I need some advice on my 65. I purchased the car to do a frame off on. In my ignorance, the car does not have a VIN on the door post. I have the title and cowl tag, but no VIN. I have had the car media blasted and was preparing for body work on the rotisserie. I am really worried about this now and not sure if I should put anything into this car. Is there any way to get a VIN for this? What about a state issued VIN? I am in WI. If it is a state assigned VIN, does it hurt the value of the car? I was going to do a resto mod. I know now that I should not have bought it, but I did not do my research well enough before purchasing. I do not want to put a bunch of money into this car that I cannot get out of it someday.

Contact your DMV and ask them what you should do. The VIN appears elsewhere on the car so they can verify the VIN on the car matches your title. If it does, I would think the state would issue you a VIN, if not, you may have a bigger issue on your hands and I hope you remember who you bought it from and have receipts.

Another thing to keep in mind, with a state issued VIN, it may be retitled as a "new" remanufactured car and you may have to pay taxes on it as a new car instead of as an old car (assuming WI collects property tax on vehicles like NE does, but that may not be the case).

Bottom line, TALK TO YOUR DMV.

Post back and let us know what you find out.

If the VIN tag is missing, you should be able to make the seller take it back and refund your money since it is a federal offense to alter or remove a VIN tag, or sell a vehicle with a tag removed.

You probably can get a state assigned tag but it would hurt the value of the car somewhat plus IF the car happens to be on a hot sheet, it could possibly be confiscated and you might lose everything you have in it.

I'd be interested in what Wisconsin does as well. I'm compiling first-hand information on how different states handle issuing new VINs.

The DMV told me that I need to set up an inspection with the state patrol inspector. He will verify the other VINS on the car and check the vin for theft I think, and then he can isue a State VIN for this and also using Form DSP 4124, whatever this is. I am afraid of the loss of value of this car with this type of VIN and may have to abandon this project for fear of later resale value. Not sure yet.

isn't the VIN also on the frame somewhere too? State Police should know where and I'm sure someone here knows. if the VIN on the frame matches the one on the title, i'd say you are set.

You don't say which post your looking at. Not to ask a stupid question. But are you looking in the right place? My tags are on the front door post. On alot of cars the tags are on the rear door post or door.

You don't say which post your looking at. Not to ask a stupid question. But are you looking in the right place? My tags are on the front door post. On alot of cars the tags are on the rear door post or door.I've never seen the VIN plate attached to the rear door or B-pillar. On 64-67 Chevelles the VIN plate is on the A-pillar with the interior lamp switch, not really the door itself. From 1968 on (for Chevelles) the VIN plate is on the top of the dash, driver side, next to the windshield so it can be read from outside.

The 'hidden' locations do not contain the entire VIN, only the year/plant/sequence number; later CON VIN stampings also included a suffix of '1' to denote Chevrolet. When these cars came to the age of needing/getting body off restorations, most of the 'hidden' locations became known. ;)

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x274/396guy/vin_frame.jpg


One common location is on the top of the frame rail, driver side making it very difficult to read with the body on the frame.

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x274/396guy/frame.jpg

And if the frame has ever been swapped it won't have the correct partial VIN. SOME early cars had a partial VIN stamped into the quarter panel lip near the trunk weatherstripping. Of course if the quarters have ever been replaced this data will have been lost.

early cars had a partial VIN stamped into the quarter panel lip near the trunk weatherstripping.Sorry, not a CON VIN. Some early Chevelles have 136xxxx or 138xxxx numbers in this area but they nothing to do with the CON VIN. Remember the CON VIN (e.g., 7A123456) never has the series/model information such as 13xxx, only the year/plant/sequence numbers, and in later years a '1' prefix for Chevrolet) are ever used. The CON VIN those are what makes the car unique. These numbers by the weatherstripping do not meet that criteria.

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x274/396guy/quarter02.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x274/396guy/quarter01.jpg
Current thinking is these numbers are either part numbers (but no two seem to match) or possibly die numbers. Note the one above has the number '4' mirrored and inverted.

If anyone with an early Chevelle has the original quarters and can photograph these so they are readable, I'd like to continue the research on these knowing the model year (e.g., 66, 67, etc.), series/model (e.g., /13637/13617/13667/13817/13867/13837/etc.), assembly plant (Atlanta, Fremont, KC, etc.) and body assembly date to hopefully get a better handle on what these are.

I see the holes in the A-pillar where the VIN should be on the drivers side. I can find the manufacturers ID on the frame, but I cannot find the partial VIN yet. I need to keep looking. Very big lesson being tought to me on this car. I cannot find anything on the cowl near the blower like some have stated may be there.

If you see where it is 'suppose to have been' and it's not then it could cause problems without finding a valid reason for it to be missing.

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x274/396guy/vin_plate.jpg

I never found a partial VIN on the wagon frame and it was a pretty clean California car. I'm not sure it got stamped in all the time. I did find the plant and date info, just no VIN.

I've never seen a VIN behind the heater box on a 64 or 65.

I never found a partial VIN on the wagon frame and it was a pretty clean California car. I'm not sure it got stamped in all the time. I did find the plant and date info, just no VIN.I've heard about others that didn't find a CON VIN on top of the rail as well suggesting either a very light stamping or none at all. Date and frame mfg info is on the outside of the rail and should never be confused with the CON VIN.

I've never seen a VIN behind the heater box on a 64 or 65.Me neither. The only photo proof of one I have for this era is for a 67 from Atlanta.

My 65's frame has the VIN stamped on the top of the frame rail, driver's side, approx. under the door.

I found the partial VIN on the frame as stated by MikeMalibu on the top of the frame rail right below the drivers door. It does match my title.

That's good news. That should satisfy the DMV I would think. Let us know what the DMV has to say.

Yep, great news for you. Some states require you to identify at least two locations of the VIN (and have an engine). I've taken my 65 completely apart and only found the frame VIN (other than the door jamb tag).

I talked to the DMV and needed to set up an inspection with a state patrol inspector. He just happened to have a kid in my sons grade so I already knew him. He filled out a form that I need to send in with the change of title application. He says the DMV will send me a plate and I need to install and then call him to inspect it afterword. He was not sure if they would issue a totally new VIN number or use the original with a WI after it.

My main concern is the future value of the car. I am doing a resto-nod on this car. it will not be original, but it is a 65 SS. If I sell this in the future do you think it will hurt my value?

It would certainly cause folks to initially question the state issued VIN, but if you mention it up front and since you aren't going to be presenting it as an all original, numbers matching restoration I don't think it will cause much trouble. Make sure to keep all the paperwork related to the new VIN application and assignment.

you stated you couldn't find the cowl tag around the blower motor, on my 64 it is near the wiper motor on the cars right hand side.

i went though this a couple of years ago. the vin tag was missing on my 64 so before doing anything to the car i called the inspecter over to check the frame numbers. this is the scarry part he told me that if it came up on a hot list that the car will be towed right away. no i'm not trying to scar you .thats just the way va. handles it. it turn out all good buy the way my vin was under the driver side door by the body mount. the inspector said he wish everybody would do this before they started there project. he also asked how i knew were the numbers were . so i handed him all the post that were from t/c concerning the "privite vin" he was floored to say the least. also thanks to e-bay and b/j the titles are now being bonded by va. luke

Well, I finally got the state issued VIN tag. It is a totally new number and comes with two sided tape and special rivets I think with a W on them. The state initally screwed up and sent me only a new title in my name with the old VIN number. When I called the state back they said to send to new title to them and they would take care of it. I copied the title with my name and the original VIN on it for future reference. Now I need to have the state patrol officer come and look at the vehicle with the new VIN installed. He stated that because it still needs to be painted he may let me leave it off and still sign off on it so that I can paint the car and then install it. After he signs off on it and sent a form back in to the state, I will get my final title. I really don't think it will ruin the car value because I was not doing a original restoration, but a resto/mod. Definately a pain in the rear, and I would not like to go through it again.

Thanks,

If I was in the market for a nice, well done driver and you had copies of all those forms it wouldn't take away from the value, at least to me. If I was buying a show trailer queen (not likely for me) it would make a difference.