Incorrect vin # on title

[Bow Tie 67]

I could use some feedback. I'm looking at a 69 Camaro and all indications point to the fact that the car has never been titled correct. The clean title the owner has lists the Fisher Body ( cowl tag ) # 12437NOR111... as the vin # instead of the dash vin # 12437N679... and they dont match, as I don't think any ever did with the way these cars were produced.

Both myself and the owner have contacted law enforcment friends and both show no record of the actual vin # period. The Body number comes up as him owning the car. The body tag was removed during the resto, but he still has it. The number on the upper cowl matches the actual vin #.

I'm not sure how to proceed to get this corrected, so I have a clean title with the correct vin # in my name. Walking away from this car is my last option.

I was thinking of just applying for a lost title. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Matt

[Guambomb]

Try to do a Title History check through the DMV of the state it's currently titled in. You may have to go back one or two states to find out when the Title got screwed up. Basically you fill out the states form, mail it in with the VIN you want a history of and they send you all Title transactions for the state. You have to pay a few bucks for the info but it could be worth it in the end.

[Bill Howell]

If the title does not match the vin, you are buying a title not a car. RUN I say RUN.
Until the owner can get it straight, you have no idea what you are buying or what headaches are down the road. The present "owner" only owns the title, who knows who the car belongs to. Somewhere down the line, someone has swapped a vin it sounds to me.
Lost title might work, but the car will always carry a stigma unless the vin and title match.

[HILROD]

The body tag numbers don't have to match the vin. The vin tag has to match the vin tag, the hidden vins, and the title.

[ProTouring442]

I bought a motorcycle once that the title didn't match the vin. I did some research, and what was on the title couldn't exist; that is, the letter on the title was in a place where only a number could go. I spoke with our MVA, and they said to bring in the title, along with a rubbing of the serial number. They checked, and I was correct about the order of the vin, and the new title reflected the correct number.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill
'72 442 "Inamorata"
www.FQuick.com/ProTouring442 (http://www.FQuick.com/ProTouring442)

[Bow Tie 67]

I bought a motorcycle once that the title didn't match the vin. I did some research, and what was on the title couldn't exist; that is, the letter on the title was in a place where only a number could go. I spoke with our MVA, and they said to bring in the title, along with a rubbing of the serial number. They checked, and I was correct about the order of the vin, and the new title reflected the correct number.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill
'72 442 "Inamorata"
www.FQuick.com/ProTouring442 (http://www.FQuick.com/ProTouring442)

The fact that NOR is in the middle of the vin# is one clue. There should not be letters like that. I'll keep you all posted, but this car is worth a major hassle to get this straightened out. I'd post some pics, but I dont want to jinx this whole thing.

[HILROD]

The NOR is the build plant. The first numbers are the cars body style. They match the first few VIN. The other numbers never match the vin. They are production numbers only. FRANK

[Bow Tie 67]

I realize all that, which is why I'm rather confident this thing was screwed up somewhere along the line and can be corrected.

[Restomod]

Could be someone along the line used a title service and the just made up the #. The NOR was thrown in to make a number that would not conflitct with a known good VIN #! I would say unless this is SUPER cheap car let the current owner get it right then buy it.

[Bill Howell]

I half read the original post. I have done alot of that lately....lol
So, the title says the NOR111.....number that is on the cowl tag?
The very first 69 camaro last six numbers was 500001. The started with that number. Sounds like some idiot read the cowl tag as the vin at one time or another and no one caught it. Is the number on the title and cowl the same? If so you are probably ok, those numbers were sequintual (sp) body numbers that helped the assembly plants keep up with them as they proceded down the line. No other car would have that cowl tag number. However, if it is not attached to the cowl, with factory rivits, I am not sure how much faith I would put in the story. Have the local athorities run a NCIC report on the true vin number and make sure no stolen report pops up. If everything come back clean, call me, I have a solution for your problem.

[Bow Tie 67]

I half read the original post. I have done alot of that lately....lol
So, the title says the NOR111.....number that is on the cowl tag?
The very first 69 camaro last six numbers was 500001. The started with that number. Sounds like some idiot read the cowl tag as the vin at one time or another and no one caught it. Is the number on the title and cowl the same? If so you are probably ok, those numbers were sequintual (sp) body numbers that helped the assembly plants keep up with them as they proceded down the line. No other car would have that cowl tag number. However, if it is not attached to the cowl, with factory rivits, I am not sure how much faith I would put in the story. Have the local athorities run a NCIC report on the true vin number and make sure no stolen report pops up. If everything come back clean, call me, I have a solution for your problem.

Bill I have had two different officers runs both numbers the actual vin# and the cowl tag number ( which yes matches the number on the states title ) and neither shows any stolen reports in the national database. Yes the cowl tag is removed, he was smoothing the firewall on the car. I had him find the cowl tag in one of the many boxes and it did infact match the vin# on the title. So yes I believe some moron read the wrong number years ago.

Bill, please send me your number via pm or email [email protected] so I can talk to you about this.

Thanks,
Matt

[Guambomb]

Do the Title History check. That is the only way you will find out when it was screwed up. Good luck!

[Smoke'm]

most likely the car was brought into a diff state at one time and the inspector spaced and entered the trim number rather than the vin,

all out of State cars in Wa in the old days had to be inspected by a State Patrol cop at there hub before they would transfer the title in state, now they are so swamped unless its a builder they dont bother.

ask your officer friend if the car was brought into your state years ago from another that will probably answer the when question

[MD88IROC]

It probably happened the day it arrived at the original selling dealers lot new. The dealers typically charged for the transfer fee and license cost at time of purchase and whoever filled out the original title application wrote the trim tag number instead of the VIN. I would bet it has been like this since day 1.
I would think if you took pictures of the trim tag, VIN tag and printed them out....took them to the DMV with the title, they would issue a new title with the VIN number instead of the trim tag.