Lost Vin Tag

[George H.]

Anyone have experience with missing Vin Tag. Your title and frame stamping match, but the Tag is gone? Any problem buying a duplicate? thanks, George

[Eric J.]

Re: Lost Vin Tag

George, Welcome to the TDB. Let me preface this with care and say, be careful with any non original tag

see:

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthread.php?96794-Fake-VIN-tag-case-settled-in-Buffalo

be sure to follow the link in the thread as well.

Does your C1 have a state tag? is it the correct VIN number?

Eric

[Robert K.]

Re: Lost Vin Tag

I think the above article references fraud. In Maryland, I have received a state issued VIN (CJ5) and it looks nothing like the original, snowplow was attached were the VIN use to be. It's a piece of aluminum strap screwed onto the firewall with the VIN stamped on it. Anyone that has a boat trailer older than 5 years old no longer has a VIN. The VIN is printed on a plastic label attached to the tonge and the printing has faded. I have had trailer shops stamp VINs on the tonge and it passed inspection and even hand wrote with a sharpie that passed, although the inspector called the State Police to inquire and they said as long as it is perminately attached they don't care. So it is probably has alot to do with the state.

[Roy S.]

Re: Lost Vin Tag

I think the above article references fraud. In Maryland, I have received a state issued VIN (CJ5) and it looks nothing like the original, snowplow was attached were the VIN use to be. It's a piece of aluminum strap screwed onto the firewall with the VIN stamped on it. Anyone that has a boat trailer older than 5 years old no longer has a VIN. The VIN is printed on a plastic label attached to the tonge and the printing has faded. I have had trailer shops stamp VINs on the tonge and it passed inspection and even hand wrote with a sharpie that passed, although the inspector called the State Police to inquire and they said as long as it is perminately attached they don't care. So it is probably has alot to do with the state.

I think for the purpose of discussion here it is safe to say a boat trailer is not quite the same as a motorized vehicle many states do not title or tag boat trailers.

If you desire to have the Corvette judged in NCRS, it will have to comply with our rules governing that subject. We do not judge vehicles with reproduction VIN plates. Our rule reads as follows.

“NCRS Flight Judging is presently open to any 1953 through 1996 production Chevrolet Corvette as long as the owner(s) is an NCRS member in good standing. The car must be entered and shown by the owner/member, and proof of ownership, such as state vehicle registration or a copy of the ownership title, must be available for confirmation. The car must have the correct attached Chevrolet factory Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) plate or an attached valid state-approved replacement ID plate
that matches title and/or registration. Should a car appear with a Chevrolet (GM) issued duplicate VIN plate, it must be accompanied with acceptable documentation from the Chevrolet Division of General Motors confirming issuance. Any car appearing without identification as described shall be ineligible for any NCRS judging.”

It's your car, do with it as you please, to comply with NCRS judging requirements only the above is accpeptable.

[George H.]

Re: Lost Vin Tag

It is not my car, just trying to help a friend locate the vin stamping on the frame or rear. I appreciate the info & I will pass it along. Thank-you, George

[Gary C.]

Re: Lost Vin Tag

George,

What year C1?

Frame stamping is on the frame under the driver's door sill.

Gary
....

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Lost Vin Tag

I think for the purpose of discussion here it is safe to say a boat trailer is not quite the same as a motorized vehicle many states do not title or tag boat trailers.

If you desire to have the Corvette judged in NCRS, it will have to comply with our rules governing that subject. We do not judge vehicles with reproduction VIN plates. Our rule reads as follows.

“NCRS Flight Judging is presently open to any 1953 through 1996 production Chevrolet Corvette as long as the owner(s) is an NCRS member in good standing. The car must be entered and shown by the owner/member, and proof of ownership, such as state vehicle registration or a copy of the ownership title, must be available for confirmation. The car must have the correct attached Chevrolet factory Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) plate or an attached valid state-approved replacement ID plate
that matches title and/or registration. Should a car appear with a Chevrolet (GM) issued duplicate VIN plate, it must be accompanied with acceptable documentation from the Chevrolet Division of General Motors confirming issuance. Any car appearing without identification as described shall be ineligible for any NCRS judging.”

It's your car, do with it as you please, to comply with NCRS judging requirements only the above is accpeptable.

So if I bought A theft recorvery with original stamped motor,frame,trasnny & title that all #'S match go to the state & they OK in writing that I can put the repo trim tag on the Corvette NCRS would not let the car be judged. I bought such a Corvette 30 years ago after the person I bought it from did exactly that through a lawyer & sold it thinking that it was alright. I feel bad about that.

[Paul J.]

Re: Lost Vin Tag

So if I bought A theft recorvery with original stamped motor,frame,trasnny & title that all #'S match go to the state & they OK in writing that I can put the repo trim tag on the Corvette NCRS would not let the car be judged.

Ken, I think you mean VIN plate, not trim tag. Either way, the rule is pretty specific, and I believe your understanding is correct.

Roy, Ken raises and interesting question. What if a repro tag is present, but there is also a state issued tag?

Paul

[Michael W.]

Re: Lost Vin Tag

So if I bought A theft recorvery with original stamped motor,frame,trasnny & title that all #'S match go to the state & they OK in writing that I can put the repo trim tag on the Corvette NCRS would not let the car be judged. I bought such a Corvette 30 years ago after the person I bought it from did exactly that through a lawyer & sold it thinking that it was alright. I feel bad about that.

To me that would be equivalent to a state issued VIN, which is fully acceptable in judging.

[Terry M.]

Re: Lost Vin Tag

To me that would be equivalent to a state issued VIN, which is fully acceptable in judging.

Since we are all throwing our hat in this ring. Allow me to add what I think. Of course none of this counts -- what counts is what Roy says.

If the title or registration paperwork submitted shows the state applied VIN you are golden.
If that paperwork lists the reproduction VIN you are SOL.

[Roy S.]

Re: Lost Vin Tag

So if I bought A theft recorvery with original stamped motor,frame,trasnny & title that all #'S match go to the state & they OK in writing that I can put the repo trim tag on the Corvette NCRS would not let the car be judged. I bought such a Corvette 30 years ago after the person I bought it from did exactly that through a lawyer & sold it thinking that it was alright. I feel bad about that.

Ken,

First let’s assume you mean as Paul indicated VIN plate, not trim tag. Only two states I am aware have legislation regarding trim tags and neither inspects them.

Thirty years ago you could have obtained a GM reissued VIN plate.

The answer to your question is complicated. If you take the car to the state with no VIN tag because it has been lost or stolen. If the state allows you to place the reproduction tag on the car and provides you something in writing saying they authorize the use of the reproduction plate there is not much we can do.

This is different than if the car is taken with the reproduction plate already in place, because frankly they can’t tell. You will find that most states in fact I believe all of them have their own VIN system and will not allow the use of the reproduction VIN plate.

Plain simple fact is that the individuals at the DMV level where vehicle inspections are done are not knowledgeable enough to recognize a reproduction VIN plate and will approve such when there may be in fact an issue with the actual VIN not matching the car it is on.

NCRS has had this practice in place for over 20 years it is not new. The thing that is new is the continued deceptive improvement of reproduction VIN plates.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Lost Vin Tag

Ken,

First let’s assume you mean as Paul indicated VIN plate, not trim tag. Only two states I am aware have legislation regarding trim tags and neither inspects them.

Thirty years ago you could have obtained a GM reissued VIN plate.

The answer to your question is complicated. If you take the car to the state with no VIN tag because it has been lost or stolen. If the state allows you to place the reproduction tag on the car and provides you something in writing saying they authorize the use of the reproduction plate there is not much we can do.

This is different than if the car is taken with the reproduction plate already in place, because frankly they can’t tell. You will find that most states in fact I believe all of them have their own VIN system and will not allow the use of the reproduction VIN plate.

Plain simple fact is that the individuals at the DMV level where vehicle inspections are done are not knowledgeable enough to recognize a reproduction VIN plate and will approve such when there may be in fact an issue with the actual VIN not matching the car it is on.

NCRS has had this practice in place for over 20 years it is not new. The thing that is new is the continued deceptive improvement of reproduction VIN plates.

THANKS Yes I did mean VIN PLATE. The owner of the Corvette got back from the insurance Co. & sold it to a friend of mine with the title ETC. The SN plate was missing. He got a lawyer &as i said got a noterized staterment from the state police that a SN tag with the 0rigional SN could be attached. It was in Indiana & as I recall the tag did not come from GM. I don't beleave The Indiana BMV had anything to do with it as everything matched the good title then when I titled it in my name.

[Bruce B.]

Re: Lost Vin Tag

Years ago a friend once had a C1 Corvette stolen and recovered but the VIN tag and a few small parts were missing when recovered.
Since the owner had the title, and documentation that he did actually own the car for 25 years and a picture of the frame stamp the state issued a new VIN tag (bright yellow stick on lable) using the original VIN number. The old title was used (not a salvage title) since he got the car back from impound in tact except for the VIN tag.
Sometime later he found someone who could make a VIN tag that looked exactly like the original.
He installed it and thats the end of the story, other then the fact that the car has been sold a few times since he owned it.
So, if the car showed up on the judging field years later I assume it would be judged since the VIN tag looks exactly like the original, as does the whole car.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Lost Vin Tag

I am talking out my A** but from what I get is that you have to have some state docts that assinged the origional SN. I think that NCRS can tell a GM tag from one of the old trim tag, POP & VIN plates sellers.

[George H.]

Re: Lost Vin Tag

thanks Gary, it's 59 or 60 (not mine)