C-1 VIN problem

Vette66AirCoupe · 05-03-06, 08:16 PM

I took my '60 to the Delaware inspection lane for the second time since I've had the car yesterday. The guy at the end of the lane who did the brake check asked to see my VIN plate. I opened the door and showed it to him. He said "Screws huh?" I said, "Well, on the '60 they originally put the plate on the steering column under the hood but they...." He cut me off and said "I know that!" before I could finish the sentence explaining that it was common for them to fall off or be found hanging by one rivet. He walked away and got a flashlight and came back for a closer look at my VIN plate. Then he stood up and said "That's totally illegal". He went over to a stand up desk and made some notes on my paperwork. Meanwhile, I'm stunned and speechless as I had no such encounter when I brought the car to the inspection lane two years ago and at that time I was asking for a new Delaware title as I had just bought it and had a New Jersey title and a bill of sale. So here I am thinking is he going to impound my car or what and he walks back to me and hands me my paperwork and says "Have a nice day" in a tone that clearly indicated he didn't mean it. I drove out of there with my head spinning. What the hell was that all about, I thought. What experiences have any of you had with VIN plates that have been relocated. What are you supposed to do if you put an aftermarket column in your car? If your VIN falls off the column do you have to junk the car? Sheesh!

67HEAVEN · 05-03-06, 08:33 PM

Sounds to me like a puffed-up civil servant who forgot: a) to be civil, and b) that he's the public's servant.

Maroons.

BarryK · 05-03-06, 08:46 PM

Terry
I know we discussed this yesterday when I happened to run into you at the DMV. When I went thru there the other day in the 4-runner I must have had the same guy becuase he was an arrogant little SOB.
That was the first time I ever went thru inspection at that particular DMV and will never go there again.
I had to take BABY thru inspection today and went back over to the station on RT. 13 whereI took the '78 last week and where i've always gone before and they were just fine there.
In fact, when I took the '78 thru I was just chatting with the guy who did my inspection for about 10-15 in the line because he was a really cool guy and a self-professed "car guy". In fact when I firstr came thru he started giving me 'crap" about having an L82 motor but with an Auto and not a 4-speed. He said "You need a 4-speed with that motor" and said he wanted to see the '65 when I came thru.
He even gave me hints on how to best pass inspection with the older cars, with street rods, etc. a really cool guy.

go to the Rt. 13 station from now on and forget that one we were at the other day.

JL66REDCPE · 05-04-06, 05:37 AM

Terry - Fortunately, in NJ, cars with Historical Plates are exempt from inspection. I had the same thoughts as you while reading your post -- oh no -- they are going to impound his car.

IH2LOSE · 05-04-06, 06:04 AM

Terry

I dont know what to say , In new york its still done by private station, Did you pass and d you have a copy of the paper work he made notes on?

cbernhardt · 05-04-06, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vette66AirCoupe

I said, "Well, on the '60 they originally put the plate on the steering column under the hood but they...."

I thought the '60 VIN tag was attached to the door jamb with screws and moved to the steering column in '61.

Charles

2X4's 60 · 05-04-06, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbernhardt

I thought the '60 VIN tag was attached to the door jamb with screws and moved to the steering column in '61.

Charles

It was moved to the steering column in 1960 on approx. car #1500

Vette66AirCoupe · 05-04-06, 01:26 PM

Yes, I did pass inspection. He did not give me the paper he made notes on.

My VIN is number 731. I cannot find any evidence that the VIN plate was located anwhere but on the steering column in 1960. Reading from Richard Prince's 1953-1967 Corvette Buyers Guide he states "The 1960 Corvette came with a serial number tag that was spot welded to the steering column about 13 inches up from the steering box. It is not unheard of for the tag to fall off and get lost. Make sure the car you are considering for purchase has it's tag."

2X4's 60 · 05-04-06, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vette66AirCoupe

I cannot find any evidence that the VIN plate was located anwhere but on the steering column in 1960. Reading from Richard Prince's 1953-1967 Corvette Buyers Guide he states "The 1960 Corvette came with a serial number tag that was spot welded to the steering column about 13 inches up from the steering box. It is not unheard of for the tag to fall off and get lost. Make sure the car you are considering for purchase has it's tag."

Check page 255 of Noland Adams Resto. & Tech. Guide or page 18 of the NCRS 58-60 Tech. Info. Manual & Judging Guide. Both state that until 11-24-59 (approx. car # 1400 to 1500) the VIN tag was attached to the door pillar with phillips screws. After that date, they were spot welded to the steering column.
If your car is #731, it was originally screwed to the door pillar.

Vette66AirCoupe · 05-04-06, 07:20 PM

2X4, you are my hero!

I'll be taking Noland's book along with me the next time I go over to DMV. I'll have to exercise some constraint to keep myself from driving over there tomorrow to show this ill mannered SOB the proof that I'm perfectly legal, not "totally illegal" as he claimed I was.

studiog · 05-05-06, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vette66AirCoupe

2X4, you are my hero!

I'll be taking Noland's book along with me the next time I go over to DMV. I'll have to exercise some constraint to keep myself from driving over there tomorrow to show this ill mannered SOB the proof that I'm perfectly legal, not "totally illegal" as he claimed I was.

Constipation makes people really grumpy.

67HEAVEN · 05-05-06, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by studiog

Constipation makes people really grumpy.

Good one.

IH2LOSE · 05-06-06, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vette66AirCoupe

2X4, you are my hero!

I'll be taking Noland's book along with me the next time I go over to DMV. I'll have to exercise some constraint to keep myself from driving over there tomorrow to show this ill mannered SOB the proof that I'm perfectly legal, not "totally illegal" as he claimed I was.

You know I have a terrible memory, But I remember a story It may of been from the NCRS site or the CF.forum about a fellow having his car impounded because of this and the vin plate was removed and a state resigned vin was installed because of this. The fellow was driving or was in a minor accident and that when the officials found what they assumed was the bad vin (any one else remember this) anyways the advice given was for anybody with an Early vin was to carry 3 reference books with this information in it. One was Noland book, One was the ncrs Judging manual. and I dont remember what the last referenced book was.

It seams the inspecting officials have a reference manual at there disposal of where vins are supposed to be located on all years and makes

Scary stuff.

SebringBill · 05-06-06, 06:33 PM

Here's another good source:

Go over to the Solid Axle Corvette Club website http://www.solidaxle.org and click on "About Our Club" on the left. About half-way down Noland mentions the serial number plate problem and even suggests you send him a request for his article about them (with SASE) to keep in your glove box.