Good point Steve. I think half of it is having the service/registry, but the word has to get out there, so guys like your friend could have had a go to source. To bad you didn't live closer or get the opportunity to inspect the car with him prior to purchase, he is one of many I am afraid.
I think the books that the Shelby registry puts out, may work for them and a smaller number of cars. But still thats 3 volumes at 1200 pages a book?
While Cyber security is definitely in the headlines these days, with even credit bureaus getting hacked, I think the way to go is having a electronic data base. I think paying a fee to get all the known history on a Vin number, (maybe even how many owners, when it was restored/or painted) would give people a good heads up prior to purchase hopefully. I think the best people to provide the initial info is the current owners. We have all taken a big interest in trying to learn the history of our cars, past owners and such.
Now last year I got the idea to start collecting data on Late August of 69 Camaros. I have a late 08C car and there were some different transitions during the month. So I put together a spread sheet, for any kind of numbers I could find on my red car. I then made contact with others, and got as much info as i could on there cars. Right now I have 17 late August cars, which is not many when you consider how many were produced, but guys were willing to share the info, which was great, and has produced some interesting info.
I have just started collecting info on early 69 Camaros, since I purchased my early 10B L.A. car.
So for instance if Gary took on October/ November of late 69, and we started having 1 guy responsible for each time frame, it might make it do-able.
I know some guys have already been collecting data on specific models, I know Cook has a 68 BB spread sheet going.
I also think Len has info pertaining to July Camaros of 69.
So there is some gathering of info that has already taken place, spreading the work out, makes it less monumental.
I think it would just be a matter of putting all the info together, where we could access it when needed.