I have seen a standard 96 16 valve coupe parked in the private parking space at some flats (good area).

You can tell from looking at it that it has not moved for months. Apart from being dirty body wise it looks in good condition, leather interior.

I want this car, can anybody advise me on how I find out who the ownwer is knocked on a few doors but no luck.

you cant, not unless you have a legitimate purpose and sign up to a contract with dvla

if you get this information from anyone youd probable be in breach of s55 dpa

Cheers, I guess I will have to knock on a few more doors.

put a note under the windscreen too - he'll have to go to it sometime, or maybe see it walking past

Yes, if you put a big 'you've been clamped' type/style sticker on it, the owner will soon notice or be informed about it

Rusted through and flat tyres?

Other than that, I've once been hit by a car and someone (witness) left a note with license plate on my windscreen. Went to the cops, showed the post-it, no questions asked I got their coordinates because I said I didn't want to go through insurance because it would be lower than the excess.