63 Corvette VIN tag authenticity

[Ed V.]

Re: 63 Corvette VIN tag authenticity

Thanks Dan!

I think I will hold off. I don't need a copy, just wanted to see if it was verifiable. If I purchase the Vette then I will try to obtain documentation...and probably find out it is not real. haha

[Joe L.]

Re: 63 Corvette VIN tag authenticity

Thanks Dan!

I think I will hold off. I don't need a copy, just wanted to see if it was verifiable. If I purchase the Vette then I will try to obtain documentation...and probably find out it is not real. haha

Ed-----


Like I said, if the VIN tag, engine VIN derivative, and transmission VIN derivative all match, then you're pretty safe. However, if the engine and trans VINs don't match, beware. The only way I'd buy such a car is to find a way to inspect the frame VIN derivative.

You cannot go by just the fact that the VIN tag appears authentic and appears attached properly. As I mentioned, the most common thing in the "old days" was not affixing fake VIN tags (which hardly even existed then or, if they did, were quite crude)------it was transferring a very real VIN tag from one car to another. As far as the method of attachment goes, if it was done by a half-way competent person, I don't think any modern day expert could discern the difference.

It was not until the C3 era that VIN tag swapping became much more difficult, but still very doable by a motivated person. A person with a wrecked C3 wanting to transfer the tag to a stolen car is, by definition, a very motivated person.

[Patrick B.]

Re: 63 Corvette VIN tag authenticity

Ed-----


Like I said, if the VIN tag, engine VIN derivative, and transmission VIN derivative all match, then you're pretty safe. However, if the engine and trans VINs don't match, beware. The only way I'd buy such a car is to find a way to inspect the frame VIN derivative.

You cannot go by just the fact that the VIN tag appears authentic and appears attached properly. As I mentioned, the most common thing in the "old days" was not affixing fake VIN tags (which hardly even existed then or, if they did, were quite crude)------it was transferring a very real VIN tag from one car to another. As far as the method of attachment goes, if it was done by a half-way competent person, I don't think any modern day expert could discern the difference.

It was not until the C3 era that VIN tag swapping became much more difficult, but still very doable by a motivated person. A person with a wrecked C3 wanting to transfer the tag to a stolen car is, by definition, a very motivated person.

There is no way the transmission vin stamping is going to match the vin tag and engine, because the transmission has been replaced with a later unit. But that does not imply it is a stolen car, just one with a replacement transmission. It would be suspicious if the engine and trans both had the same 63 vin stamping but the vin tag differed. That is the old tag switching scheme you are describing.