VIN, how many and where are they?

[John Brayton]

Hi,
Just bought a Starliner Coupe from an estate sale. When I was preparing the papers for registration I noticed the vin plate on the drivers door jamb was altered. How do I find the true vin #? Any help would be appreciated!! Thanks, John Brayton johnbraytonz@comcast.net

john brayton

[BobPalma]

John: Search for Secret Serial Number in this forum and many posts will jump out at you about a second number that was on the bottom flange of the rearmost frame crossmember, right behind the lower valence, when the car was new.

Chances are excellent that the number is no longer legible on your car.

That said, what do you mean by altered? What is wrong with the Serial Number plate affixed to the driver door hinge post, just below the upper hinge? BP

[Warren Webb]

John, it may look altered to you if the first letter in the vin looks like an "I" -Studebaker used that instead of the numeral 1, but it means a 1. For example, it may be 53V II300 which would be 53V 11300. Let us know what you find.

60 Lark convertible
61 Champ
62 Daytona convertible
63 G.T. R-2,4 speed
63 Avanti (2)
66 Daytona Sport Sedan

[studegary]

Being as you are in California, the S/N on the rear crossmember may be visible with some work.
What do you mean by altered? Were the numbers changed? Was the S/N plate changed?
The door jamb plate is a serial number plate. In the '50s, most states titled/registered cars with the engine number. What you refer to as a VIN may have been either of these numbers.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

[John Brayton]

quote:Originally posted by studegary

Being as you are in California, the S/N on the rear crossmember may be visible with some work.
What do you mean by altered? Were the numbers changed? Was the S/N plate changed?
The door jamb plate is a serial number plate. In the '50s, most states titled/registered cars with the engine number. What you refer to as a VIN may have been either of these numbers.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

john brayton

[John Brayton]

Hi,
The vin plate on the drivers door had the last number altered from a 1 to a 6. The indention is completely different. I intend to see if the original number is on the cross member near the tank. The registration number is related to the engine (being in California) and gives no clue as to the true vin number. Regards, John

john brayton

[55s]

FYI: The serial number 6 (on the serial plate) does look more like a lower case b.

Paul

[John Brayton]

Hi Paul,

That is exactly what ours looks like. I hope when we examine the rear cross member that the numbers match. Thanks for your help!

John

john brayton

[studegary]

The serial number 1 looks like I and the S/N 6 looks like an l with a small 0 added.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

[John Brayton]

Howdy,
Because the California DMV doesn't have a vin number of record we're going with the number on the driver's door. We're saying that the I is a 1 and that the b is a 6. The seller has agreed to this and I will let you ALL know if we're successful.
Regards,
John Brayton

john brayton

[studegary]

If you get the build sheet for the car from the SNM, it will show both the serial number (door jamb plate) and the engine number for your car. This will tie these two numbers together and should satisfy any DMV.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

[jgrohs]

John, if you're not already aware, the zone meet this year is in Milpitas on October 10-12. Hope to you see you and your car there!

http://www.sequoia-sdc.com/html/event-2008-10.html

Jeff Grohs

1951 Rod
1962 Champ
1963 Avanti R1
1963 GT Hawk R2 4 speed
1964 Daytona Convertible
2006 Avanti Convertible