Hello, Looking for advice, I am looking at a 65 convertable. The VIN was removed during restoration and lost. It was retagged with the original ID in the State of California. The State of California tag was not placed under the glove box, but was placed in the door jam on the driver's side. Is this a deal breaker? opinions please. Kevin
No, it is a legal car.
However, some value the car less since it isn't original in every way with the original VIN plate missing.
If you do the judging route, NCRS accepts state issued VINs. I don't know if Bloomington Gold does or not.
If you are not judging it, then it doesn't matter.
I would check the state issued VIN against the frame VIN and the engine if it is an original engine. There is no reason to remove the VIN plate unless they were dipping the birdcage and I seriously doubt anyone going to that trouble and expense would not get a reproduction VIN plate made.
CHP is legally allowed to affix VINs for this reason and also for salvage and special construction vehicles that pass standards for registration. It may not be as "original" if that is what you are worried about in regards to value, but it shouldn't worry you legally but it seems you are more likely wondering about resale value.
Is it the CHP Blue tag VIN that they add when the original is not available? It sounds like they actually used the original VIN because they had the original from the existing paperwork so at least that will be in your favor.
I know my friend just went through some CHP issues regarding a classic HD M/C and they only originally used engine number as the VIN. When he brought it into Ca. the CHP told him to either they would attach the blue VIN tag or he would have to stamp the number into the frame. He chose to stamp the number into the frame to try to retain as much orignality as he could.
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