I have a 1970 Chevelle SS Arlington car I picked up last Thanksgiving from my home town in Carlsbad NM. Its a numbers matching 396 4 speed car with 51k miles on the clock with the pop the, car is is in very good shape all original glass perfect for restoring body is very straight.Here is my problem My windshield seal leaked and over the years the lower area began to rust including the vin # I spoke to the NM state police and was told I can not touch the vin# It is rusted so bad its as thin as paper if I even touch I'm afraid it will break off. So after lusting for this car as long as I can remember I might have to part it out.any suggestions? This belong to my cousin he bought it new and once in a while he would drive it to work at the potash mines( salt) near Carlsbad and I figured thats where the rust must have started the rest of the car is really good shape What should I do?

Get a state assigned VIN tag from DMV.
or do nothing except drive it.

The state can assign VIN tags?what is it exactly? I went to the MVD yesterday and the guy I spoke with never mention that to me? I can't drive it just yet the drive train is out. Thanks for help Dean.

there are hidden vin#'s on the car the state police know about.
since the car would be transfered from your cousin to you the MVD won't have to see the car to do this.:yes:

i would pop the windshield and repair the rusted area, as for the vin#plate i would apply some rustoleum or por-15 paint to protect it from further decay.

I would think twice about a state issued vin if possible cuz of value reasons. If possible I would try doing what Vince recommended, if the vin is readable

if it is an arlington car chances are that the con vin on the cowl is simply not there. there is a build sheet under tarpaper drivers floor board. the engine, tranny, and frame will have partial con vins sequence numbers is what they call them i think, i think that if you part it out you would be making a big mistake, since it has been in the family since new, i would check your:thumbsup: local state laws and find the law that talks about reassigning or restoring veh. ident. numbers. it can be done.

If the vin tag is in such "delicate" condition as you describe, you might want to take a good picture of the tag as a matter of proof/record, just in case you do have an unfortunate accident.

and i affirm.

Might try a video instead of stills. Still shots can always be 'arranged' but a video showing the VIN plate then panning out to show the car, include the trim tag and POP if possible for further verification, would go more to showing the VIN on that car.

I would think that most states have provisions to issue a new VIN. Since you already have the original VIN plate, it would make their work much easier to verify that the car isn't stolen or reported crushed somewhere.

I took the car cover off today to to take a look at it and its worse than I thought I'm going to try to post some pictures so everyone can see how bad it is. It looks like I will have to replace the whole dash and the VIN seems to be cracked, but still there.

Chris

too bad they weren't stainless on these cars.

too bad they weren't stainless on these cars.

Contray to popular beleif, St./Stl. will rust.

If it were mine. I wouldn't touch it. Get the Video as proof like the others said, then forget about it. Even if it rust compeletly away, who cares? That is until you get ready to sell it.

Might try a video instead of stills. Still shots can always be 'arranged' but a video showing the VIN plate then panning out to show the car, include the trim tag and POP if possible for further verification, would go more to showing the VIN on that car.

I would think that most states have provisions to issue a new VIN. Since you already have the original VIN plate, it would make their work much easier to verify that the car isn't stolen or reported crushed somewhere.


I agree... They don't have to actually issue a new VIN, just issue a new tag...

Of course, as someone else mentioned, the new tag doesn't look like the old tag... And I don't know if they'd put it in the same spot (even if completely accessible)...



Here in California, I have seen several cars with "original" VINs but a 'State of California" stamped VIN plate...
One car, a '66 Malibu my friend bought, had NO VIN plate in the door jamb... The seller (nothing to hide) let him drive it to the Local Highway Patrol office prior to the sale, where it was inspected, and a new VIN plate attached... But the new VIN matched the old VIN (the car had a pink slip and registration papers)...

So the numbers didn't change, just the tag...

OF COURSE, then they also attached the NEW plate to the rear of the door jamb... Doh! Not sure if its required to be there, or if they just didn't want to attach to the front jamb...

Might try a video instead of stills. Still shots can always be 'arranged' but a video showing the VIN plate then panning out to show the car, include the trim tag and POP if possible for further verification, would go more to showing the VIN on that car.

I would think that most states have provisions to issue a new VIN. Since you already have the original VIN plate, it would make their work much easier to verify that the car isn't stolen or reported crushed somewhere.

In addition it might be advisable to have the State look at the car before you start removing additional parts. i.e. Less room for doubt if the car is complete with rusty frame to body bolts that probably are going to twist off when removed--etc. than if the disassembled components are strung all over the garage.

I agree... They don't have to actually issue a new VIN, just issue a new tag...

Of course, as someone else mentioned, the new tag doesn't look like the old tag... And I don't know if they'd put it in the same spot (even if completely accessible)...



Here in California, I have seen several cars with "original" VINs but a 'State of California" stamped VIN plate...
One car, a '66 Malibu my friend bought, had NO VIN plate in the door jamb... The seller (nothing to hide) let him drive it to the Local Highway Patrol office prior to the sale, where it was inspected, and a new VIN plate attached... But the new VIN matched the old VIN (the car had a pink slip and registration papers)...

So the numbers didn't change, just the tag...

OF COURSE, then they also attached the NEW plate to the rear of the door jamb... Doh! Not sure if its required to be there, or if they just didn't want to attach to the front jamb...

Thank You!


Too many "lawyers" on here. Every state has it's own rules about this and in some states, it is easy to resolve.

On another Forum, some knucklehead told a vin-less classic owner to crush his car. I could have screamed!

If your car is legit, no problem. If it is not...well.