Funny VIN#

[KTM]

I saw very funny VIN# in one 1965 Vette. It is not usual 194675S123XXX, but it is GA14XXX. Could this be stolen car sometimes ago and then it has got some kind of new VIN? There is some papers from Georgia and this VIN is on those papers.

All original plates under the glove compartment has been remowed.

Is there on the frame stampped the original Chevrolet VIN somewhere? I have heard tale that it is on the rear section of the frame and you can find it if body is off the frame.

[JohnZ]

Sounds like a Georgia state-issued VIN on a car that was stolen at one time and had the VIN plate removed when it was stolen, and was later recovered. That's the same kind of VIN the states issue for kit cars that didn't have one to start with.

The partial VIN is stamped on the top surface of the driver's side frame rail just above the rear shock absorber upper mounting bracket; sometimes it can be read with a small mirror after cleaning the top surface of the frame.

There is also a VIN - sometimes double stamped - on the top of the frame rail right below where your left elbow would be with an open driver's door when seated in the car.

I have never been successful in reading any VIN # - have used mirrors, dental mirrors, lights, high intensity lights, etc. - without removing the body! Just too much rust usually, and the impressions are not that deep.

It is often difficult to read any numbers without sanding down to bare metal. The actual location for the numbers can be found by sighting along the rail at either location, and looking for a depression where the surface has been slightly "hammered" down by the holding tool.

Exposing the numbers is the best way to obtain a title for lost documentation, as a DMV inspector will come out to inspect the car and fill out the proper paperwork when you apply for a lost title.

The numbers stand out best after painting with semi gloss paint.

Good luck

Jack

[KTM]

JohnZ & Searay,

thank you bouth of you. I called to the owner of this car and he cheked frame. Body is off from the frame so this was an easy task. He found numbers S106XXX. This Corvete is from January 1965 production.

I think DMV inspector will not come to inspeckt this car. It is located in Finland so car is million miles away from nearest U.S. DMV office.

But anyway mystery is solved. Still original color codes and trim codes are missing, but this car would be a very nice driver with 396 engine.

[KTM]

Now I have again one interesting Mid Year VIN#. This car is 1963 Coupe and very unknown history. VIN# is 31869K160XXX. I tryed to decode it but something is wrong.
3=1963 1=? should be 0 86=covertible in coupes this should be 83 9=should be 7 K=should be S 160XXX=last produced 1963 Vette VIN is 121513.

Little bit messy, but far away right. This is modified car with ´67 grille, ´67 side vents and one piece rear window. Any ideas of this VIN?

[JohnZ]

That's a swapped VIN plate from another car - it's from a 1963 full-size Chevrolet 4-door hardtop sedan that was built at the Leeds, Missouri assembly plant. In the U.S., that would peg it immediately as a stolen car.

[KTM]

That was really bad news. How on earth they got it out of U.S. in late 80´s? It posible that this one is made of parts of sevaral (stolen) cars. As I mentioned front end is from ´67, rear is modified ´63 with one piece rear window and on the interior centre console sift plate is for automatic trans but car is 4-speed.