Engine / vin

[Teresa S.]

I purchased a 54 Vette in Ca. A original Ca car.
The pink slip is dated 1973 it reads engine or vin # Mine has engine number not vin. Was this common to put the engine number on the pink slip and not the vin number ?
thanks

[Eric E.]

Re: Engine / vin

Hi Teresa, Seems to me that somewhere along the way someone probably made a mistake. We have seen similar issues with titles at my work and often states have a way to clear this up. Generally it requires a state inspection, here is is handled by the local Sheriff's office.

I am assuming that the original VIN tag is properly installed in the correct place. You should be able to contact the local DMV office and explain your situation and they can give you the steps needed to obtain a new, corrected title.

Does your car have the original engine? I didn't think the 54s had stamped engine pads but I am not as familiar with them as later C1s.

Eric

[Tim E.]

Re: Engine / vin

Teresa - The 54 that I purchased was titled by the previous owner in December of 1963 in Illinois. The Illinois title number from 1963 is the car's VIN. The owner before that had the car titled in California. I don't have a copy of that California title but I do have a copy of a California registration card...it shows the car's engine serial number 0606379F54YG. Sounds like the same as yours! Using the information on that registration card, I was able to contact and talk to that owner. Tim

[Joe L.]

Re: Engine / vin

I purchased a 54 Vette in Ca. A original Ca car.
The pink slip is dated 1973 it reads engine or vin # Mine has engine number not vin. Was this common to put the engine number on the pink slip and not the vin number ?
thanks

Teresa------


You want to do what is necessary to get this changed to the VIN number. A good friend of mine had this problem with an old early 50's Mercedes Cabriolet he purchased. It was titled with the engine number. The problem was the engine had been changed at some point. So, he had a car with a pink slip that in no way matched anything on the car. Knowing the history of this car, I know the car was legit but he had no way of proving that when the issue came up. It turned out to be one holy nightmare for him.

So, assuming that you have an original engine with an engine number that matches the pink slip, now is the time to get this situation straightened out. If the engine has been changed somewhere along the way, you'll be in a situation like my friend. But, it's best to be proactive and take care of it now anyway.