Need VIN help / title?
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Crossville TN
Could the 'missing' "1" be there but hidden underneath the trim panel? I can't even fathom such a VIN plate getting out of the factory. A number error, yes....a missing first digit, no.... 
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From: Southbound
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Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Coralville Iowa
Here is what we have so far.
A state trooper that is part of the Iowa DOT Investigative unit came out to verify vin. The vin on the pillar looks to be original, with the original rosette rivets, and is Z67K2S502XXX the vin on the title is 1Z67K2S502XXX the derivation of the vin on the frame is 2S502XXX. The derivation of the frame number would be correct for this car. He is going to try to contact GM to see if there were any problems with that period of stampings. He said that he actually had GM come out and install a new vin plate on a similar car that had an extra digit (an S) on the vin. I am just waiting at this point. He said if GM will not do it, they will have to issue a state replacement vin. I do not want to do that.
A state trooper that is part of the Iowa DOT Investigative unit came out to verify vin. The vin on the pillar looks to be original, with the original rosette rivets, and is Z67K2S502XXX the vin on the title is 1Z67K2S502XXX the derivation of the vin on the frame is 2S502XXX. The derivation of the frame number would be correct for this car. He is going to try to contact GM to see if there were any problems with that period of stampings. He said that he actually had GM come out and install a new vin plate on a similar car that had an extra digit (an S) on the vin. I am just waiting at this point. He said if GM will not do it, they will have to issue a state replacement vin. I do not want to do that.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Crossville TN
What does that mean? Will you keep the same VIN number and they just supply a 'state-approved' VIN tag with that number? Or will they change the VIN completely? It is what it is. That's the way your state will process it and you really can't do anything about it....if you want it regestered in your state. If you do proceed, request that you retain the old VIN plate for referencing when you sell the car to someone else. If not, you need to at least prepare an Affidavit that explains why this change is being made and have it signed and notarized by the state official or police officer who processes it. Also, get plenty of photos of that official with the original and replacement VIN plates and the Affidavit for evidence that all of this stuff is "for real". That's the only way you will ever be able to convince a future buyer that the car is 'legit'.
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Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,255
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From: Coralville Iowa
What does that mean? Will you keep the same VIN number and they just supply a 'state-approved' VIN tag with that number? Or will they change the VIN completely? It is what it is. That's the way your state will process it and you really can't do anything about it....if you want it regestered in your state. If you do proceed, request that you retain the old VIN plate for referencing when you sell the car to someone else. If not, you need to at least prepare an Affidavit that explains why this change is being made and have it signed and notarized by the state official or police officer who processes it. Also, get plenty of photos of that official with the original and replacement VIN plates and the Affidavit for evidence that all of this stuff is "for real". That's the only way you will ever be able to convince a future buyer that the car is 'legit'.
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From: Florida
Every state issued vin I have ever seen is a different number. I didn't think they could legally issue the same vin twice.
They won't let you keep the old vin plate, it's against federal law to possess a vin plate unattached or the rivits for that matter.
I would think you would have legal recourse by either getting your money back plus expenses or getting some cash back from the seller, if you think the value is less than you paid. Bottom line the vin and title don't match.
With anything but the original vin plate, the car won't be worth quite as much.
Seems odd that after almost 40 years, with all the transactions from the statement or origin thru subsequent owners, that this just surfaced now.
They won't let you keep the old vin plate, it's against federal law to possess a vin plate unattached or the rivits for that matter.
I would think you would have legal recourse by either getting your money back plus expenses or getting some cash back from the seller, if you think the value is less than you paid. Bottom line the vin and title don't match.
With anything but the original vin plate, the car won't be worth quite as much.
Seems odd that after almost 40 years, with all the transactions from the statement or origin thru subsequent owners, that this just surfaced now.
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From: Southbound
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Racer
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From: Mooreville Ms.
Trust me, this can and did happen. I worked for GM at that time and numbers were stamped wrong. Half the people on the lines were drunk and the other half didn't care! There are also engines in cars that the numbers were wrong. This is simply a $5 per hour employ that screw up and a $6 per hour inspector that was drunk!
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From what I know, the VIN tags were produced in batches on a dedicated machine, kept under lock and key and allocated on a one by one basis.
I find it hard to believe that some how the first digit got 'forgotten'.
I find it hard to believe that some how the first digit got 'forgotten'.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Coralville Iowa
Here is a close up of the vin plate. Got a call today from the State DOT Investigative people and they (according to books from 1972) say that the letters are not the correct font from 1972. He said the 8 and the zero are incorrect. Does anyone have a 1972 that could check their vin to see if these are correct? He said the zero is round and should be oval and the 8 should be square at the top. He has forwarded pics of the vin to GM as he believes it is not their vin plate. Any help would be appreciated. I'm at my wits end.
Last edited by highschool67; Jul 24, 2009 at 04:52 PM.
Oh this just got real good.
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From: Southbound
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