Suspicious VIN tag?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,103
Likes: 802
From: Massapequa Park NY
Interesting that the two are convertibles... I wouldn't think there would be a difference but the numbers don't appear as tall and wide as the coupe examples. Does anyone know how the tags were produced for the assembly line? Were the tags made by two different stamping machines that may have been set up differently?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 13,300
Likes: 16
From: TX
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
To me it looks like it has several coats of heavy paint or something covering it. It definitely does not have the original patina. So,
hard to tell it original with all the layers on it. Sort of like you cannot judge the enigine vin derivative when someone has sprayed
paint all over it.
Joe
hard to tell it original with all the layers on it. Sort of like you cannot judge the enigine vin derivative when someone has sprayed
paint all over it.
Joe
The car had been restored some years ago, so possible the windscreen pillar was sanded down, rust repaired and the restorer was sloppy with the 80 grit?
Anyway, a large chunk of front fender was missing and the motor numb er hidden by a fuel filter bolded tight up against the block so numbers couldn't be verified.
Anyway, a large chunk of front fender was missing and the motor numb er hidden by a fuel filter bolded tight up against the block so numbers couldn't be verified.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 295
Likes: 104
From: Toronto Canada
It could be the picture but the two last digits 44 do not look straight like the other numbers. Every vin that I have seen are perfectly straight. Personally I believe something is not right. Personally I would pass but that's just my opinion.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 2,297
Likes: 2,016
From: MA/NH Seacoast
Racer
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 296
Likes: 30
From: Westchester NY
The rivets on the car appeared to me to be the correct rosette rivets. I am of the opinion that it is the original vin tag and during the restoration it was sanded (lightly) -- remember the car was painted. The marks in the photo stand out so much because the photo was taken under a direct bright flashlight, to the naked eye you can barely see them and you've got to be really looking for them.
This car was not crusty at all, so I doubt this was a windshield frame repair... I just think this was an overzealous sanding during prep for paint... an "oh sh*t" by the painter which is why its only on half. Just my 2 cents
This car was not crusty at all, so I doubt this was a windshield frame repair... I just think this was an overzealous sanding during prep for paint... an "oh sh*t" by the painter which is why its only on half. Just my 2 cents
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,380
Likes: 838
From: New York
2017 C3 of the Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '20- '21
Well this is a stamping process. I don't know how automated it was so we have the potential for human error. I assume GM only cared that it was readable. This one is clearly is so it probably good enough. To me it looks like the stamping was not fully done but good enough to go on the car! Ike.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 9,063
Likes: 2,736
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
I think there is way too much "overthinking" going on. If the title matches the vin tag,......what's the problem? I understand NCRS lives in the land of trivia,....so I guess that is what its about.???? Glad I focus on other things....like enjoying building and driving an old classic Corvette. But,...heh, its America, for now.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
The fonts on those two tag styles are very different. The 'crisp' type is definitely "real". I can't say that the other one is not, as operating processes within any GM plant were always changing. And just because it passed muster with some NCRS judge doesn't make it original...it's just that the judge thought it was legit. NCRS would be the right source to go to for a resolution on this. I'm sure that their more experienced judges would know the answer to this 'curiosity'.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,232
Likes: 1,232
From: PHX AZ
rosette rivets.
FAKE VIN REPRODUCTION....
The plates were STAMPED in MATCHED METAL DIES....IE stamped from the back (male) into FEMALE receiving dies.
Additionally....one can pull the A-pillar trim away and see the ROSETTE rivets holding the plates on...Rosettes LOOK LIKE FLOWERS.
Neither of these actually says FRAUD....next I'd get mt handy-dandy dental mirror out and my super-duper flashlight and look at the frame flat near the drv rear wheel arch and see if the frame stamping number matches.
Then look at the block stamping, which has a VIN derivative on the block.
Saw last week a (purported) PACE CAR with the wrong serial number! They are definitely out there!
Unkahal
The plates were STAMPED in MATCHED METAL DIES....IE stamped from the back (male) into FEMALE receiving dies.
Additionally....one can pull the A-pillar trim away and see the ROSETTE rivets holding the plates on...Rosettes LOOK LIKE FLOWERS.
Neither of these actually says FRAUD....next I'd get mt handy-dandy dental mirror out and my super-duper flashlight and look at the frame flat near the drv rear wheel arch and see if the frame stamping number matches.
Then look at the block stamping, which has a VIN derivative on the block.
Saw last week a (purported) PACE CAR with the wrong serial number! They are definitely out there!
Unkahal
1967 Pedal Car Champion
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 9,137
Likes: 4,248
From: US-PNW
The fonts on those two tag styles are very different. The 'crisp' type is definitely "real". I can't say that the other one is not, as operating processes within any GM plant were always changing. And just because it passed muster with some NCRS judge doesn't make it original...it's just that the judge thought it was legit. NCRS would be the right source to go to for a resolution on this. I'm sure that their more experienced judges would know the answer to this 'curiosity'.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,104
Likes: 12
From: Woonsocket Rhode Island
I'm just jumping in here and saw the remarks. I'm looking at a 66 that has no factory VIN plate on it but has the title. No other documentation other than the BOS from a broker company.
Car is nice but without the factory VIN or history I'm a bit nervous. Does any company offer reproducing the correct style VIN tag?
Car is nice but without the factory VIN or history I'm a bit nervous. Does any company offer reproducing the correct style VIN tag?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,104
Likes: 12
From: Woonsocket Rhode Island
I did buy a 71 Florida Vette back in 1995 that had the wrong style VIN, it was punched in with OTC stamps. The car was documented and everthing was fine. Explanation was that the car was in an accident that required the WS post to be repaired, the body shop threw the damaged one away forgetting to remove the plate.. Good repair, I exposed the whole metal part and no signs it was every replaced. Car is nice and passes state inspection since.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 2,297
Likes: 2,016
From: MA/NH Seacoast
I'm just jumping in here and saw the remarks. I'm looking at a 66 that has no factory VIN plate on it but has the title. No other documentation other than the BOS from a broker company.
Car is nice but without the factory VIN or history I'm a bit nervous. Does any company offer reproducing the correct style VIN tag?
Car is nice but without the factory VIN or history I'm a bit nervous. Does any company offer reproducing the correct style VIN tag?
If you want a tag, you can buy the right style and size stamps to make your own, and the correct rosette rivets are available. Use a caliper to get the dimensions from an original tag, including the thickness of the metal itself.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,380
Likes: 838
From: New York
2017 C3 of the Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '20- '21
Ptwohey. I would verify were the vin tag is supposed to be and check it out. Forman
is correct at one point it was in the glove box but I am not sure when it changed as well. You may want to post in the C2 forum.
I will tell you this, if the car has no vin number plate you may be in for major issues depending on the state you live in when you try to register it. Missing vins is a big issue. They are concerned about theft. Tread lightly and do your homework before you inherit a major headache. Ike
is correct at one point it was in the glove box but I am not sure when it changed as well. You may want to post in the C2 forum.
I will tell you this, if the car has no vin number plate you may be in for major issues depending on the state you live in when you try to register it. Missing vins is a big issue. They are concerned about theft. Tread lightly and do your homework before you inherit a major headache. Ike
Last edited by general ike; Mar 1, 2021 at 04:10 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,186
Likes: 21
From: West Tennessee
I think there is way too much "overthinking" going on. If the title matches the vin tag,......what's the problem? I understand NCRS lives in the land of trivia,....so I guess that is what its about.???? Glad I focus on other things....like enjoying building and driving an old classic Corvette. But,...heh, its America, for now.