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So what do I make of this? VIN plate obviously damaged and reattached - looks like epoxy holding down the side that is missing the 19. This matches the title, motor and trans. Spoke with my DMV about it and they can issue a new state VIN, but then it wont match rest of the car. Car would just be a nice driver for me, not a show car but I don't want to be stuck with a headache I can't resell when I want to move on to something else in a couple years. Considering walking away from this.
... I don't want to be stuck with a headache I can't resell when I want to move on to something else in a couple years. Considering walking away from this...
For me, it would depend on the price. If you got it cheap with a discount for vin tag condition, I would pull the vin tag off, clean and straighten it up and reattach with the correct rivets. Seller may know the story, it might have been damaged when somebody was cleaning and wire brushing the windshield frame or using a putty knife to get the interior pillar trim off. And it might have been pulled off if somebody was repairing the windshield frame.
I would not get the DMV to reissue a new vin# as that would be unnecessary and just open a can of unjustified worms.
Bigger question and what I would definitely do is have your dmv run the vin# and make sure it is not stolen.
as long as the cops or dmv do not have to insoect the vin tag for registration, i would juist leave it alone and if pulled over, you never noticed it...a matching engine vin to show the cops will help.
Last edited by derekderek; Feb 10, 2022 at 02:43 PM.
tag looks rusty, ive seen 2 rusted just like that, missing the beginning, and toward the top its thin with a hole or 2 and a crease.
the birdcage must be rusty, or repaired and the tag was reinstalled. does have correct rivet and doesn't look fresh, interesting one.
I wouldn't worry about the vin at all. I've owned a bunch of classics with vin tags that had some rust on them, bent up, pin holes, etc. etc. Not once has it ever held me back from selling the vehicle, and the entire time I owned it, I was driving and enjoying it and never once gave any thought about what the tag looked like.
Congratulations on the new Vette! It looks awesome!
VIN Plate Damage
