C1 VIN Plate

**Christer Arakangas** · July 25, 2003, 07:11 PM

Re: C1 VIN Plate

To clarify:

I want to know if I can find previous owners from any official registers, by using the VIN. Not to find out what options the car had from the factory. I just remembered the message from yesterday with a similar subject.

Christer

**Kevin Whiteley** · July 25, 2003, 08:34 PM

Re: C1 VIN Plate

Christer,

The complete VIN for your car was probably 20867S113139. The number you see on the frame is the VIN derivative.

As far as any registers or finding previous owners, I think all you can do is advertise in the Driveline. Some have posted "information wanted" on other forums with success.

I don't know who could or would make a reproduction VIN plate, however, the archives might contain some info or other members know. Sorry I couldn't help further. Good luck.

**John M.** · July 25, 2003, 09:04 PM

Re: C1 VIN Plate

There are some people who will make a new VIN plate for your car, but they will require a couple of items before they will do so. First of all, they will need a title in your name that displays the original VIN. Secondly, they will need a VIN inspection by a Law enforcement officer atttesting to the VIN on your frame. From what you say, it sounds like the original title is long gone when the new VIN was issued. This will probably be the killer to getting the new plate made for your car. If the VIN plate was just missing but the title still reflected that # then this would be a no brainer, but unless you can prove ownership of that VIN car then nobody will even consider making a new plate for it. Even if they would, you will still not be able to change the title to match the new VIN plate. THe VIN plate you have is probably not fake, but a state issued VIN plate that is issued when a car is stolen and recovered without the plate or the plate is lost. Once the State issues the new VIN, I do not believe that it is possible to go back to the old #.

Regards, John McGraw

**Mike M.** · July 25, 2003, 09:22 PM

Re: C1 VIN Plate

john: its possible but extremely difficult to get a title with the orig vin # that has been issued a state vin . if the poster thinks a repor vin plate, stamoped with the orig vin will work across the atlantic, have him email me and i will put him in touch with a fellow who stamps repo vin plates( for a VERY REASONABLE FEE). MIKE.

**Loren L.** · July 26, 2003, 02:10 AM

Re: C1 VIN Plate

The stamping on the psgr frame rail, as I understand it, was a requirement of the European nations to AVOID lifting of the body to see the VIN - you say that your car is titled under a "fake" # - is it really a fake or a derivative # furnished by country X?

**Christer Arakangas** · July 26, 2003, 06:57 AM

Re: C1 VIN Plate

Thanks for all the responses. Since the car now resides in Sweden, I think it may be easier to have the VIN changed to the original here than in the US. I'm not sure though.

The new VIN, which I called "fake" since it doesn't at all resemble a Corvette VIN, is 344459. This number is on a small plate welded to the frame in the passenger wheel well. It is also stamped on an aluminum plate riveted to the body in the engine compartment and a second one in the luggage compartment.

I guess that if I succeed to change the VIN to the original here in Sweden, and if I can produce an official document on this (the registration), it will be good enough for the repro VIN plate makers.

Thanks,

Christer

**Mike M.** · July 26, 2003, 08:57 AM

Re: C1 VIN Plate

christer: Jim Oliverio, clarksburg W.Va. ownes a 55 vet that once lived in the baltics and came back to the usa. It has plates on it similiar to what you describe. check with jimmy. good luck, mike

**Jack H.** · July 26, 2003, 09:18 AM

When referencing the law....

remember this thread deals with an independent soverign nation, Sweden. Their customs and proceedures may well be VERY different than ours.

**Jack H.** · July 26, 2003, 09:25 AM

A word of caution....

these cars (Corvette) often enjoyed a 'rich' ownership history. Those that were raced, rolled, wrecked may well be the residual composition of parts from MANY cars. For a rather long time, replacement frame components for the early straight axle cars were very hard to come by and the use of salt on winter roadways is well known to have taken it's toll on older Corvettes.

The bottom line: when you say you've found the car's original VIN, what convinces you that this really is the original VIN for the car? It's certainly possible that the VIN on your import paperwork is, in fact correct, and a prior owner effected chassis repair by swapping the frame (or a major 'chunk' of it) from a scrap yard donor car....

**Christer Arakangas** · July 26, 2003, 09:57 AM

Re: A word of caution....

Jack,

I am almost certain that the VIN i found on the frame is original. I am doing a frame off restoration and judging from the bolts, shims and rubber insulators between the body and the frame, it seems very unlikely that the body has ever been removed before. Every bolt was rusted and had to be cut off. The rubber insulators showed no sign of have been moved or replaced. The frame has been sandblasted and it has certainly not been repaired or replaced in part.

My opinion is that the chassis IS the car. Even if everything else has been replaced, then the chassis is still the original, whether it comes from a scrap yard or was delivered with the body from the factory.

At least I know that the VIN on the import papers is not correct, because there was never this combination of VIN numbers on a '62 Corvette (344459).

**Robert Willis** · July 26, 2003, 11:11 AM

Re: A word of caution....

Was this car sold in Europe when new ???? I thought that the cars were shipped the Europe and then had the VIN tags applied at Continental Motors (G.M. in Belgium) and any changes made so they could be tittled in their new home. Some where on the Net I saw a site about "Export Vettes" and it told about them. Bob

Vette

http://members.kos.net/willisb/vette.html

**Christer Arakangas** · July 26, 2003, 04:07 PM

Re: A word of caution....

It was imported from Kansas in April 1989. According to the Swedish import documents it had licence number BDK 465. Could this be a correct Kansas licence number?

**Kevin Whiteley** · July 26, 2003, 05:14 PM

Kansas DMV

It's possible it was the license plate number. 1989 wasn't too long ago, you may be able to contact the Kansas motor vehicle department and request a title history. It may reveal the original VIN, previous owners, etc. However, some of the info may be protected. You may have to indicate that your request is for research purposes. Most states have their motor vehicle division on-line so you will be able to get an address or other contact info.

**Eric J.** · July 29, 2003, 03:23 PM

Re: Kansas DMV

Website: http://www.ink.org/public/kdot
Agency Name: Transportation, Department of
Agency Address: Docking State Office Building
915 SW Harrison 7th Fl
Topeka KS, 66612-1568
EMail Address: webmaster@ksdot.org
Phone Number: 785-296-3566

C1 VIN Plate

C1 VIN Plate

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