Replacement VIN Tag. Typical or SCAM?
03-19-2014, 07:31 PM
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
Replacement VIN Tag. Typical or SCAM?
So the car I bought (deposit only so far) has a replacement VIN tag. The Corvette restoration shop I had it checked out at said, "The car has a replacement VIN. It is typical of this vintage of Corvette that the original VIN tags would fall off because of poor quality spot welds that held them to the steering column in the engine compartment. The original factory VIN would be 108667S.... This is indicated by the number .... stamped on the engine and the matching number stamped on the frame. At some time in this car's life a new VIN tag with the assigned VIN GM375... was attached to the steering column."
Should any of this send up red flags? It all sounded good, but now I'm wondering if I got scammed or something.
Should any of this send up red flags? It all sounded good, but now I'm wondering if I got scammed or something.
03-19-2014, 07:45 PM
#2
Team Owner
It is typical of this vintage of Corvette that the original VIN tags would fall off because of poor quality spot welds that held them to the steering column in the engine compartment.
03-19-2014, 07:56 PM
#3
Tech Contributor
Stories of VIN tags falling off the steering column of C1s are not unusual. Some here keep a tie wrap around their tag so it won't get lost if it falls off.
However be aware that many future buyers will walk away because of the VIN tag on your car. Further (speculation on my part) your insurance company MIGHT devalue the car and not wish to insure for as much as you think it's worth.
Some buyers won't care but far more, in my opinion, will want a smoking deal on the car or no deal at all.
However be aware that many future buyers will walk away because of the VIN tag on your car. Further (speculation on my part) your insurance company MIGHT devalue the car and not wish to insure for as much as you think it's worth.
Some buyers won't care but far more, in my opinion, will want a smoking deal on the car or no deal at all.
03-19-2014, 08:13 PM
#4
Melting Slicks
Is this GM375# on the title?
So the car I bought (deposit only so far) has a replacement VIN tag. The Corvette restoration shop I had it checked out at said, "The car has a replacement VIN. It is typical of this vintage of Corvette that the original VIN tags would fall off because of poor quality spot welds that held them to the steering column in the engine compartment. The original factory VIN would be 108667S.... This is indicated by the number .... stamped on the engine and the matching number stamped on the frame. At some time in this car's life a new VIN tag with the assigned VIN GM375... was attached to the steering column."
Should any of this send up red flags? It all sounded good, but now I'm wondering if I got scammed or something.
Should any of this send up red flags? It all sounded good, but now I'm wondering if I got scammed or something.
03-19-2014, 08:26 PM
#5
Safety Car
I assume the car is a 61 Corvette per your ''108667S''. However, there is only one ''6'' in the number.
61 Corvettes went from 10867S100001 to 108675S110939. A total of 10,939 cars were made.
Now the last SIX DIGITS starting with a 1 for the year digits will appear on the engine pad if it has its original engine. Example 1105152 F0117CS. for vin #5152 which has a CS FUEL INJECTION 283/315HP ENGINE. The vin number is also stamped on top of the frame if you know where to look.
The original vin tag was tack welded to the steering column. If the column was replaced over the years, it was common for the tag to get lost.
State DMV often added their State TAG in these cases. And usually riveted it to the driver door B Piller, or rivet it to the steering column. The state would often use the correct complete vin number, but if the car had been stolen, then another tag number would be created. I have never seen a tag with GM 375. I would love to see the ''assigned'' GM375 tag and state Registration. This is a PIA problem, but can be corrected as long as the car is not in NICB stolen records.Can you post a photo of the tag? It will make it easier to answer.
61 Corvettes went from 10867S100001 to 108675S110939. A total of 10,939 cars were made.
Now the last SIX DIGITS starting with a 1 for the year digits will appear on the engine pad if it has its original engine. Example 1105152 F0117CS. for vin #5152 which has a CS FUEL INJECTION 283/315HP ENGINE. The vin number is also stamped on top of the frame if you know where to look.
The original vin tag was tack welded to the steering column. If the column was replaced over the years, it was common for the tag to get lost.
State DMV often added their State TAG in these cases. And usually riveted it to the driver door B Piller, or rivet it to the steering column. The state would often use the correct complete vin number, but if the car had been stolen, then another tag number would be created. I have never seen a tag with GM 375. I would love to see the ''assigned'' GM375 tag and state Registration. This is a PIA problem, but can be corrected as long as the car is not in NICB stolen records.Can you post a photo of the tag? It will make it easier to answer.
Last edited by jimgessner; 03-19-2014 at 08:36 PM.
03-19-2014, 09:59 PM
#7
Instructor
Thread Starter
i assume the car is a 61 corvette per your ''108667s''. However, there is only one ''6'' in the number.
61 corvettes went from 10867s100001 to 108675s110939. A total of 10,939 cars were made.
Now the last six digits starting with a 1 for the year digits will appear on the engine pad if it has its original engine. Example 1105152 f0117cs. For vin #5152 which has a cs fuel injection 283/315hp engine. The vin number is also stamped on top of the frame if you know where to look.
The original vin tag was tack welded to the steering column. If the column was replaced over the years, it was common for the tag to get lost.
State dmv often added their state tag in these cases. And usually riveted it to the driver door b piller, or rivet it to the steering column. The state would often use the correct complete vin number, but if the car had been stolen, then another tag number would be created. I have never seen a tag with gm 375. I would love to see the ''assigned'' gm375 tag and state registration. This is a pia problem, but can be corrected as long as the car is not in nicb stolen records.can you post a photo of the tag? It will make it easier to answer.
61 corvettes went from 10867s100001 to 108675s110939. A total of 10,939 cars were made.
Now the last six digits starting with a 1 for the year digits will appear on the engine pad if it has its original engine. Example 1105152 f0117cs. For vin #5152 which has a cs fuel injection 283/315hp engine. The vin number is also stamped on top of the frame if you know where to look.
The original vin tag was tack welded to the steering column. If the column was replaced over the years, it was common for the tag to get lost.
State dmv often added their state tag in these cases. And usually riveted it to the driver door b piller, or rivet it to the steering column. The state would often use the correct complete vin number, but if the car had been stolen, then another tag number would be created. I have never seen a tag with gm 375. I would love to see the ''assigned'' gm375 tag and state registration. This is a pia problem, but can be corrected as long as the car is not in nicb stolen records.can you post a photo of the tag? It will make it easier to answer.
03-19-2014, 10:06 PM
#10
Instructor
Thread Starter
How much does it devalue car? I paid what I think is average for a 1961 2- to 3+ rated car.
Getting scared! Still not too late to pull the plug though if I'm walking into a problem!
03-19-2014, 10:08 PM
#11
Safety Car
Can you still bring the 61 back and get your full deposit returned?
You might have trouble selling if the time ever came.
03-19-2014, 10:12 PM
#12
Tech Contributor
03-19-2014, 10:16 PM
#14
Team Owner
03-19-2014, 10:18 PM
#15
Instructor
Thread Starter
I'm really relying on you guys. They appraised the car at $56k...buying for $52k. Dual quad carb, drives great. Some small paint blemishes on car in various places. Nothing larger than 3mm wide. Front disk brakes.
Is that price reasonable for a changed VIN? The VIN plate now looks printed on metal, then attached to the steering column.
03-19-2014, 10:27 PM
#16
Instructor
Thread Starter
03-19-2014, 10:32 PM
#18
Safety Car
If I'm spending that kind of money, I would want the correct VIN plate/number on the column.
Did you ask the dealer what the deal was with the incorrect VIN plate? And who's "they" when you say they appraised it? The dealer? Or the Corvette place you took it to? They could be in kahoots (sp?).
The other thing is...will it the issue eat away at you...make you lose sleep at night?
But maybe you don't care as long as it's not stolen or was totaled and another 8k give or take would make you sleep easy at night.
Did you ask the dealer what the deal was with the incorrect VIN plate? And who's "they" when you say they appraised it? The dealer? Or the Corvette place you took it to? They could be in kahoots (sp?).
The other thing is...will it the issue eat away at you...make you lose sleep at night?
But maybe you don't care as long as it's not stolen or was totaled and another 8k give or take would make you sleep easy at night.
03-19-2014, 10:34 PM
#19
Instructor
Member Since: Aug 2013
Location: San Juan Puerto Rico
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If I'm spending that kind of money, I would want the correct VIN plate/number on the column.
Did you ask the dealer what the deal was with the incorrect VIN plate? And who's "they" when you say they appraised it? The dealer? Or the Corvette place you took it to? They could be in kahoots (sp?).
The other thing is...will it the issue eat away at you...make you lose sleep at night?
But maybe you don't care as long as it's not stolen or was totaled and another 8k give or take would make you sleep easy at night.
Did you ask the dealer what the deal was with the incorrect VIN plate? And who's "they" when you say they appraised it? The dealer? Or the Corvette place you took it to? They could be in kahoots (sp?).
The other thing is...will it the issue eat away at you...make you lose sleep at night?
But maybe you don't care as long as it's not stolen or was totaled and another 8k give or take would make you sleep easy at night.
03-19-2014, 10:40 PM
#20
Tech Contributor
Remember that VIN tag does not have anything to do with how the car drives, feels, or looks. The only issue at hand is whether or not you are getting good value for your money today and whether or not you care about the future drama when you go to sell it.
The car looks nice but I think it's a 40-42k car to me with that tag.
The car looks nice but I think it's a 40-42k car to me with that tag.