Our editorial this month is an important commentary from member Mark Bach. Mark attends the Barrett-Jackson and other auctions in Scottsdale each year and often comes away with some good information.

By Mark Bach

A Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a terrible thing to lose. Most modern cars have this unique 17 digit sequence (which usually includes letters so technically it isn’t a number) as their identifier for the vehicle. We are all used to seeing it affixed to the front dash but older cars have different identification schemes and placed in various spots on our classics. Usually they were affixed to the driver’s lower door sill or on the “A” pillar.

Whenever possible the VIN on a classic should be left unmolested. If it is ever removed from a car, technically it is federal crime to re-affix it or place it on another car. Most states also have similar laws prohibiting such actions. Smart, old time state vehicle inspectors can easily spot an altered VIN tag or the attaching rivets being the wrong style/type.

So what do you do if the VIN is missing or removed, or no title is available? Most states allow you to have the vehicle inspected and once they are satisfied on the legitimacy of the car, they will issue a state vehicle identification tag. That car will then have a new “VIN” that will be used henceforth. Don’t be tempted to use a reproduction VIN tag that is offered for sale for “amusement/historical purposes” or buy somebody’s front firewall with attached VIN plate and think you can weld it in to a different vehicle.

This dilemma recently surfaced at the 39th annual Barrett-Jackson auction held in Scottsdale, Arizona in January, 2010. Al Jardine from the famous singing group, The Beach Boys, intended on selling a 1971 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda recreation. It clearly wasn’t originally a ‘Cuda and was very clearly marketed as a “clone” or recreation of a ‘Cuda. But imagine the surprise when staff from Barrett-Jackson, while doing their normal preliminary inspection, found a perplexing situation. The seller’s title showed a state issued VIN number, but the car sported a normal factory VIN plate. Steve Davis, the president of Barrett-Jackson, confirmed that these types of situations occur a few times each year and normally can be easily resolved. Davis noted that the company does several “diligence steps” including physically verifying the actual stamped VIN versus the title information. They encouraged the seller’s representative to take it to the local state Motor Vehicle Department for an inspection. But the problem became more confounding when the car’s VIN was listed as stolen! I can certainly relate from my own experiences and from numerous conversations with others about the different stages of their own projects. From frame-off to a more simple restoration, there is always that point when the car has brakes, an engine and four rolling wheels and tires and it is just too hard to resist going on that first trip down the driveway or around the block. “It’s alive!”

Swift follow up by the Scottsdale Police Department determined that the car was stolen in 1975 in St Louis. The car was recovered on September 2, 1975 but many pieces were then missing, including the VIN plate. Since the VIN was still missing, the St. Louis Police Department never removed the VIN from the national listing of stolen cars. The recovered hulk was eventually returned to the owner and eventually was fixed up and titled in Iowa with a state issued VIN. It later was registered in Florida in 2007. At some point this car was selected to be made into a clone of a Hemi ‘Cuda and made to Al Jardine’s specifications, with a 426 cubic inch engine and an automatic transmission painted Plum Crazy. At some point a “historical” VIN became attached to the car, which was the same VIN considered still stolen by St. Louis Police. Of course Al Jardine had no idea that this VIN didn’t match to his title.

After all was cleared up, the State of Arizona issued a bonded title and the car was allowed to be sold at the auction. Perhaps the extra publicity helped generate the final selling price of $81,400, including sales commissions?

Now this episode helps point out several things to keep in mind when buying and selling cars. First, make sure all the numbers and descriptions match up. Clerks have been know to misplace numbers when typing documents up, and it is best to resolve these issues BEFORE the sale is consummated. As Davis noted, “you never can be too overly concerned about a VIN number.” Second, once a VIN is gone don’t be tempted to undo this mistake. Even an innocent owner risks his car being impounded and possible criminal charges being filed. Third, relying on the sale through a reputable auction house can minimize these mistakes and problems. Most auctions will carefully review the documentation surrounding cars to be sold, so as to not stain their reputation after the fact. Steve Davis cautions buyers to “be sure the car you buy is the car it is claimed it is.” When it comes to VIN’s, perhaps car restorers should leave well enough alone! By Mark Bach #10142374 Tempe, AZ