1957 Corvette identification issue
Looking at a '57 this weekend, purchased about 40 years ago, and now for sale by family. Has bill of sale, but VIN doesn't match frame VIN. Door jamb VIN plate missing. Does '57 engine and/or transmission have VIN numbers? I looked in the Noland Adams book, but couldn't determine ID standards then, other than frame and door jamb plate (misssing).
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Re: 1957 Corvette identificaiton issue
VIN not stamped on '57 engines, Don't walk, RUN! unless the seller can get a state issued Title that matches the Frame number. You will need that in most states to obtain a reproduction replacement VIN. How do the dates on the engine line up with the frame VIN?Bill Clupper #618 -
Re: 1957 Corvette identificaiton issue
Will be looking at the car this weekend, and see what the engine pad says. Is the VIN stamped on the transmission? I haven't seen the title yet, just was told that the number doesn't match with the frame.Comment
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Re: 1957 Corvette identificaiton issue
No VIN on engine or trans in '57 Does the VIN on the frame match the title?Bill Clupper #618Comment
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Re: 1957 Corvette identificaiton issue
Harold,
The ONLY place the VIN was located on these cars was the VIN plate that was attached to the door jamb (with 2 screws) and on the TOP of the LEFT frame rail. USUALLY, the frame was stamped in two places.
There were NO, repeat, NO other places where the VIN was located. NOTHING.Comment
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Re: 1957 Corvette identificaiton issue
I've been told by family member (owner deceased) that number on title does not match frame number. This is the mystery. I'm familiar with VIN plate in door jamb, as my 1954 has that, but on this '57 the plate is missing, possibly for 40 years or so, as it was repainted then. Is it possible to see the engine casting number from under the hood? I'll know more this weekend after an inspection.Comment
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Re: 1957 Corvette identificaiton issue
Harold you can see the engine Casting #, the engine casting date and the engine assembly stamp from the engine compartment. The head casting symbol can also be seen. Good LuckComment
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Re: 1957 Corvette identificaiton issue
It is not uncommon for 57"s to have been titled with a V in front of the E57Sxxxxxx vin number. Or for DMV's to make typo's.
Check the title, registration, previous title if available, any insurance documents that might have the cars VIN on it etc..and hopefully you can unwrap the mystery. Have the local police run a VIN check. Check the vin stamped on the frame rail if you can get to it.
Is there a hard top on the car?
Best of luck...Comment
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Re: 1957 Corvette identificaiton issue
Also it could possibly have the engine number on the title instead of the VIN.Comment
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Re: 1957 Corvette identificaiton issue
Cecil is correct; car could have been titled with the engine #. Regardless of number on title, NCRS will NOT judge a car with no VIN plate or with a VIN plate not originally attached to the car by GM. We will judge a car that has a state issued replacement VIN tag/decal. (However, we will not accept a car with both a state issued replacement VIN tag/decal and also a second non-original to that car VIN tag.) Clup's advice above is sound. DaveComment
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Re: 1957 Corvette identificaiton issue
Harold, the engine may not be the original even if the date is within the bounds. SteveComment
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Re: 1957 Corvette identificaiton issue
Thanks for all the comments. That will help with the detective work. I'm curious what the engine number might look like. I saw a reference to the engine serial not being in sequence with the car VIN due to the way the engines were pulled from inventory at assembly, but not an example of a number. Is the engine serial number on the pad along with the engine assembly date and type? Also, I'm curious about the NCRS not judging a car with the VIN plate not attached by GM. For the early cars with the plate attached with phillips head screws, how would one know?Comment
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Re: 1957 Corvette identificaiton issue
Harold,
First determine why the VIN on the frame stamp and the State Title and Registration doesn't match. If it's the VE prefix on the Title/Registration, as previously pointed out that is not uncommon and might be able to be corrected.
If that's not the issue, then you have three options:
1) current owner obtains a State issue VIN tag
2) buy the car for salvage value, because in today's world without a VIN tag, that's all it's worth. In most States it's illegal to have a car without a VIN tag affixed.
3) run away and don't purchase. You could lose a lot of $
Last you might check into your State's mechanics lien laws and see where that takes you. Texas requires a work order signed by the last registered (title) owner.
JMTCW,
Gary
....
NCRS Texas Chapter
https://www.ncrstexas.org/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565408483631Comment
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Re: 1957 Corvette identificaiton issue
Harold -
There is NO engine serial number on a '57 - just the engine plant stamp with the date and engine code suffix; '56 was the last year for engine serial numbers. Photo below shows a typical '57 stamp pad.
57FHPadOrig.jpgComment
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Re: 1957 Corvette identificaiton issue
I have inspected the car and have resolved the mystery, but the VIN problem remains. The title says E57S1029XX, but the frame is E56S0020XX. The title was just reissued in the lady's name, transferring it from her late husband's name. She went to the DMV, gave them the old title and a frame rubbing with the '56 VIN, and after a quick phone call by the agent (stolen vehicle check presumably), she was told everything was in order, and issued a new title with the '57 VIN. The VIN tag is definitely missing, and though they haven't made an exhaustive search, it's assumed to be lost. The earlier title also has the '57 VIN. The car is a black with a white soft top and black hardtop, and the license plate is 57Vette. The body looks straight and the paint is quite presentable. The hardtop was not used anytime recently and the paint is cracked, the side windows are toast, and the back window is missing. The gauges, except speedometer, are not original, the upholstry is repro, and looks okay. There is no radio, and the dash is blank there, not even a hole with cover plate. The heater is gone, and the firewall has a plate blocking it off, but it doesn't look like a factory part, just a piece of sheetmetal. Everything from the radiator through to the transmission is not original to the car, and the radiator shroud and splash pans are missing. The engine is casting number 3932386, date K198. which is a 1969 302, 327, or 350 block. The intake manifold is cast iron, the single 4 barrel carburetor and air cleaner is bogus, there is no shielding, and the aluminum valve covers are post '66 as they have the casting flaw. There is an alternator installed, and the belt doesn't line up with the crank pulley, but the car is said to run and drive okay. It has 4 speed with a Hurst shifter. I didn't go into a more detailed inspection because of the VIN problem. If the title could be resolved with a '56 VIN (correct frame #), does anyone want to hazard a guess on a value range. If not, any guess on salvage value? Thanks for all the help and information. Harold WredeComment
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