Avanti VIN location

[dixchief]

Trying to get my 63 registered. Needs to be inspected before issuing.
I have the regs back to the original owner. I find a stamped plate on the right inner fender but it is not the same #. It should be
63R xxxx but the plate shows 63RO yyyy. Is the VIN in another place?
Hope so.
TIA
Dick

[JDP]

It's on a plate on the top of the frame. Open the hood, look straight down on the passenger side rear of the engine.

JDP/Maryland

[Retired]

JDP is correct for the location. It may be covered with grime and the printed Studebaker Corporation name may have disappered but, the serial (VIN) is stamped into the metal tag. SI sells a decal to replace the Studebaker name.

Richard

[dixchief]

Thanks guys. Is the 63ROxxxx a build number?
Dick

[gordr]

It's a BODY number. And it should be 63RQxxxx.

Gord Richmond, within Weasel range of the Alberta Badlands

[studegary]

What is stated above is correct. I would like to add a little clarification. Studebaker did not issue VINs (vehicle identification numbers), as such. Up through the mid-1950s, the engine number was usually used for a VIN. For the last decade of Studebakers, such as your Avanti, the serial number is used as a VIN. The plate on the frame rail contains the S/N (serial number). The easier to find number on an Avanti is the body number.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

[Swifster]

quote:Originally posted by studegary

What is stated above is correct. I would like to add a little clarification. Studebaker did not issue VINs (vehicle identification numbers), as such. Up through the mid-1950s, the engine number was usually used for a VIN. For the last decade of Studebakers, such as your Avanti, the serial number is used as a VIN. The plate on the frame rail contains the S/N (serial number). The easier to find number on an Avanti is the body number.

Gary, it completely depends on the state the car was registered. Many states used the body serial number for registration purposes instead of the engine number. Ford didn't stamp a number on the body or frame until 1926, so the engine number was used. Registrations used the serial number of the body, the serial number of the engine and varied the year of the car by when it was sold, not necessarily the model year. So you could have a '46 Champion registered as a '45 Champion if it was sold in December of '45 and the number could have been used from the engine.

A standardize VIN as we know it today didn't really start until 1981. Most US cars started having the number plate put on the dash in 1968 or 1969 (depending on the car). Many imports still used various other locations to mount the plate. My '71 BMW still had the number stamped on the firewall and that was it. Many now have the number on the dash, but still use the original locating and stamp the entire number there. My '89 Suzuki Swift had the full VIN stamped on the firewall.

With all the vintage cars I look at, I usually have to do some internet searching so that I know where to look on a car older than 1950. Some owners of customs and hot rods get rid of the plate (if there was one) and you wonder how happy he'll be if the car is impounded (speeding ticket, burnt out tail light, etc.).

The real problem is when the serial number tag and trim tag are missing and there is no title. Stay away from this problem.

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Tom - Mulberry, FL

1964 Studebaker Daytona - 289 4V, 4-Speed (Cost To Date: $2125.60)

1964 Studebaker Commander 170-1V, 3-speed w/OD (Cost to Date: $623.67)

[studegary]

Yes Tom, I agree with what you post. That is why I used the qualifier of "usually".

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

[StudeRich]

What Gary and Tom said! [^]

However; some States like California, were smart enough to realise the year built/year sold issue, so they have a "Year Model" box AND a "Year Sold" box on the Title and in some years on the Registration also, that is only used when they differ. [^]

This way, you still know (for instance) you have a 1956 car, even though it was sold in 1955 or even 1957. [^]

StudeRich
Edited to correct typo.

[dixchief]

My manual didn't say where it was. There was such a smooth layer of grime I would never had found it. thanks again.
I register a lot of antique motorcycles here in Florida. In FL they use the frame number as a VIN. Their reasoning is that this allows you to change motors.
The exception is a vehicle with no frame # (early indians, HD) then the motor # is used.
If anyone needs the process to title an antique that has no papers, contact me off list. Most of the counter people at the DMV don't know how to do it and say "can't be done".
No need to send off to a title company and pay big bucks.
Dick