corvettejrw1

Any thoughts on whether or not a state attached VIN tag devalues a C1 corvette?

I am trying to sell my 61 Jewel Blue C1 to a guy in Kansas and because one side of the VIN tag is loose, he told me that Kansas Highway Patrol will require a new VIN tag be attached inside the door.

He is passing on buying the car because he says the new VIN tag will devalue the car significantly. (by the way, the car is a NOM car with standard options)

This is the first of I have heard of this being a factor in a purchase decision.

Any thoughts?

62Jeff

Yes it will reduce the value for a significant number of potential buyers. This in turn reduces the pool of people willing to pay HIS price if he were to sell it later. I imagine he's thinking about the diminished value once he takes ownership and has the state-assigned VIN.

That would be a shame. He may just be trying to get out of buying the car. There are many who feel this won't affect the value at all for them, but far more (in my opinion) who will be scared away.

If I had the room, I'd love to add a Jewel Blue 61 to my collection.

Vette Daddy

Yep

Nowhere Man

I agree with what said above


not just re-spot weld the tag and don't tell anyone.

AZDoug

State tag with original VIN number and the original tag shouldn't be a hit. State tag with their own VIN number and original tag removed, would be a big hit.

Epoxy the tag back in place.

Doug

Frankie the Fink

Sounds like a crock - I agree buyer is prob trying to bail on the purchase.

Many here have put aftermarket steering columns on their cars (wmf62 is one) and therefore had to move the VIN tag to the new column and they did NOT get state issued VIN tags. So how is that different than just reattaching one side of your car's 'born with' VIN tag ?

You could call the Kansas Highway Patrol yourself and verify any difficulties but I think it won't matter as the purchaser seems to have "buyer's remorse" now.

Rich Yanulis

The first thing I would do is forget about the current Buyer.

The second thing I would do is secure the loose side of your "born with" VIN tag with some epoxy, and move on to the next Buyer.

1snake

VERY much so.

vettebuyer6369

It would definitely damage the value to me and most the buyers I know.

I'd walk away from a car with a State issued tag, regardless of whether they used the original VIN or not, and not because I had Buyer's Remorse.

OC-1

Why would you walk away from a nice car with a state issued tag?

If everything was legal what's the problem and why would the car be devalued other than for NCRS judging?

emccomas

JBWeld the loose end and move on to the next buyer.

Be thankful that the tag did not fall off.

I saw a "contraption" many years ago that was kind of interesting. Someone had taken a thick wall clear plastic tube (Lucite perhaps?) and cut it lengthwise. The ends were shaped to fit tight around the steering column and the tube was drilled so four small screws would hold it together around the column.

It completely surrounded the VIN tag section of the steering column, and the VIN tag was visible through it.

These old Corvettes are not the only cars with spot welded VIN tags that come loose. People have been reapplying them for years.

ejboyd5

Some people seem to have gotten into the herd mentality and repeat unfounded concerns regarding VIN tags. If your tag is indeed original to your car and has simply come loose at one end, inject some epoxy under the tag to make it secure and move on.
Quite frankly, I am surprised that this detail was not seen to before the car was shown for sale.

Frankie the Fink

Depending on the state there are many reasons a state issued tag was affixed to a car - some of them not-so-nice....as in stolen, etc..

Could have been chopped up, reassembled later, maybe there is still some small cloud over the car's title that could bite you later (like the car being confiscated) - just lots of unknowns. Here is part of Virginia's application for state assigned VIN - give you a lot of confidence in what you're buying doesn't it ? So the bureaucrat at the DMV then puts one of these categories on the car's title (maybe - not 100% sure about that) but you can be sure its in the database and will follow the car around. You jump on it if you want to.

corvettejrw1

Thanks for the comments.

A few points:
1. I agree there are likely other reasons the buyer is backing out.
2. JB Weld has been applied to my original VIN tag and it is secure.
3. To me, the value of a NOM C1 is in the condition of the car, the color, and how much you like it. Unless you are after an NCRS trophy, a Kansas VIN tag wont make a bit of difference as long as the VIN is authentic, not reassigned. If you think the price is too high, make a lower offer!
4. Anyone want to buy a 61 corvette? The VIN tag is totally attached.

62Jeff

Sounds like you already had all the answers after all.

JohnZ

A state-issued VIN tag has no impact on NCRS judging - it's perfectly legitimate as long as the same number is on the title/registration. However, it's frequently the "kiss of death" for a resale transaction.

corvettejrw1

i still dont understand the logic behind it being a "kiss of death" for a resale? People look at a beautiful NOM corvette and move along because of a VIN tag? Seems strange to me.

That's like looking at a beautiful woman and giving her the boot because she is wearing an allergy identification bracelet. You can always take the bracelet off when things heat up and leave it on when you need to take her to the doctor.

Its a strange analogy, I know.

Mike Ward

Removal of a VIN tag of any type is illegal in most places so the analogy doesn't work..

If a buyer had the choice between two cars that were absolutely identical except that one has a state issued replacement VIN and the other an original GM VIN, most would give the nod to the original. The question would be how much the price of the 'other' car needs to be discounted to make it attractive.

Frankie the Fink

Its more like she is wearing a court-imposed, GPS-tracker ankle bracelet.

There is a cloud over the provenance of the vehicle - how hard is that to understand ?

ohiovet

Epoxy down the loose end, thats a nobrainer.
On my 62 where the vin tag is secure I just put a nylon wire tie around the tag just for safety sake even though there is no reason it should ever "fall" off.