Altered VIN tag?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,155
Likes: 20
From: New Jersey
Altered VIN tag?
I need some advice.
I am looking at a beautiful black 80 with oyster interior. It was originally green with oyster per the trim plate. So I know the interior it has now matches and is the original color.
The current owner is a good guy, and up front the best he can be. He thought the car was an l82, but I showed him that it was not per the vin. He apologized over and over and said the person he bought it from said it was. I then started reviewing pictures and found the one of the vin. What makes me nervous is that extra hole to the right, and the material overlapping it. It has the correct rosette attachments, and the vin is correct, but I have never seen this before.
Has anyone else seen something like this and is it normal? Am I just paranoid?
Car is very nice, but I don’t want to buy something that may have an issue.
Thanks.
I am looking at a beautiful black 80 with oyster interior. It was originally green with oyster per the trim plate. So I know the interior it has now matches and is the original color.
The current owner is a good guy, and up front the best he can be. He thought the car was an l82, but I showed him that it was not per the vin. He apologized over and over and said the person he bought it from said it was. I then started reviewing pictures and found the one of the vin. What makes me nervous is that extra hole to the right, and the material overlapping it. It has the correct rosette attachments, and the vin is correct, but I have never seen this before.
Has anyone else seen something like this and is it normal? Am I just paranoid?
Car is very nice, but I don’t want to buy something that may have an issue.
Thanks.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,301
Likes: 4,389
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi jsb,
I understand your concern.
I'm unfamiliar with what would be typical for an 80 so won't/can't comment.
BUT, the first thing I'd look at is the windshield.
Does it appear to be the original?
Does it's installation give ANY indication it's been replaced?
I'd think it's close to impossible to replace or move the vin tag with the windshield in place.
??/
Regards,
Alan
Another 80 VIN tag.
I understand your concern.
I'm unfamiliar with what would be typical for an 80 so won't/can't comment.
BUT, the first thing I'd look at is the windshield.
Does it appear to be the original?
Does it's installation give ANY indication it's been replaced?
I'd think it's close to impossible to replace or move the vin tag with the windshield in place.
??/
Regards,
Alan
Another 80 VIN tag.
Last edited by Alan 71; Jan 21, 2018 at 05:52 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 798
Likes: 30
From: Alberta/Missouri....... depending when.
The material you’re concerned about looks like masking tape from when they did the color change.
Just my $.02
No clue about the extra hole. Friday afternoon on the assembly line??
Allan
Just my $.02
No clue about the extra hole. Friday afternoon on the assembly line??
Allan
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,822
Likes: 1,728
From: Summerville SC
There are one ot two places elsewhere on the car where the vin is supposed to be. ONe is on top of the frame near the rear axle. Not sure how easy it is to access. Do some searches on the forum and you can find more details about that. Also, I would take the vin to the local or state police and see if it shows up somewhere as being stolen. As nice as the guy seems to be, I would not trust him on something like this. You could spend a lot of money and go try and register it and find out it's on the stolen list from a long time ago. Good luck
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,155
Likes: 20
From: New Jersey
Thanks everyone for the input.
I never thought that it may be tape from masking off the plate.
I am going to go look at it this week. It is about three hours away, but I would rather drive and look then be out the money. I know a couple of the places to look for the vin and will try to check the frame. I will also run the vin to see how it comes back.
That third hole just bothers me. Thanks everyone for the input.
I never thought that it may be tape from masking off the plate.
I am going to go look at it this week. It is about three hours away, but I would rather drive and look then be out the money. I know a couple of the places to look for the vin and will try to check the frame. I will also run the vin to see how it comes back.
That third hole just bothers me. Thanks everyone for the input.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,155
Likes: 20
From: New Jersey
I looked at it on Tuesday. Nice car, clean, but I don't think it is what I am looking for. I just am not crazy about the oyster interior and I want one that is the original color.
Oh well, looking more is half the fun. Thanks everyone for your help.
Oh well, looking more is half the fun. Thanks everyone for your help.