Seeing that the stolen Tennessee Avanti hasn't been found, it got me to thinking about how one can postitively ID their Studebaker if stolen.
There's the "secret serial number" on the rear cross member but I'd wager that it can no longer be found on the vast majority of cars any more. Data plate? Those can and are being reproduced or relatively easily swapped from another car. Title? There are work-arounds for that. Add a repaint and bada-boom, you have no "provable in court" evidence that a vehicle is yours.
So, here's my thought: Create your own secret number(s)
Seems to me one could engrave their own secret ID numbers in several hidden places on the vehicle known only to the owner. Then, document these IDs with a certified/witnessed/notarized document attesting to their existance and placement. Maybe even attach photos. Having such documentation would be powerful proof of one's ownership. The document would be transferred to the new owner if sold.
This wouldn't prevent theft nor would it guarantee recovery but it would provide some added measure of ID if a suspicious Studebaker suddenly showed up on the street or at a meet.
Let's say a purple Avanti shows up at a meet that has never been seen before and careful inspection suggests that it was once painted white. The owner of the stolen white Avanti could be contacted, who says to "look in a certain spot for such and such". If it's there, call the cops. If not, no harm no foul.
Doing your own secret serial numbers would be pretty easy to do and should be pretty hard for a thief to find because there's no set location(s). So, why not?
BShaw,Webmaster
60 Hawk. 49 2R5, 39 Champion
Woodbury, Minnesota
There's the "secret serial number" on the rear cross member but I'd wager that it can no longer be found on the vast majority of cars any more. Data plate? Those can and are being reproduced or relatively easily swapped from another car. Title? There are work-arounds for that. Add a repaint and bada-boom, you have no "provable in court" evidence that a vehicle is yours.
So, here's my thought: Create your own secret number(s)
Seems to me one could engrave their own secret ID numbers in several hidden places on the vehicle known only to the owner. Then, document these IDs with a certified/witnessed/notarized document attesting to their existance and placement. Maybe even attach photos. Having such documentation would be powerful proof of one's ownership. The document would be transferred to the new owner if sold.
This wouldn't prevent theft nor would it guarantee recovery but it would provide some added measure of ID if a suspicious Studebaker suddenly showed up on the street or at a meet.
Let's say a purple Avanti shows up at a meet that has never been seen before and careful inspection suggests that it was once painted white. The owner of the stolen white Avanti could be contacted, who says to "look in a certain spot for such and such". If it's there, call the cops. If not, no harm no foul.
Doing your own secret serial numbers would be pretty easy to do and should be pretty hard for a thief to find because there's no set location(s). So, why not?
BShaw,Webmaster
60 Hawk. 49 2R5, 39 Champion
Woodbury, Minnesota
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