Trim tag rivets

[Chuck R.]

As I had to remove the roset rivets so as to transfer my tags from my rotted out body onto my fresh donor body, is there ANY of these rivets available?

With the amount of rust bucket "do overs" out there like mine, there must be some kind of resourse out there.

What are my legal above board options if any?

Chuck

[Terry M.]

Re: Trim tag rivets

It would help us to know what year Corvette you are working on. Most trim tags were held in place by ordinary "pop" type rivets. It is the VIN tag that uses the rosette rivets.

[Chuck R.]

Re: 68 Terry *NM*

[Terry M.]

What I said is true for 1968 *NM*

[Steven C.]

Re: Trim tag rivets

If you are talking about the VIN tag, you are past any legal above the board options, if you attach a VIN tag yourself. Once it's been removed, the only purely legal approach is to go to a state-issued VIN, attached by local authorities.

The trim tag isn't bound by any of the same legalities. As regards above board, photographic documentation of original car, donor body, and both trim tags; all publicly recorded at your courthouse and with copies following the car.

All that said, I've seen the rosette rivets offered in Hemmings, Ithink about $50/pair.

Just my opinions.

Steve

[Chuck R.]

Re: You dare suggest that they are unique Terry? *NM*

[Larry M.]

Re: Trim tag rivets

Chuck:

Reproduction vin rosette 6-sided rivets for sale in February 2007 Hemmings Corvette Parts for $45/set. 603-209-1678, NH.

[Terry M.]

Not at all -- I don't know where you got that idea

I simply wanted to identify the year of the Corvette we are talking about because my knowledge is limited to a certain few years. I didn't want anyone looking at this post in the near or long-term and think I was making a statement about ALL Corvettes. For all I know some years may be different.

[Joe L.]

Re: Trim tag rivets

Chuck------

If you are, indeed, referring to the TRIM tag rivets, these are ordinary aluminum pop rivets with 1/4" OD head. You can purchase them from any hardware store and no one will ever be able to tell the difference. I absolutely guarantee that. The same rivet was used for trim tags of all 68-82 Corvettes

Now, if you're actually talking about the VIN tag, that's another story. They did use the special "rosette" rivet. I've seen these for sale on eBay quite frequently and, in fact, I purchased some once-upon-a-time (I don't know exactly where they are now, but I know that they're someplace that I "run into them" every now-and-then when I'm looking for something else).

The laws of most states do not permit the re-affixation of any VIN tag once removed. However, in California it is legal to re-affix an original or, even, reproduction VIN tag if it's done under the approval and supervision of the DMV (who may designate the CHP to do the actual supervision). Also, in California it is NOT illegal to possess VIN tags or reproduction VIN tags unless they are possessed for illegal purposes. If one possessed off-car VIN tags for a car of which one was the registered owner, I think it would be pretty difficult for the state to prove that they were possessed for illegal purposes. However, if one possessed VIN tags for a car or cars that one was not the registered owner, then it might not be too difficult to prove that one possessed them for illegal purposes.

[Phil P.]

Re: Trim tag rivets

joe,take a look at cvc 10750 thru 10752---it yaks about posses,acquire,etc any mfg vin tag or dmv assigned vin # and the fines involved---i might have read it wrong but from what i make out it is against cal law---also there are federal laws about vins and titles---just my 2 cents,phil

[Joe L.]

Re: Trim tag rivets

PHIL-----

Section 10750 (b)CVC states "This section does not prohibit the restoration by an owner of the original vehicle identification number when the restoration is authorized by the department..." That's exactly the section I was referring to earlier.

Section 10751 CVC mainly relates to removal of vehicle identification numbers from vehicles and related matters.

Section 10752 says, in brief, that you cannot possess any original or counterfeit (e.g reproduction) VIN plates if you possess them for illegal purposes. It says nothing about any prohibition on possessing such items if their possession is not connected with an illegal purpose. So, by inference, it's not illegal to possess them for purposes other than illegal purposes. That's also exactly what I was saying in my previous post.

[Chuck R.]

Re: Thanks one and all for the responses

I appreciate the feedback on the rivets and types necessary to correctly adhere both my trim and vin tags.

As for the trim tag rivets, I've got about a thousand of em bouncing around in my rivet gun case. It's the vin tag rivets that had me worried.

At least I know that they're out there and where to start looking.

Thanks again,

Chuck

[Mike M.]

Re: Thanks one and all for the responses

about 20 years ago, there was a MAC/NCRS member who worked at a Mopar plant in Deleware. he made available to some of our members rosette rivets that "fell" into his lunch bucket on a regular basis. they were identical to the vet rivets. another possible source?mike

[Dick W.]

Re: Thanks one and all for the responses

He is retired and is traveling around the country in a motor home Mikie. He called me last year as he was coming up I-77 near me. Only problem was that I was somewhere out west at the time. Dan M. Bought several sets from him. Have one or two sets left (as the infamous Joe Lucia says "none for sale" )

[don22567]

Re: Thanks one and all for the responses

Does this guy still have them available to sell and is there some way to get in touch with him? Thanks, Don.