C2 Serial Number Plate

[Greg S.]

While looking at a 67 owned by an aquaintance I noticed that the serial number plate under the glove box was missing. The trim tag was present. My friend has owned the car for 35 years and was unaware the plate was missing. Where can a restoration serial plate be aquired? Why would someone have removed the plate and left the trim tag?

[John D.]

Re: C2 Serial Number Plate

Greg, It's a federal offense to put on a bogus serial number plate. If your friend gets caught in doing so it's big trouble for sure. He can get a replacement plate maybe from his home state but it won't be easy. If they discover the car was once stolen and that's the reason the plate was removed-- you know the rest. JD

[Joe L.]

Re: C2 Serial Number Plate

Greg-----

A missing VIN plate is a VERY serious and decidedly suspicious circumstance. Since these plates were attached by rivets, there is no way that one could just "fall off" (63-64 used spot welded plates and these do sometimes fall off). The only reasons for a plate being missing would give one HUGE causes for concern.

Consider this: with the VIN plate missing, there is no "official" connection between the car and the ownership certificate/registration certificate. Therefore, there is no way to prove that the car one possesses is actually the one owned.

There are no reputable suppliers of reproduction VIN tags that will make up a VIN tag "to match the VIN on the ownership/registration certificate". Doing so is highly illegal under both federal and state laws. ALL suppliers of reproduction VIN tags will require incontrovertable proof that the VIN number to be embossed on the tag is the VIN number originally assigned to the car. Generally, this means that at least one of the pieces of proof that they will need is the original VIN tag. In other words, they make up VIN tags to replace those that are deteriorated.

Regardless, a reproduction VIN tag cannot be affixed to a car unless it is done under the supervision of the DMV of the state. Some states do not even allow this; they require that a state-issued VIN tag is the ONLY acceptable and legal replacement. California does allow the installation of reproduction VIN tags, but only under DMV supervision.

By the way, the trim tag has no LEGAL significance, at all. They can be removed with no legal implications, at all.

[Jay G.]

Re: C2 Serial Number Plate

I had looked at a 66 BB 450HP car awhile back. When the guy told me the VIN it was for a 63 Vette! Claimed the car was owned by a local sherriff for 20 plus yrs. After speaking with Colo DMV, State Police etc. I couldn't get away FAST enough. This guy needs to have the VIN on the frame checked, hopefully its not stolen back in the day. Then depending on the state have a NEW Vin issued by DMV. But it will affect the car's value tremendously, downward. But get the car straightened out.