Fake...vintage Corvette

[Jarlaxle]

This is a weird one...guy has had a 62 Corvette since 2006. But someone else has another one with the same VIN. Obviously, one of them is bogus, but this is the first time I have seen this.

MSN

 

[Crepitus]

This is a weird one...guy has had a 62 Corvette since 2006. But someone else has another one with the same VIN. Obviously, one of them is bogus, but this is the first time I have seen this.

MSN

Happens more often that you would think. They dupe the VIN to tag a salvaged or stolen car.

 

[airplanemechanic]

It's not hard to do. Only one will have the original VIN in all the right places. The fake one won't.

If one of them has the original engine, only one will show as numbers matching.

 

[Crepitus]

It's not hard to do. Only one will have the original VIN in all the right places. The fake one won't.

If one of them has the original engine, only one will show as numbers matching.

You must have bought a classic or two at some point.

That is how I know the 996 I just bought is the real thing, BTW.

 

[airplanemechanic]

You must have bought a classic or two at some point.

That is how I know the 996 I just bought is the real thing, BTW.

I haven't bought one, but my dad has bought a half dozen. I've helped him restore 3 different Beetles, a 1968 Cadillac, an old Willys Jeep. We also watch a lot of Barrett Jackson and such. My dad knows that one of his Beetles is the original engine but VW didn't do numbers matching stuff. He knows because he's owned it almost his entire life and knows the engine was never changed.

We know the Caddy has the original engine because his grandfather bought the car new in 1968 and it has never left the family.

That being said, if neither Vette has the original engine then you can't use that to help verify the authenticity.

 

[Crepitus]

I haven't bought one, but my dad has bought a half dozen. I've helped him restore 3 different Beetles, a 1968 Cadillac, an old Willys Jeep. We also watch a lot of Barrett Jackson and such. My dad knows that one of his Beetles is the original engine but VW didn't do numbers matching stuff. He knows because he's owned it almost his entire life and knows the engine was never changed.

We know the Caddy has the original engine because his grandfather bought the car new in 1968 and it has never left the family.

That being said, if neither Vette has the original engine then you can't use that to help verify the authenticity.

Vin will be on doors and frame as well as the dash cowl.

And I love old beetles.

 

[Jarlaxle]

It's not hard to do. Only one will have the original VIN in all the right places. The fake one won't.

If one of them has the original engine, only one will show as numbers matching.

Not necessarily. First, the chance of ANYTHING having the original 1962 engine is slim. Second...not all engines had VIN stampings in 1962. Some didn't have them until 1968.

Vin will be on doors and frame as well as the dash cowl.

And I love old beetles.

Not always that early. And many "hidden" VIN spots are well known (on my Duster: radiator core support, under the trunk weatherstripping) and not especially difficult to fake. (And note: replacing a core support is nothing unusual.)

 

[airplanemechanic]

Not necessarily. First, the chance of ANYTHING having the original 1962 engine is slim. Second...not all engines had VIN stampings in 1962. Some didn't have them until 1968.



Not always that early. And many "hidden" VIN spots are well known (on my Duster: radiator core support, under the trunk weatherstripping) and not especially difficult to fake. (And note: replacing a core support is nothing unusual.)

I think the Vettes did. I've heard of numbers matching 58 Vettes.

But there are hidden places where VIN numbers are. Those cannot be faked.

 

[Jarlaxle]

I think the Vettes did. I've heard of numbers matching 58 Vettes.

But there are hidden places where VIN numbers are. Those cannot be faked.

Nonsense. They're just stamped, and stamping is EASY to fake. I could do it in a couple hours on my Duster with the correct font stamps. (Just checked-they're on eBay.)

 

[Natural Citizen]

Not necessarily. First, the chance of ANYTHING having the original 1962 engine is slim. Second...not all engines had VIN stampings in 1962. Some didn't have them until 1968.



Not always that early. And many "hidden" VIN spots are well known (on my Duster: radiator core support, under the trunk weatherstripping) and not especially difficult to fake. (And note: replacing a core support is nothing unusual.)

I used to have a 3 speed Duster with a 318. Fun times, man.

I was just a kid, though.

 

[airplanemechanic]

Nonsense. They're just stamped, and stamping is EASY to fake. I could do it in a couple hours on my Duster with the correct font stamps. (Just checked-they're on eBay.)

That's not as easy as you make it out to be.