If you bought the car from a dealer, you'd have a right to ask for the maintenance records and a CarFax. However, dealerships have nothing to gain and potentially something to lose by providing those records to you (assuming they can). Giving you those records could put them in the middle of a dispute you might have with the seller.

Posting this question on varioius forums will only get you sympathy. Why not go back to the seller and see if he can put you in contact with the original owner. Don't be surprised if the car was never serviced at a dealership in the first place.