Manufacturer ID Plate

I've only seen build plates on IM, FF and CMC (on FF/CMC there is no date).  If you know who originally bought it perhaps VS could trace that way or with chassis VIN?  You'd think a state could track history like CARFAX with the VIN - but for some reason, they can't/won't).

I had the same question when I bought my VS.  They do not install build plates or any way of tracking.  I exchanged emails with Justin some time ago.  The only way they could provide was if I new the original owner/ purchaser's info.  They couldn't cross refernce by vin number. Good looking Speedster!

WOLFGANG posted:

I've only seen build plates on IM, FF and CMC (on FF/CMC there is no date).  If you know who originally bought it perhaps VS could trace that way or with chassis VIN?  You'd think a state could track history like CARFAX with the VIN - but for some reason, they can't/won't).

Wolfgang.  This suggestion that Vintage "VS" can help with build information comes up frequently, but it's not very realistic and most of the attempts that I've heard about have not been successful.

They are simply too busy building cars to reply to all the requests they get.

@WOLFGANG

Another factor is that it isn't likely that the records of each build were kept under the VIN # for the car.  They were probably kept under the original buyers name in a file that contains all the cars for a specific year.  That would mean that it would be VERY difficult to track down car details unless you were buying it from the original owner.  Original owners don't need the information, 2nd owners would know who they bought it from and might have details, but 3rd, 4th and subsequent owners are not very likely to have any history of the original owner or the year it was built.   That would make it extremely difficult for VS to help them out.

I would think you would be better off trying to get owner information from the DMV and then trying to contact the original owner. I know someone who did exactly that, but he may have had some inside access that most of us don't have.  I could be wrong, but I do think the DMV does provide that information for a fee. 

Maybe post info here on car - where you bought it, when, from whom  Someone here might remember it or seen it at shows.  Has it spent its entire life in Hawaii - if so it might be easier to track.  As soon as it passes from one state to another (even in this age of computers), records of past registration/titling seem to disappear.  You may find it was sold as a roller way back - would date the roller left VS be same as the date of manufacture?  

"As soon as it passes from one state to another (even in this age of computers), records of past registration/titling seem to disappear. "

Not true.  When I was re-registering my car as a replica, the guy at the DMV titling office looked up the VW VIN and showed me that it started out in Ohio, then New York, then Massachusetts (where I bought it), then Rhode Island, South Carolina and back to Massachusetts.  Don't know what he used to get that, but he said it was nation-wide.

Don't know if the paper trail ends when you get a new VIN (as I did) or if they tag the old VIN to the new - just never asked.

Gordon Nichols posted:

Don't know if the paper trail ends when you get a new VIN (as I did) or if they tag the old VIN to the new - just never asked.

Depends on which state and which DMV clerk you happen to be standing in front of. 

I registered a Fiberfab in Indiana last summer and they let me use the Fiberfab body plate number as the VIN Number. I was shocked they wanted to do it this way. So my title has the VIN. no. FC1486. I just riveted the plate to the pan on the tunnel where my carpet has the viewing flap.

What year did they use?

They used the year of the build completion on the Florida title I got with the car, which was 2007.

Is it exempt from smog?  Registered as a 2007 Special Construction or what?  What do you suppose will happen if the cars next owner is in a state that requires smog checks? 

That is a good question I never considered, I have never lived in a state with smog checks. I was given a  Florida title from the previous owner that had the car as a 2007 construction. My state went with that. I was just happy to register the car without trouble , regardless I am not looking to sell the car anytime soon. Waiting for the Subaru conversion to be finished now.  I wonder if the Subaru engine Special edition is installing would pass a smog test?  I know they don't use a catalytic converter so it probably wouldn't pass. Problem for another day.

Yeah, Troy....

I loved going to the DMV for a new VIN on my re-registering process.....

Wait in line 30 - 40 minutes to get a number, then another hour to finally get called up to a window where, proper paperwork in hand, I proudly announce that “I’m here to register a replica vehicle!”

The ponderous sounds of Crickets prevails as the helpful DMV lady, who is now peering at my paperwork, says, “ A replica?  Geez......I’ve been here eight years and I’ve never done a replica before.   MONA!  Has anyone registered a Replica?”

Mona, on the other side of the form island behind the line of windows says, “Get, Ginny.  I think she did one years ago.”   Ginny, it turns out, was the supervisor of the counter people and had, in fact, done two replicas, both Cobras, ten and twelve years ago, never to have seen one since.  And this is in the second-largest DMV office in Massachusetts.

To her credit, she remembered what was needed, looked at my paperwork, tossed one of my forms in favor of a different one (“It’ll be less confusing with this one for the next step”), stamped two others, filled in a few lines on the computer ( while the nameless first lady watched and asked a couple of questions), typed a bit and then read something off of the screen and said, “This car’s been around!  Six different states so far!”  Then she handed me my pile of paperwork and a couple of new forms, stamped with the DMV seal.  “That’ll be $25 dollars and here’s where to go for your inspection,” handing me a pre-printed address.  

Total time at the window, 12 minutes!

The trouble is once DMV puts something on the title it is near impossible to correct it, much less change it.  I remember Carl Berry's VS was mistakenly registered in Conn. as a 1957 Porsche Speedster - all was good until they told him what the property tax would be on a '57 Speedster! 

being in CA i never buy a used vehicle from another state, the DMV is a nightmare to deal with,,,already registered in CA no problem if paperwork is in order,,out of state U get to deal with DMV and the Highway Patrol to check VIN#s and all,,about a 3-4 week process if everything checks out..

Why do people cover their license plate when listing a vehicle? If they go out for a drive the entire world is free to see their license number. I just don't get it. Anyone care to enlighten me?

I didn’t have that much trouble changing the title or registration information.  It certainly helped, in my case, to speak with the supervising officer of my local DMV office, tell him exactly what I was trying to do and who would be the best people across the DMV to help me.  I also got a couple of names from the guys at Factory Five Racing (the Cobra people).  All it usually takes is the right person and the right forms (and those filled out correctly).  It also helped to have “TheTango” do some of the leg work before me in Massachusetts, although his process was much different than mine.

I will admit, though, that it can easily suck up a month or more of running around and finding those people who really known what they’re doing.  When I found those people, I was always amazed at how easily it went!

Jimmy V. posted:

Why do people cover their license plate when listing a vehicle? If they go out for a drive the entire world is free to see their license number. I just don't get it. Anyone care to enlighten me?

In case nefarious viewers of said photos believe it's a real 356 and look up your address from the license plate....