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Where is the VIN?
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Captain Spalding
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 11, 2005 5:05 pm    Post subject: Where is the VIN? Reply with quote

I just bought a 73 Thing! Very Happy

I went to the AAA to register it, and when I went out to the car with the AAA representative to verify the VIN, we couldn't find it. I found the chassis number on a plate under the hood, but it didn't jibe with the paperwork. Also looked under the rear seat on the tunnel, as I've heard that's where it is on some VWs, but no luck.

Where should I look? Is it stamped in the sheetmetal somewhere? On its own plate?

Thanks in advance,

— Spalding
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suntour
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Joined: November 25, 2004
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 11, 2005 5:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

There are three on my Thing. One is on the plate pop riveted to the front apron under the hood.
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The second is on the inside of the car between the door post.

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The third is on the tunnel right in front of the cover for the transmission linkage. (under the seat and all this crap that’s in the back of my Thing right now, damn yard work.)

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Or right about here where the hole is cut in my spare pan.

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If I am not mistaken, a 73’ Thing’s VIN doesn’t have the same amount of numbers as a new vehicle. I think a modern vehicle has 16 digits right??? And a Thing has a few less. Anyway, your VIN will start with a 183.
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Captain Spalding
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 11, 2005 6:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

suntour wrote:
There are three on my Thing.
One is on the plate pop riveted to the front apron under the hood.
The second is on the inside of the car between the door post.
The third is on the tunnel right in front of the cover for the transmission linkage. (under the seat and all this crap that’s in the back of my Thing right now, damn yard work.)
. . . Anyway, your VIN will start with a 183.


Thanks for the quick reply! On my car the only one of those 3 options is the plate under the hood. Unfortunately, it doen't match the VIN on the title. Registering this car will be a hassle - maybe impossible. Lesson learned: when you buy a car, check that the certificate of ownership matches the vehicle's VIN. Sad
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Captain Spalding
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 11, 2005 8:53 pm    Post subject: Correction: Reply with quote

The VIN is legible at all three places on the car. The sticker on the door jamb had been painted over, and the number stamped onto the tunnel is very faint. Funny, but they are both legible in the dark with a flashlight held at an oblique angle, but in broad daylight they are invisible.
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suntour
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 12, 2005 1:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

well, do all three numbers match?
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Captain Spalding
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PostPosted: Sun Mar 13, 2005 1:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

suntour wrote:
well, do all three numbers match?


The good news is that all three numbers match. And the body and pan are incredibly rust free. Only a small patch in the pan under the battery.

The only number that doesn't match is the one on the South Dakota title. Shocked I explained the matter to the previous owners, who seem very willing to help. They recently moved to California from South Dakota. They have checked all their previous paperwork (which has the correct VIN,) and are chalking it all up to an error on the part of the DMV in S.D. They will see about getting a duplicate title from the S.D. DMV on Monday, which hopefully will have the vehicle's actual V.I.N., in which case a potentially very nasty problem will be solved.

Fingers crossed . . .
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