North Carolina want to change my VIN - HELP

[BlueWing]

Hi all, I registered my 79SC in N.C. than after I surrendered my original out of state title at the time I was informed I had to have the State DMV inspect my VIN. They stated that an antique 30+ year old car from out of state needs to be verified.

OK........ Now I was told at the DMV inspection they will need to issue me a new N.C. VIN. The reason is my ROW car does not have a correct "A" pillar VIN attached. But they told me the GOOD news is I will not need to have the title bonded because the aluminum tag and trunk stamped VINs are intact.

The car is a 79SC ROW I bought and titled in New York back in 2005 with no issues.

Three questions:

1 -Is there any N.C. folks here know of any work around to retain my original VIN ?

2 - If I were to go with the new N.C. VIN what affect would this have to the market value for future sale ?

3 - Is there any way to reverse this later ?

Thanks in advance

Terry

[group911@aol.co]

Sent PM

[tdw28210]

Hmm. I've done two of these antique 911's in NC recently. My RSR tribute (a '77) does not have the A pillar tag. Did not have to change the VIN.

Individual cops do these inspections at various stations around the state. Guessing you got one on a bad day. I'd push back if possible. Seems like a recipe for a mess down the road.

[Flat6pac]

Put an A pillar tag in. When the cars are federalize the company installs one. Pop rivet holes are there you just need the stamped plate, it’s only thin aluminum.
Bruce

[70SWT]

Yes, fight/fix this however possible. I got a smoking deal on a Porsche years ago when living in NC because of this. This was an example in which this assigned VIN definitely depressed the value of the car. NC had assigned a made-up VIN despite the real VIN also being on the car. The result was that no one wanted to buy it, so the seller let it go for cheap.

[Cory M]

You can get a replacement vin plate from aase

[Thomas Owen]

Go to the aase website, buy the A pillar plate and designate the vin. Attach the plate and go for another inspection.
Hope this gets your title sorted.

[BlueWing]

Hi all, thank you all for replying.

I called back to the Statesville office and spoke with the woman ( State Trooper) I first dealt with. Her response was I am now in the system with the photo of the added A pillar tag sent to Raleigh.

There is no indication of any VIN tag previously riveted on the A pillar. The black vinyl is intact. Isn't that correct for a ROW car?

Quick history - car imported by original owner to Rhode Island, I have copies of the DOT and EPA approval sold a second time in Rhode Island (very short ownwership he had dozens of cars) than to me in New York for the past 16 years. Neither state had any issues titling it.

Somewhere in the previous life someone added a custom made brass VIN plate to the A pillar with double sided tape. This is what they seemed to have an issue with.

She also stated I can request the return of my NYS title and no register it in N.C.

So thinking I might request the returned title, take it off the road and do some upgrades and services needed for the time being and meanwhile try to work with the NCDMV for a better outcome.

I can keep the car registered for the remainder of the year but can not re-register it later unless I get it re-VINed. I am a worried if I don't get my original title back ASAP it might get away from me and have no options.

I do drive it as my daily driver but not the only car I have but I do drive it the most I will miss using it.

Just need to figure out how to approach the DMV in Raleigh to plead my case.

Sad but optimistic,

Terry

[70SWT]

It seems to me that the "gold standard" here should be the VIN that is stamped into the chassis (assuming there is no evidence of that being tampered with, see below). Theoretically, anything that is affixed to the chassis can be more easily faked, which is their presumptive issue.

So, perhaps it might help to have a pro body shop inspect the car and create a letter stating that there is no evidence that the stamped VIN has been changed. That should be easy for a pro to verify by looking under/around that area in the frunk, confirming no cut-and-shut, etc.

On top of that, if needed, getting a lawyer involved might help. Overall, the case to be made is that they are financially hurting you by artificially creating a non-existent VIN controversy that will likely devalue your car.

As I said above, from experience, the NC DMV apparatus is interesting to work with when dealing with old cars. They will go to serious lengths to extract $$ from you and/or give you admin headaches over cars. I could tell a number of stories.

[BlueWing]

Hi 70SWT, The original plain cloths trooper bought out a second trooper to look around. The photoed the chassis stamp next to the smugglers box and the aluminum tag on the right side and agreed they are good to go?????

The incorrect tag on the A pillar is their issue. Maybe if it were completely missing they might have let it fly.

The second trooper also agreed with the devalue issue, but offered no recourse.

If I have to pay up or spend lots of time to keep the original VIN intact I need to do that. In the long run it will be best for the car.

Terry

[rokemester]

Pretty car! Fight to save it’s heritage and value!!

[supersignman]

Maybe a Montana LLC would solve multiple problems...

https://www.49dollarmontanaregisteredagent.com/montana-registration/exotic-car

[BlueWing]

Thanks rokemester, I am going to do what I can to keep the original VIN intact, even if it means parking it for a while.

There are things I will work on while it is down

supersignman I was thinking of becoming a Dental Floss Tycoon so Montana might be the place to start.

I can use a New York address available to me but I want to stay legal in the sense of residency. Now a days an out of state plate in a bright blue Porsche is too easily remembered for the 60 day rule here.

Terry

[930cabman]

Glad to have big brother always lurking to keep us out of trouble

[tdw28210]

Originally Posted by BlueWing

Hi 70SWT, The original plain cloths trooper bought out a second trooper to look around. The photoed the chassis stamp next to the smugglers box and the aluminum tag on the right side and agreed they are good to go?????

The incorrect tag on the A pillar is their issue. Maybe if it were completely missing they might have let it fly.

The second trooper also agreed with the devalue issue, but offered no recourse.

If I have to pay up or spend lots of time to keep the original VIN intact I need to do that. In the long run it will be best for the car.

Terry

Agreed. That brass a pillar tag with tape did the OP in. I passed the inspection w/o any kind of A pillar tag at all.


Bluewing - get your NY State title back and start over with Raleigh.

[tmadden2]

Get in touch with Road Scholars and see what advice they have. They must know the NC DMV inside and out given the things they work on in Durham.

[BlueWing]

Never did update my post. Well I finally got my clear title with the original VIN intact.

Started the process in May and finally in November got the actual title clear and in my name.

It took months of back and forth communications with the DMV in Raleigh. I searched and documented all the Euro ISO Motor Vehicle Laws pertaining to that era and the USA Laws regarding VINS and being at the crossroads of the change to a 17 digit VIN internationally dates were critical in my case.

The 10 digit 1979 VIN just was not holding up to the USA 17 digit VIN requirement and the USA Law requiring a clear view with 20/20 vision of the 17 digits permenetly
attached to the dash frame or A pillar.

There were several visits to the theft department office for visual and photo evidence. In the end the car remained intact and cleared.

It seemed overboard for what others cruised thru but in the end me and the mrs. prevailed.

Bluewing

[stownsen914]

Good news!

Also good choice moving to NC from NY, well done.

[TubbyAZ]

Well, I guess in AZ they're all asleep. My 85 Targa has a plastic etched plate on the dash with the VIN, presumably put there by the conversion shop. No one has ever questioned it.

Note to self, don't sell it to anyone in NC...

[kltarga72]

I have collected many classic/old cars for years. NC changed their DMV rules about 15 years ago going from one of the most relaxed state laws to one of the most stringent states when it came to vehicle titles. This was done because of a lot of vehicle theft and fraud.

BlueWing has just learned what you can and cannot due. When the state troopers came out the first time to his house they took pictures and documented the investigation they made on his 911. Had he tried to add a new AASE door vin tag and invited the investigator back out he would have been screwed.

I have had to go through this myself on three vehicles one with no title.
Glad all worked out for BlueWing