VIN mistakes

[Richard Cranium]

I'm looking at a 69 1/2 Road Runner (coupe) that has a factory mistake in the dash VIN. It reads RM2Q rather than RM21. The build sheet & fender tag for this car match & show correctly as "21". I'm sure that this isn't the only VIN with a mistake, but what's the consensus on this type of issue?

 

[69Coronetrt]

Humans made cars.
Humans make mistakes.
Stuff happens.

Interesting example of a mistake made while entering data. It would be easy to do as the Q is right under the 1. That one is easy to undestand and justify.

If the 'mistake' enhances the status or value of a car, that's when you should be wary.

In this case, the mistake neither enhances or hurts the car.

 

[Meep-Meep]

Hard to imagine something like that went through. However, if you look at your keyboard you will probably notice the 1 is right above the Q. This theory would suggest the machine that stamped the VIN tags had a typewriter keyboard layout and the person running it types sloppy like me. The title must have the Q in the VIN also. Then what happens when there is a warranty problem? You have to know someone has raised a flag at some point. Or perhaps you were half in the bag while reading that VIN and should go back sober and read it.

 

[MoparMikey]

I guess that one won't be down for breakfast!

 

[detmatt1]

I had a friend that sold a '71 Charger R/T that was missing the engine code digit on the tag but the fender tag was complete.

 

[Red63440]

Probably typed by a woman with long finger nails...

 

[YY1]

I've seen a few, as well as transposed digits.

 

[Bruzilla]

Humans made cars.
Humans make mistakes.
Stuff happens.

I have a Sig P226 pistol that's marked "Lysons Corner, VA" instead of "Tysons Corner, VA". I guess even those fine German craftsmen at Sig can screw up every now and again.

 

[bigredbird]

My fender tag is marked "M51" -- power sunroof with a vinyl top. The car did originally have a vinyl top, but never had a sunroof.

 

[Budnicks]

Richard Cranium, I haven't had that yet, but I'm sure it's probably more common than most people think, I do know people that have had mistakes on the Vin tag, but not on the fender tag or radiator support or trunk drip rail, I always wondered if it would effect the cars value, especially by the purist crowd or Vin, data/fender tag/plate, broadcast sheet, #'s matching, 100% accuracy type guys...

 

[YY1]

I passed on a GTX that had a VIN digit that was one number off from the engine.

I thought there should have been a better discount.

The seller claimed he was offering a $500 discount which isn't squat on a 20K+ car.

Even if legit, that will always haunt the value.

I'd rather have a non-original but correct engine car and pocket that discount than a questionable matching numbers car at matching numbers price.