never "fess up" to what I paid. Rest assured, I went with my gut and made an "offer" as I thought was "reasonable".

I will tell you, alternate options were suggested if the the offer wasn't reasonable:o in the sellers perspective. That being said, I would be alright with copies or "scanned" images if they were my only option (beggers can't be chosers, right).

Keep your fingers crossed I have not alienated myself...

I would "compensate" them for the old pictures by taking a nice picture of him standing beside the "restored" car that he once owned.

thats it.

Yeah Im sure he would love that. And then you hand him the keys and say here you can have it back for free....

Yeah Im sure he would love that. And then you hand him the keys and say here you can have it back for free....

No. But I'd be willing to hand him the keys and sit with him as he took it for a ride around the block. :cool:

9T4Z- 1100 miles away, I am not sure they will ever see it again in person, perhaps one day I will be blessed with the opportunity to send them a few pages from a magazine with the car in it.

I am almost to the point I have given up hope. I don't think I can bring myself to up the offer (if that would even made a difference anyway)....So I guess I am SOL.

Not sure if I am sad, angry, or confused....:(

I do wish they would have said something like "Give me $$$ each for them, and I'll ship 'em out"...Instead I sit here like I was part of a silent auction in hopes I won...:o

9T4Z- 1100 miles away, I am not sure they will ever see it again in person, perhaps one day I will be blessed with the opportunity to send them a few pages from a magazine with the car in it.

I am almost to the point I have given up hope. I don't think I can bring myself to up the offer (if that would even made a difference anyway)....So I guess I am SOL.

Not sure if I am sad, angry, or confused....:(

I do wish they would have said something like "Give me $$$ each for them, and I'll ship 'em out"...Instead I sit here like I was part of a silent auction in hopes I won...:o

Btw, what the hell is your name HF? :)

To me, this comes down to pure people skills, phone etiquette, etc.. I cannot for one minute imagine having the original owners name and address, and not being able to get them to send me pics (whether original or copies).

Seriously. Either they're complete a$$holes, or you approached them improperly...somehow. This is borderline ridiculous. Anyone can imagine and understand not wanting to part with original pics, right? I mean, it may have been 38yrs ago and I was a teen...and have pics of my "old Camaro". I wouldn't just hand them over to someone either. I mean, I haven't thrown out the pics, so they must mean something, right? Maybe they're pics with my sis, bro, parents, friends...whatever in them. But to deny someone who has a passion about their old car, simple copies of any pics of said car...is just plain silly. Someone mentioned it being a valuable tool to perhaps sell your car for more money since you have the little "extras", like original pics. That's all fine and well, but for the original owners to even think of it from this angle makes no friggin' difference, imho. This is just plain rude. Yes, I know, you're asking them for a favor. But it's a small damn favor...and you've offered them something for their "trouble" to make copies and mail them.

Again, this is simply people skills 101. If you would like, HF, I would be glad to intervene on your behalf and call this person. I am 99% certain that I can appeal to their sense of...well...sensibility, and make this happen for nothing more than what you've already offered them (unless it was .41 cents to only cover postage :)).

I'm calling you out on this! This is either: A.) Contrived BS on your part. B.) You have zero people skills and called them at 3am or something, lol, or C.) They are the most unreasonable people on the planet.

What really concerns me, is that some others who have posted in here have actually sympathized with the owner's mentality of it being worth more than a token gesture in return. I wouldn't care to ever know these people in real life, as their opinion on this matter says a lot about their character.

Seriously, I'll be glad to do this for you. The ball's in your court.

Kevin

:beers:

Kevin,
While I appreciate choices A, B, & C ;) I'd guess D.
I personally know nothing about the people that once owned the car. But what I am assuming, is the pictures have sentimental value beyond my imagination.

..... But what I am assuming, is the pictures have sentimental value beyond my imagination.

Unless the pics are of them screwing on the hood back in 69', I can't fathom that:cool:. It's all about the approach!;)

Uhh......Well, if you know these people, and that is the case, you should have said something, I might have given another $10 or so for it....;) (And not hung on the wall in the garage...:noway:)

x2. This seems like extortion to me... If I'd found an original owner, I'd ask for pictures...If he started some sort of "What are they worth to you?" game, I'd roll my eyes in dismay.

Kevin,
While I appreciate choices A, B, & C ;) I'd guess D.
I personally know nothing about the people that once owned the car. But what I am assuming, is the pictures have sentimental value beyond my imagination.

That's right, I quoted myself. There's NO WAY they have sentimental value...or else he wouldn't have said "make me an offer."

Greed. Low character.

I'm not sure your people skills are the problem...although I'm sure you could negotiate the pics out of this crumb, I personally would write it off as a lesson in the department of "how not to behave when I grow up".

Other than the cool factor what is the point? If it's about documenting your car, draw up an affidavit for him to sign listing the options that it had when he purchased it...I wonder how much he'd charge for that signature? :rolleyes: