[Dan Morton]

Over 10 years ago I purchased my first 911 - a 1970 911T Targa. It was extremely clean and has allowed me to learn a lot about Pcars.

Now I've been busy with minor rust repairs in the nose and after scraping undercoating off of the area surrounding the smugglers box, I've noticed that the VIN which is supposed to be stamped into the chassis is missing. The metal has been cut out and replaced with a blank piece. Unfortunately I didn't know to look here to validate the VIN when I bought the car 10 years ago.

The strange thing is that the remaining two VIN plates (A pillar, front panel) are in place and are matching as is the engine number. I purchased the cardex years ago and everything on it matches the car exactly - color (originally silver which I can still see in several areas and the car is now black, radio, interior, model, etc.). The VIN matches the car as well - 1970 911 T Targa.

What I don't understand is why someone would remove the chassis VIN with no obvious benefit. The car has never been represented as a special model nor was it an expensive car when I bought it. It's definitely not a 912 or a pieced together wreck. The car is really clean and nothing else seems odd. I guess someone could have totaled the car with this VIN and found one just like it and then switched the numbers and engine but it hardly seems worth the effort.

I was able to get to the numbers stamped below the radio but I'm not sure how to tie this to the VIN - any ideas?

Also, I may pull the windshield and dash pad to see if there is a number written on the dash - anyone else find a number here?

I will try to reach out to the PO to see if there's a story behind this but I can't think of how removing this stamping would be of benefit unless someone was trying to pass this off as an S at some time.

Thoughts?
-Dan