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VIN on inner fender missing

11K views 39 replies 21 participants last post by  supershifter2  
#1 ·
What did the assembly line workers use to stamp with?...was it a die that we can purchase somewhere? Mine isn't stamped at all (anymore) after the shop replaced my inner fenders. Shop is out of business now.
 
#3 ·
Ever search for the word VIN? That word shows up in just about every thread...but thanks for the tip.
 
#6 · (Edited)
well check this out ! i went to pick-a-part about 12 years ago and cut a pair of wrap around shock towers off a 69 cougar and put them on my 65 mustang. the cougar serial # is stamped on the fender apron right next to the hole in the top of the tower that the shock goes through. i left that part on the cougar shock tower and cut that section out of my 65 mustang. the cougar serial # stampings are still their so when you open the hood of my 65 mustang you see the mustang and the cougar serial # on the drivers side and the cougar serial # on the passenger side ! just thought i would share that info with you ! my car is registered as the 65 mustang it is !:shocked::shaking: btw the cougar had a 351W in it and the mustang has a 392W in it !!!
 
#7 ·
We've got a similar issue with our 70. We replaced the whole front-end with a new used one and now have the VIN of the donor on both inner fenders. We're gonna cut the ones off the old fenders and graft them on the new one.

But, are you SURE there's no numbers on yours? I see some that the stampings are so shallow you have to take sandpaper to it to see them.
 
#8 ·
You can buy a punch set off ebay that is close enough. It even includes the start.

IMO you stamp it and go on down the road. What the DMV doesn't know won't hurt them.
 
#9 ·
The DMV is just like the IRS. Never open a can of worms with either of them.
If the shop that is out of business had bought the stamps from ebay and stamped the inner fenders with your VIN, would you have a problem?
Just asking...
 
#10 ·
I think all you have to be is close. How are they going to know what it's really supposed to look like unless they have 2 cars side by side. Even then, there are differences.
Dave
 
#14 ·
Heck my '65's are different from each other on each fender apron on the same car.

Lynn
 
#13 ·
Or just go without.
I don't know how many cars I've seen over the years with them missing because of rust obliteration, covered in thick coatings to hide rust, or the panel was replaced and just simply never got put back on.
Lynn
 
#16 ·
These cars were produced/built 40 years ago mostly by hand. Look at an old assembly line film. The door tags and the 68 and newer VIN tags were machine typed.
The inner fender stampings were evidently done by hand "kinda here and here".
We want to know exactly where a sticker, decal etc. was placed. Imagine working on a high speed low priced car assembly line (the Mustang was like a 64 Model A).

Did anybody really care where a stamping or sticker went?

Sorry for the rant! I'm a Wisconsin Cheese Head who watched our Packers score 45 points and lose!!!!!
 
#17 ·
You make it sound like the mid 60's did not have any mechanization. I know that is not true.

Computerization of the assembly plant started at some point. Marti has card images from 1967 and we know the mag tapes from earlier years were destroyed.

The presses used to stamp fenders and other body parts were around. They did not use English wheels :)

There is no way Ford would have someone manually stamp each car with a set of stamps. It would have been done in a stamping press with automatically incremented numbers. Stamping a number is no harder than stamping a fender.
 
#25 ·
I started on an engine assembly line March 7, 1968. About the 3rd station, the serial number was stamped, by hand. I worked within 10' of this and sometimes, a number stamp would come flying my way when it was hit at an angle. If it was stamped wrong (and caught) it was filed off and restamped. I never saw the body serial number stamping so I cannot say for sure but looking at so many cars, if it was machine stamped, that machine was of poor quality and would not last long in our facility.

I retired from a different engine assembly area March, 2008 and we were using a Mecco Dot Matrix machine to stamp numbers. It was hand held and is capable of stamping about any thing you can dream up. Advancements are great.
 
#28 ·
I started on an engine assembly line March 7, 1968. About the 3rd station, the serial number was stamped, by hand. I worked within 10' of this and sometimes, a number stamp would come flying my way when it was hit at an angle. If it was stamped wrong (and caught) it was filed off and restamped. I never saw the body serial number stamping so I cannot say for sure but looking at so many cars, if it was machine stamped, that machine was of poor quality and would not last long in our facility.
I have looked at a large number of 68-73 engine stamps, they they sure looked hand-stamped to me, some pretty bad.
 
#26 ·
My car has 2 different VIN stampings on it. I think the left side was replaced with a used piece in the early 80's. My title matches the left side but I think the right side is original to to the body.
 
#30 ·
Its all about disclosure

I don't care if its numbers, a fender bender or a salvage - an unmolested car is worth more. Saying a molested car is unmolested - well there is a special place in the universe for such losers. As long as you are willing to man-up and disclose and decide if the reduction in value is worth the investment - go for it and build your dream - we can all oogle. If you plan to rebody and Mecham a very good con job as rare gold - well I hope you enjoy the company you spend eternity with because you deserve it.

Hopefully the ethical side takes hold - you build your dream an everyone is happy. I'd certainly consider buying a Shelby rebody "for the right price"...

Respectfully,

M
 
#32 ·
I don't care if its numbers, a fender bender or a salvage - an unmolested car is worth more. Saying a molested car is unmolested - well there is a special place in the universe for such losers. As long as you are willing to man-up and disclose and decide if the reduction in value is worth the investment - go for it and build your dream - we can all oogle. If you plan to rebody and Mecham a very good con job as rare gold - well I hope you enjoy the company you spend eternity with because you deserve it.

Hopefully the ethical side takes hold - you build your dream an everyone is happy. I'd certainly consider buying a Shelby rebody "for the right price"...

Respectfully,

M
i never bought any of the 65-66 mustangs a have owned starting in 1973 till now for investment purposes , only to enjoy them. if i were gonna invest in something i would probably by gold.
 
#31 ·
on the subject of stamping, does anyone know where to buy the punches that are the same(or very close) as the factory stamps, i picked up 66 fastback that had a repo panel installed and has no vin stamp there, i need to have it the same as the one on the inner fender and vin on the title. i saw some posts where there have been discussions on the good and bad about doing this, i see no problem as long as it the same as the title and the fender.
 
#38 ·
I always wondered the same thing...I am building a car that won't even have stock inner panels. I was just at the Mass RMV (called Registry of Motor Vehicles in Mass.) and decided to pose the question. I never thought I'd get an answer. The RMV head at the location made a phone call to headquarters and after a few quesions and answers...

DMV: Do you have a title?
ME: No, I've owned the car for 30 years and was last registered in 1979 under my name.
DMV: Do you have the bill of sale?
ME: No...I do have the plate number on the inspection sticker.
DMV: Apply for a title. Once you have the title, you can remove and replace the VIN as necessary in repairs. 1965 Mustang? Your official VIN is on the left front inner fender. You can either weld in or rivet the old number or repunch. Once you have the title and the VIN matches on the car, you're all set
ME: Thanks!

I couldn't believe Mass. RMV came up with an actual answer...now, who has a link to a decent set of punches?
 
#39 ·
I didn't think my question would spur this much debate.

FWIW, I have no intention to defraud anyone. This car has been in my family since day one. I have all the documentation and photos of THIS car and want it to have a VIN on it somewhere. As it is now, it is VINless...but not for much longer.
 
#40 ·
i was just talking to a friend about this and he was telling me about a car he put together about 15 years ago. he bought the frame (you know its not a mustang) from a guy and bought the main body from a junkyard and the area where the vin number would be on the body had ben cut off, bought the rest of the front cap and doors etc from others and put it together. then he researched to see what letters and numbers he needed for a vin and how many of the type of car were produced and then added 100000 to that and applied for a title and got it. so he didnt steal any bodys old number but i guess you could say he did what the dmv would do , of course anyone familiar with the production numbers of that car would know somethings up with his vin number ,but he says he didnt buy the car to sell but to drive till the day they pry his too old to drive hands from the steering wheel !!!