About locating my old 1989 260E:

Thanks for all the ideas guys.

The NC DMV does not seem to be forth coming with how to get vehicle info - they consider it private information.

I don't know anyone who could contact a state trooper in NC. This idea did get a chuckle. Someone might lose his job trying this.

I did contact by email Leith MB, which should be close to where the car was last registered, asking if a car with that VIN number and discription had ever been serviced by them. I got no reply.

I gave info to 2 local MB dealers asking if they came a across a 260E in Lt. Ivory with palomino interior to contact me. I also did a seach on Autotrader.com and Cars.com. There were 2 cars on Autotrader on the west coast. Cost of transportation seemed counter productive.

I like the car a lot. I'd like to have my "old friend" back.
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Previously owned of interest:
1968 250S
1970 250
1989 260E

1952 MG TD (first car)
1960 Triumph TR3A
1960 Fiat-Abarth Zagato
1971 Lotus Europa
1998 Land Rover Discovery
2004 Honda Civic (practial every driver)