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Mon Apr 03, 2006 6:31 pm

Hello everyone,

I've been lurking on here for a while, but may be buying a '65 sometime soon. However, the Beetle that I'm thinking about buying is missing it's VIN plate. The holes behind the spare tire are there, but the plate is gone. Would this worry anyone and is it reason to not buy the car? It seems a little fishy to me, but the car is very solid and in very good shape... What do you guys think?

Thanks for your input!

Mon Apr 03, 2006 6:40 pm

It's more than just a little fishy. Some states wouldn't let you register it at all. Others only care about the one on the chassis. You have to check with your state. I wouldn't touch it, but that's just me. I've had enough trouble rolling clear titles with unmolested VIN plates in the various states I've lived in, which is quite a few, now that I think of it.

If you must have it, there is a way to run the VIN off the chassis and see if that's clear. Some states call it a title search or something like that.

On another note, I've been turned away at one title office, then driven to one across town or in the next town and registered a car. That's small town America for ya.

Mon Apr 03, 2006 6:41 pm

Check under the back seat for the vin on the pan, does it match the title?

Mon Apr 03, 2006 7:44 pm

I would probably walk away. If you really need it, first ask why it is missing. Second, check the tunnel and make sure it matches the title.
Do you, or anyone you trust, know the person? That would be a deciding point for me as well.

Mon Apr 03, 2006 7:49 pm

There are scam artists out there with a drawer full of registerable (if that's even a word) VIN plates. All it takes is a welder and criminal intent...I would shy away. Smell's fishier than Tijuana on a summer day.

Mon Apr 03, 2006 8:37 pm

Don't sweat it, you should be checking the vin on the pan cuz that's the one that counts. If that's cool, yer golden. There are a few legitimate reasons why it could be missing.

-jeffrey

Mon Apr 03, 2006 9:35 pm

jhicken wrote: Don't sweat it, you should be checking the vin on the pan cuz that's the one that counts. If that's cool, yer golden. There are a few legitimate reasons why it could be missing.

-jeffrey

I'm going with you on this. I would find out what you need to register with no issues, def. compare the numbers on chassis and registration.

Mine was missing from the trunk because the fron clip had been replaced, and apparently no one thought (or cared) to transplant it. I've had no problems paper wise with it.

Now the front clip replacement, that's another story...

Mon Apr 03, 2006 11:27 pm

EJ hey I also have a bug with no VIN plate 66' I had no problems getting it taged, Me and my dad basicly built a 72/66 bug he wrote out a bill of sale with the matching VIN number under the back seat, Well to the tag office I go, and no record of the VIN number, So they sent out a deputy to verify the numbers, signed off on a sheet the DMV gave me and I am riding to day. I would buy with a missing VIN plate. Good luck.

Tue Apr 04, 2006 5:17 am

There was a topic on here (in the rants I think) about a guy who's bug had been stolen, he found it on another pan and it was for sale. I don't know how true the original story was, but I'd be leary about it unless the current owner can either provide the VIN plate or a resonable excuse for it not to be there (in writing).

Tue Apr 04, 2006 5:23 am

Thanks for the input guys. I sent an email to the seller right before starting this thread, but haven't heard back from him yet. We'll see what he says.

Looks like I'll need to go look at it again and double check the chassis number with the title... If everything matches up I may still buy it.

Thanks again guys, anybody else care to chime in?

Tue Apr 04, 2006 2:03 pm

If it is for a Great DEAL I would worry. However it all comes down to you.
Are you willing to taake that chance. How hard does Indianapolis, IN inspect their vin#'s.
There are a few legit title companies that will make you a title, but it sounds like you are just missing the front vin plate and as stated before there are hundreds of reasons. Especially collisions.
Good Luck, Get a pix of it. How much is it?
I bought my 62 with no title and thought I would have a hard time in WA state, but have had no hassles. Trooper comes out and checks the vin# under the rear seat, especially if you have it pulled for him. :lol:
D~

Wed Apr 05, 2006 11:09 pm

I registered my 67 in Indianapolis about 2-3 years ago. They didn't even know where to look for the VIN. I showed them the one on the tunnel and there was no problem at all. (He almost regestered it without even seeing the VIN!)

Thu Apr 06, 2006 9:09 am

Thanks guys!

Here's an update: The seller has the VIN plate but took it off to do some "touch-up paint work" and just hadn't put it back on yet. :?:

mepotts - are you still in Indy?

Thu Apr 06, 2006 9:58 am

Still make sure it matches the pan.

My brother in law bought a 67 mustang gt convertible and had a hell of a time getting it registered because the plate had been removed and then pop riveted back on. 2 DMV places refused to register it because it looked like the vin plate had been swapped out.

Thu Apr 06, 2006 3:58 pm

I've never seen a Beetle--early car, at least--with the VIN number on that plate behind the spare tire. I had a '59 Bug on '63 pan once that ended up being a nightmare to sell, thanks to a combination of title issues (it was titled to the pan in Oregon) and these douche bag fucks in Vancouver, Washington that bought it. Spady was their name, in the event anyone ever tries to sell anything to them.

VIN numbers are always stamped on the pan's tunnel, under the rear seat. There may be a body number up front on the plate, but as far as I know the cars are never registered by those. Good that you tracked it down, though, as I would have questions too if I were buying a car with it missing.

Thu Apr 06, 2006 6:31 pm

bugnut68 wrote: I've never seen a Beetle--early car, at least--with the VIN number on that plate behind the spare tire. I had a '59 Bug on '63 pan once that ended up being a nightmare to sell, thanks to a combination of title issues (it was titled to the pan in Oregon) and these douche bag fucks in Vancouver, Washington that bought it. Spady was their name, in the event anyone ever tries to sell anything to them.

VIN numbers are always stamped on the pan's tunnel, under the rear seat. There may be a body number up front on the plate, but as far as I know the cars are never registered by those. Good that you tracked it down, though, as I would have questions too if I were buying a car with it missing.

The VIN is there...its just not stamped that deep, and can be hard to read. Go over it with some chalk, and wipe off the excess...it should match the number on the tunnel.

Also, on '59 and earlier beetles there will be a "body number" stamped into the sheet metal just below the vin plate, in large numbers (inch or so tall?)...this will NOT match the VIN # given on the tunnel or the vin plate. Hope this helps?

Fri May 05, 2006 3:39 pm

georgiabug wrote: EJ hey I also have a bug with no VIN plate 66' I had no problems getting it taged, Me and my dad basicly built a 72/66 bug he wrote out a bill of sale with the matching VIN number under the back seat, Well to the tag office I go, and no record of the VIN number, So they sent out a deputy to verify the numbers, signed off on a sheet the DMV gave me and I am riding to day. I would buy with a missing VIN plate. Good luck.

Hi. I have a vin tag of beetle 1966. It is write down in brazilian portuguese. If you want I can send it to you. It is just change the numbers there. I am looking for a vin tag of bug 66 writting in english or deutch. I am on a restauration bug from LHS to RHS..

Fri May 05, 2006 4:28 pm

My VIN plate was painted over so the DMV decided that the engine number was more important than the number stamped into the pan! I had a different engine in it so of course it didn't match so I was sent to the CHiP office to have them verify that the VIN stamped in the pan was correct for the car. Pain in the butt.

Fri May 05, 2006 9:47 pm

Somewhat related thread highjack...

My front VIN was removed for a front clip replacement but I still have it. What is the best to reattach it and have it look stock so that It looks like it has always been there? I hear that pop rivets are out - where can I score some 'factory style' rivets?