Front VIN Plate restoration

[sobamaflyer]

Hi all, so far the only VIN indication I can readily see on my car ('75 Targa) is the plate by the fuel tank. The bonnet area has been cleaned up and sprayed by the P.O. during a partial restoration, so I can juuuust barely read the VIN number on that little spot.

Is there a way to strip back the paint on it and expose the VIN better or will I be potentially erasing whats left of the stamp? I'm only really concerned with titling and registering her shortly and don't want the DMV to give me any hassle.

She's not ready for the standard issue "I'm the happiest dude alive because I finally got my dream car" thread yet (but she's not too far off), so please don't shoot me for a lack of pics.

Thanks, Travis

[johnsjmc]

If I needed to do this I would tape around the area and use some hardware store chemical paint remover on the vin area. I don,t think you want to sand or grind it, just remove the layers of paint.The numbers should be clear and undamaged after you remove the paint

[tonythetarga]

Are talking about the stamped tub near the fuel tank? Is there no VIN plate on the A pillar by the door hinge or an aluminum plate on the right fender area inside the trunk? A picture would help. If you have the aluminum stamped and riveted plate and it is painted over, then yes, a chemical paint stripper would be best.
Did the previous owner not give you a confirmed VIN as part of the sale?

[sobamaflyer]

Yep, I'm speaking of the stamped spot just to the left above the fuel tank.

I couldn't find anything on the A-pillar, will look again for something near the fender. I read after about something under the dash to look for (that may or may not match the VIN)

The spot above the fuel tank does match the title, all confirmed at the time of sale. My car has been at least re-painted twice and was undergoing a fairly extensive restoration, body and paint-work complete when the PO lost interest in it and it sat for a couple years. She's on her 3rd color change so I wasn't shocked to find the traces of origin rather erased over the years.

I just wanted to make sure that paint stripper wouldn't harm the stamped numbers too.

I'll try to take a picture of it later, not sure how much or how well it will show up.

[tonythetarga]

check out this thread. Has pictures of what to look for and where. Also what a 'suspect' VIN plate looks like.

This VIN Does not read right

[tcar]

The '75 cars did not have the A pillar VIN. ROW cars didn't either.

They just had the stamped/engraved number in the trunk by the fuel tank. Originally it had black paint on it.

The riveted aluminum plate is also in the trunk on the inside of the right fender a bit forward and above the stamped number.

Go to TonytheTarga's post above this one, click on the "VIN" link and go to Ossiblue's post #20 for a pic of where they are.

I once had a car that the PO had sprayed the thick speckled epoxy trunkliner stuff in the trunk. I used heavy tape around the VIN stamp and used a wire brush to get it off, then dug the paint out of the recessed numbers with a dental pick. Then sprayed it satin black. Looked fine, did not damage the VIN.

I couldn't at the time get all the epoxy stuff out of the trunk.

[Canada Kev]

As I understand, ROW cars have no A-pillar VIN plate. If yours is one of those, then no plate there.

[sobamaflyer]

I feel I read concern in some posts above, I appreciate it but for the record I feel like there is almost zero chance there's a thing fishy about my car. I purchased it through a well regarded Pelican member and the stamped spot matches the title in hand and reads properly for the correct year, body style, etc. There's nothing ground off on the engine (it's been transplanted to a 3.0 which does have it's 930 numbers stamped on it ) and I did find the build number on the dash today while cleaning.

I believe that through the years the tag on the fender got damaged or removed by one of the updates/resprays. She's just not a pampered garage queen in original condition but I hope to give her a fine home for a long long time

At this point I'm merely trying to make my local DMV visit as quick and painless as possible.

[DW SD]

tape around the letters / numbers and use some lacquer thinner with a tooth brush to clean out some of the paint. I'd tape right up to the border of the letters.

Doug

[tonythetarga]

Originally Posted by sobamaflyer

I feel I read concern in some posts above, I appreciate it but for the record I feel like there is almost zero chance there's a thing fishy about my car. I purchased it through a well regarded Pelican member and the stamped spot matches the title in hand and reads properly for the correct year, body style, etc. There's nothing ground off on the engine (it's been transplanted to a 3.0 which does have it's 930 numbers stamped on it ) and I did find the build number on the dash today while cleaning.

I believe that through the years the tag on the fender got damaged or removed by one of the updates/resprays. She's just not a pampered garage queen in original condition but I hope to give her a fine home for a long long time

At this point I'm merely trying to make my local DMV visit as quick and painless as possible.

The purpose of the thread I inserted was for you to 'SEE' the tag I was referring to and not to take the questionable concerns expressed in the thread as anything questionable about your car. If you have a bill of sale and a title then you should not need to present the car for inspection. Take your paperwork in and register it. End of story. The early assumption was you might not have a title and needed to verify the VIN somehow. In that case, it would be important to have the stamped plate as shown in that thread I attached.

[sobamaflyer]

ahh, well thank you and I stand corrected.

Yep, I do have title and bill of sale in hand, but found from past experience they require the car also present if it's coming from out of state.

Gotta love Aly-Bamy