C-3 built with no vin tag

[Ted K.]

A friend is looking at a 1973 roadster or 68 with 73 front end (pictures only).
Supposedly the car was built by GM as a racer and therefore had no vin tag or code tag on body. Car has flared fenders, roll cage, and flat dash panel for gagues. Numbers on car indicate it was raced in SCCA.
Is it possibe that this is some rare car built by GM for racing without VIN tag or just a heavily modified rough car built by an individual for racing. It's possible no vin tag because there is no windshield.

[William C.]

Re: C-3 built with no vin tag

If GM sold it, it had a VIN tag. It could have been built from the parts catalog for racing purposes, but such a car (I know of 1) was titles in Ohio as a "Homebuilt" such as a kit car would be, not actually a Corvette.

[Mike Cobine]

Re: C-3 built with no vin tag

Odds are it was stolen or totalled and turned into a race car. If not, then the windshield posts have rusted and the tag fell off (unlikely) or the windshield frame was replaced and they didn't move or have the VIN.

A quick check is the frame numbers. If it has the partial VIN on the frame, then it was supposed to have one on the windshield.

Basically, two numbers are on the frame, one on top of the frame under the drivers door and next to impossible to see, and the other on top of the kick up frame by the driver's side rear tire. If the frame is clean, a flashlight and mirror may show it. If not, then a small wire brush to clean the area and rubbing with a finger may get it to show. Numbers are large, about 3/8 to 1/2 inch tall.

[Larry Clain]

no vin tag

I have a '69 conv that has been a race car most of its life. It was bought new buy a C. Hillman in Ohio and the windshield was cut off way back then because the rules allowed you to put a plastic windscreen on. This was a big deal at high speeds and only a fool would not take advantage of the rule.

I am sure that you will find the car you are looking at will have a frame # if you look hard enough. I would ask to see the Logbooks that the car should have if it was a SCCA legal car. If it does in fact have a log book then the vin # should be in the front along with a pic of the car back when it was first registered as a race car. With out a vin #, them I would be very carefull as you might be buying a stolen car. Please send me a pic of the car as I may have raced against it at one time or another. There are lots of pic of race cars if you know who to ask. Knowing the home region is the first place to ask about the car. You just might get lucky. As long as you are not trying to turn it into a street car the missing vin should pose no problem as long as you get a notarized BOS.

I was lucky and got the original title along with the log books (2) to my car when I bought it back in 1979. I was only the 3rd owner and still have it today. Mine was a original 427 435hp car. All those years I actually thought it was a L-88 car because it had all the right flairs and hood. Thanks to the internet, I finally was able to trace down Colby and get the lowdown on it direct from the original owner. Alas he didn't have a pic of the car left, due to a fire in his workshop.

Good luck

Larry Clain

http://home.swbell.net/vette-65

[Mike Cobine]

Re: no vin tag - no photos

Unfortunately, your site has several of the photos not showing.

[Ted K.]

Re: C-3 built with no vin tag

So, is the car worth more or less than a rough C-3 without a motor or trans. The current owner is putting a 454 into it. If it looks like it was a SCCA racer but without and log book does it have any inflated value? I'll try to get some photos on line.

[Mike Cobine]

Re: C-3 built with no vin tag

If the car has any value as a race car depends on many factors, most of which even Corvette "experts" cannot agree.

But for some beginning reading, go here.

http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/3000/vint_buy.html

If you can find the VIN on the frame, check it out first. While the odds of you encountering the law if you keep it strictly race are very low, selling it some day will put you in the spot he is in now, with those looking questioning the legality of the car. If it does turn up as stolen, best to find out BEFORE you spend money and get involved than AFTER.




Buying a Vintage Corvette Race Car