CMC Speedster

CMC cars are normally on a VW chasis/pan.....  The serial number is located in the area of the shift rod to transmission coupling, stamped into the sheet metal.....  You access it by removing the carpet behind the seats at the center of the car......   Hope this helps.

Picture -

Had to laugh. Germans couldn't find the VIN on a VW chassis.

Hello Bob,

I think there is a misunderstanding.The TÜV was asking for a additional number which should be on the additional Frame which was made by CMC.

Kind regards

I am not aware of any "additional frame" added to a CMC build.

Perhaps someone with more knowledge of  CMC's can chime in, but, in the states cars are registered, legally identified and given licenses based on the Vehicle Identification number.

The information above is accurate as to the VIN location on a beetle frame.

CMC, or the individual builder, may have riveted or otherwise mounted a metal plate in the door jamb or other location indicating their serial number of the body or kit, but that, I believe is not used as primary identification anywhere in the US. That was done for the convenience and purposes of manufacturer and/or builder.

I don't believe that all CMC's even have the maker's plate on them, but all should have a VIN. 

Subject to correction by those with more specific or specialized data.

There is a very substantial additional 2x3" retangular steel perimeter frame on CMC/FF and I suspect other VW pan based Speedsters.  It gives pan extra strength and the doors and front hood is actually hung from it.  It does not have any stamped in numbers though.  Most come bonded (glue and rivets) to the fiberglass body.  Mine was a deluxe kit so doors were already hung.  The fiberglass body came with a loose (not attached) gold CMC tag Panhandle mentioned with a number that matches what looks like a car title but is labeled a Certificate of Origin (COO).  In US, the VW title is usually used but it could be used with the COO to register vehicle as say a CMC Replica Speedster (usually with year of VW chassis. Here's what that perimeter frame looks like.  First photo has front hood hinge still bolted on and second has the option roll bar bolted on.  I'll PM you a photo of the COO and gold CMC id tag (but since kit is 30 year old many are now missing tag or COO was turned in when registering vehicle).

Thanks, Greg. As usual, your encyclopaedic knowledge pays off.

I guess I wasn't thinking of the framework integrated into my VS in the same way as what CMC did. 

More coffee, please.

Nate is on the way!

Lomaxente:

CMC went out of business around 1994 or 1995 and when they closed their records were lost.  If Greg sends you photos of the Certificate of Origin (COO) and body label, that is all that any of us ever got.  That same number was also the customer order number for the body from CMC but there is no way to trace it, now that the company is gone.  Most builders never attached the metal label to their cars, since it was almost never used by any US state or local government people to register a car over here.  The COO had a short description of the body model and was "signed over" to the original buyer by someone at CMC.  

Is THAT what the TUV wants to see, to prove that the body/frame was not stolen?  Please give us a little more info.   Given what we've told you, what would they need to satisfy their requirements to register the car?  We may be able to help if we have some options.  Several of us have CMC COOs which might be provided as examples for them, with an explanation of CMC history if that would work.

The body was never shipped without the frame permanently attached - it was bonded to the body with fiberglass and resin.

Ha, I got pages and pages of computer print out with list of parts included - may saying Back Ordered.  Remember the old IBM 1403 printer paper with removeable feed hole perforations on the sides.

I think those frame pictures I posted are from cars that went up in flames.  Rustytubs does sell the frame separate from their fiberglass body.  A guy who worked at CMC (now posting on the FiberFab Yahoo web site) said all the documentation went into a dumpster when CMC was forced to close by FL State Attorney General in, I believe, 1992.  They became AutoRestitution or AutoResolution to make good on claims and later Street Beasts only go go under again years later.  Colorful history - Google George Levine for the details. Shame  since: Classic Motor Carriages at one time was the largest specialty car company in the world!

FiberFab (FF) was bought by CMC in ~1988 and CMC sold the identical Speedster under both names for several years.  A new FF now exists.  They offer the data plates similiar to the CMC ones.  If your title doesn't mention CMC that would be a good alternative - under serial # enter the last 4 of your VW Chassis #.  I have never seen any CMC number stamped or taped anywhere on the fiberglass body.  Order the FF plate, attach it to door opening and print off the FF build manual here in the RESOURCES/LIBRARY and keep fingers crossed.

http://www.fiberfab.us/dataplate.html