Yes, MB does have the records but will not share. For my car I received a copy of the build card and was told it was delivered in San Jose, CA but not to whom. The Dept. of Motor vehicles in California could not provide ownership information: too old. I have records from 1990 on when the car was sold here in Seattle, they came from receipts of stuff done, like tires and stainless exhaust system. Yes, it would be very nice to have a chain of owners. I met up with a gentlemen who had the car for many years, he traded it in for a new MB convertible.