Oh folks, wow, just wow.

I‘m overwhelmed by your numerous replies.
I am SO glad that i had the idea to not only trust the car inspector but instead ask this forum. It might me the best decision i made in my car-life, because the string of consequences for me would be a nightmare. The customs authorities might not even have let the car leave the country after buying..?!

I talked to the owner several times.
the message he received today almost gave him an heart attack and in my opinion he is an great, honest family man who just didn’t know about the swapped VIN. If he did, why should he post pictures of the plate in ebay, risking seizing the car?
No way, i think he is in the same sad situation as the guy with the 66 Corvette mentioned in the 2003 thread. Car stolen (or whatever) decades ago, nobody noticed until a young German guy looked to close.
I am sorry for the seller that i brought him into this situation.
Best worst situation would be that several cars were restored in the same shop and they accidentally swapped the VIN-plates in the painting/reassembling process. But otherwise i never removed those in my restaurations, (except on a french VeloSolex front wheel drive moped)
Anyway.
You guys are great, thank you from keeping an young guy away from trouble.
I‘ll stay in contact with the seller and if the history and VIN of the Car will be clear, hopefully i will be able to bring it to Autobahn country.



Cheers, Fabian

 

8 track players in GM cars in 67

 

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delete
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I'm sorry this is 2025 the seller knew the vin was swapped he was just being honest enough to put out there for the buyer to figure out. this is not the first time this has happened and it wont be the last

 

8 track tapes were introduced in 1964...

 

The sale shows to have ended.

 

I'm sure the OP's conversation with the seller today about the VIN tag prompted the seller to remove the listing immediately.

 

delete

 

I dont buy it on the surface. More probable is hes a good actor.

Now - that comment on swaping vins in a restoration shop....no way those tags come off.

THis is clear - since that data was from ten years back - a stolen car. Happened too mant times

 

What data do you mean?

 

I bought my first car in 1968 and at the time 4-Track players were available and I bought one. I believe it was like this one - a Muntz.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/17686189856...3ABFBM4L-Php5m

i think it was in the waning days of the short commercial life for the 4-track which was introduced in 1962. Lear introduced the 8 track for his planes and it was gradually made available in cars starting in 1965 and eventually crowded the Muntz unit out. Some say the 4-track system was better as it was essentially a reel to reel design without the usual 8-track issues.

And now back to our regularly scheduled discussion.

 

The question in my mind is how did this car manage to clear Customs when it was shipped out of the U.S. initially. Customs is supposed to do a thorough title search, VIN scan and ownership verification before releasing it. I’m not sure how long the Automated Export System (AES ) has been in existence but even before it I’m sure most of the same verification was done. That makes me wonder if the car even left the country and entered Germany legally. Does the current owner have any import records for it? I would think he would have had to have that to get it registered and titled.

if the car was legally imported into Germany and passed all Customs checks, it probably is not a problem for another buyer in Germany to buy it. Once released by Customs and registered, as far as they are (probably) concerned, it’s legal as is and that’s its VIN. But there’s a good amount of speculation on my part in that statement.

 

You missed the part about the car is still in California, OP is in Germany. I agree the issues might come to the surface if he actually bought it and tried to ship it.

 

Somehow I missed that. I guess I was far too young and was never around anyone who had a car that would have one.
I stand corrected.
Thanks
Eddie

 

You’re right. I did miss that. Thought it was in Germany.

 

well to be fair 67 8 track players where a dealer option and fairly rare I think by 68 they were a regular option and by 1970 they were integrated into radios as a option

 

Yeah, those were the days. I put a reverb unit in my 58 Chevy in 65/66 to simulate stereo. Then a FM converter. Then on to a 8 track player a year or so later. I had a cardboard box full of 8 track tapes in the back seat, that turned into a shoebox when cassettes tapes came out.

You would always see damaged 8 track tapes in trash barrels everywhere and along the side of the roads when some disgruntled owner tossed them out after they ate themselves...........that is if the tape didn't wind itself around the capstans....that required a little surgery. Great memories.

 

I remember in 69, after saving up for a new 4 track tape, I was 14, and going to my local Payless to buy it... :POOF gone, they must of cleaned out all the 4 track stock overnite and it was all gone... All restocked with 8 track equipment and tapes...... Quite disenhearting as I had NO where near enough money to buy a new 8 track player.....

 

Eddie,

I purchased a new Phillips cassette player and several cassette tapes in 1965, while in Europe.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassette_tape

FIM,

Great call asking the right questions, and good luck in your search!

Plasticman

 

Man, has this thread flown off the tracks...