Serial-number locations...???

[Vette/Berlina-coupe]

VIN / Serial-number locations...???

:confused Have a very nice C3/Rolling-chassis here bought at a car/swapmeet for parts, -there's no VIN-tag on the driver's/A-post, the coupe-cab/doors/glass/T-tops all still intact but interior totally-gutted, no frontal-fiberglass, no runnning-gear; --so wondering if there is a Serial-number stamped upon the steel-frame somewhere that would enable me to determine the model-year/VIN -?? Please advise... ~Bob vH

1st-Memo: -thankYou JohnZ., --is the number same as the VIN that was originally included upon the drivers/A-piller, or is it a brief frame/serial-number? And is the aft-frame number hidden by presense of the body-shell?(ie: -does the body-shell have to be removed to see it?)... ~B.vH

2nd-Memo: -have examined the upper/horizontal-surface of driver's-side frame-rail, looking forward of the front/body-mount toward the front-terminus of the clean Frame-rail, --no numeric-stamping of any sort (have not yet gotten under to look for an additional aft-frame number). Is the frontal-number somewhere proximal the steering-gearbox? -or is it further aft where the frame splays-out toward the front/body-mount? ~B.vH

Hello, John.Z, ?? -anyone have further info. requested above....?

3rd-Memo: -OK, thanks again JohnZ for your keen info., -now better understand; so in clear terms here is what John-Z. is saying... Both of the C3's frame VIN/Serial-nrs. are essentially concealed beneath the body! The one about a foot in front of the driver's-side aft/frame-arch is inboard about a 1/2" from the left-side of the frame-rail and impossible to see with body mounted; --while the aftward VIN/Serial-nr. is perhaps very awkwardly visible (removing the left/rear-wheel might help) then using a thin-mirror & flashlight to peek at the upper/inboard-surface of the frame-rail directly above the shock-absorber mounting. Apparently these locations were adopted in effort to discourage anyone from tampering with the VIN-numbers, but it at least helps to know approximately where the VIN's are, as even with the body off they would not be easy to find if the owner desires to see if the car has the original frame. If as in my situation the body(cab portion) is still intact, then knowing this info., one could then probably working from above the body-floor, drill a 3/4"-hole and then using a thin-bladed hand-portable elect.grinder and neatly slice-away a small portion of the body to form a narrow/inspection-port for examination purposes, -perhaps leaving one or the narrow-ends uncut so as to rather hinge-open (such an inspection port could be covered-over by a screwed-on metal-plate sealed with silicon, or entirely restored using Bondo/fiberglass-hair).... ~B.vH

 

[JohnZ]

The VIN derivative is stamped in two places on the frame - on the top horizontal surface of the driver's side outer frame rail; one is directly above the rear shock upper mount bracket, and again about 12" forward of where the rear kickup section starts, about even with your wallet. There is no VIN derivative stamping anywhere on the body.

 

[JohnZ]

:confused 1st-Reply: -thankYou JohnZ., --is the number same as the VIN that was originally included upon the drivers/A-piller, or is it a brief frame/serial-number? And is the aft-frame number hidden by presense of the body-shell?(ie: -does the body-shell have to be removed to see it?)... ~B.vH

2nd-Reply: -have examined the upper/horizontal-surface of driver's-side frame-rail, looking forward of the front/body-mount toward the front-terminus of the clean Frame-rail, --no numeric-stamping of any sort (have not yet gotten under to look for an additional aft-frame number). Is the frontal-number somewhere proximal the steering-gearbox? -or is it further aft where the frame splays-out toward the front/body-mount? ~B.vH

Hello, John.Z, ?? -anyone have further info. requested above....?

1. The VIN derivative on the top surface of the frame will be just that, a derivative of the complete vehicle VIN - normally has a number for the first digit (for the year), then an "S" (for St. Louis), then the last six digits of the car's VIN number.

2. As I posted earlier, the two stamped numbers are a) On the top surface of the driver's side frame rail, directly above the rear shock upper mounting bracket, and b) On the top surface of the driver's side frame rail, about 12" forward of where the rear kickup starts, about even with your wallet when seated in the car. Both numbers are in 1/4"-high characters, about 1/2" inboard of the outer edge of the frame rail. The one at the rear (above the shock mounting bracket) is sometimes visible with a small mirror after cleaning the frame surface with the body on the frame, but the one 12" forward of where the kickup starts is not visible with the body on the frame.

There are no numbers forward of the one that's next to your wallet.