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I am looking at a 72 big block convertible vette and had the owner send me a picture of the vin. I looked up the designations of the vin number and this vin looks like it is for a coupe. The car is a convertible. Am I missing something?
"37" should be a coupe, "67" indicates a convertible. Does the rest of the VIN, match the block stamping? Can the seller see or do a tracing of, the "hidden" VIN, on top of the left rear frame rail?
What is on the trim tag? VIN 23740 was built about June 14th, 1972. The trim tag should have a date of roughly K05 through K14. If the date on the trim tag, doesn't line up, then it's probably a put together car.
There are a couple possibilities, it could be a mistake at the factory, or it could be that the car started life as coupe. It's a fair amount of work, but people have converted coupes into convertibles before.
I know if I was interested in that car, I'd be wanting to see under the carpet, to see if there might be a seem where the car's had a rear clip put on it. I'd also be looking the body over, in the area under the rear deck, and up inside the top compartment, to see if there was some sign of previous body work.
The rest of the VIN, does indicate that the car is a 72 with a 454, "W" is 454, "2" is 1972.
Trim tag says K13. Should I be concerned about this? I have some more pics of the car which look good but don't want to pursue further if this diminishes the value.
Is the blue sticker still on the drivers side door with the vin#?
I asked the seller about the vin. He seemed surprised. Not sure if the sticker is still on the car but he will check. Does this diminish the value? Could be coupe to convertible conversion?
I asked the seller about the vin. He seemed surprised. Not sure if the sticker is still on the car but he will check. Does this diminish the value? Could be coupe to convertible conversion?
IMHO....yes! There are too many nice BB Convertibles for sale out there to settle for a conversion.
Hi Bh,
$35,000…. that's quite a bit below what a "no excuses" 72 bb convertible would sell for. The bet then becomes HOW MUCH of that "no excuses" car are you buying at prices below $35,000.
It looks to me from the one photo that the original windshield may well still be in place. It's quite difficult to change the vin tag with the glass in place.
I believe I'd want to next want to see the stamp on the frame rail.
A person familiar with 70-72 cars could determine whether it's a coupe that became a convertible by carefully looking at the rear body.
Regards,
Alan
It's not going to happen, but it would be nice to see the windshield header with the interior header soft trim off so you could look for signs that it's been modified to a convertible configuration.
It's not going to happen, but it would be nice to see the windshield header with the interior header soft trim off so you could look for signs that it's been modified to a convertible configuration.
I've got an easier one Alan, pull back the rear storage compartment carpet... Is it "437" or "467" written on the floor?
it will not diminish value as long as you buy the car at the right price.
either the factory screwed up and assigned the vin incorrectly ( the incorrect VIN would have followed the car for 40+ years) or the car was converted.
is the title correct? yes look for signs of a changeover and under the carpet as suggested.
I have seen this question come up in the forum in the past and nothing was formally and absolutely concluded.
seveal bad things can happen here all the way from nothing to the BMV assigning a new VIN....
seems to be a chance to get a BB convertible at a decent discount.
if you are going to go for it, then have lengthy discussion with your BMV and insist that the seller guarantee the title. get it in writing.
I think K13 lines up with the vin - June 72 is 11th month of production, K is 11th month of alphabet... I think
That is the same car that the OP is (was?) looking at. He has additional pics of it in a different post that he started, and from the missing door alignment parts, and the poor door to rear quarter panel fit, it sure looks like a put together car.
As far as looking at the floor under the rear storage compartment, that won't help much if the car has had a rear clip replaced. Usually when these old Corvettes have had a different rear clip hung on them, they've been cut under the seats where it's much easier to cut them, bond them back together, and hide the seem.
As far as looking at the floor under the rear storage compartment, that won't help much if the car has had a rear clip replaced. Usually when these old Corvettes have had a different rear clip hung on them, they've been cut under the seats where it's much easier to cut them, bond them back together, and hide the seem.
Fair point, but it still gives another point for reference. It also assumes that the rear clip has been replaced... Which should be relatively easy to spot.
VIN # confusion
Does this look like a conversion?