Topic: Interesting '65 VIN

[drummingrocks]

Hi guys, I just saw this over on VMF, and was curious to hear thoughts about it.  This appears to be a factory '65 VIN stamp, but with a dash (-) in the middle of it.  I'd never heard or seen such a thing, and was wondering if the car came this way?

http://forums.vintage-mustang.com/concours-forum/816522-65-dash-vin-number.html

[jwc66k]

I took the picture and enlarged it:

The picture shows the VIN stamping on the fender apron without the fender. I wonder what the VIN nearer the left hand hood hinge shows? It should have been visible. Then there's the right hand VIN stamping near the hood hinge visible with the fender off; plus the door data tag, which may not or may not be on the LH door; plus the registration. That's a total of five VINs that should match, of which we see only one. There are too many missing pieces of this puzzle.
Jim

[drummingrocks]

The picture shows the VIN stamping on the fender apron without the fender. I wonder what the VIN nearer the left hand hood hinge shows? It should have been visible. Then there's the right hand VIN stamping near the hood hinge visible with the fender off; plus the door data tag, which may not or may not be on the LH door; plus the registration. That's a total of five VINs that should match, of which we see only one. There are too many missing pieces of this puzzle.
Jim

Jim, in the VMF post, the poster says that the three other VINS stamped into the aprons match the one pictured.

[Texas Swede]

Please note one digit is missing so maybe the dash is a poorly stamped 4 or something.
Texas Swede

[CharlesTurner]

Looks like the bottom of a '1'.  What's on the warranty plate?

[kutzoh]

Is it possible for the factory to stamp a VIN that's that crooked?

[drummingrocks]

No response yet on what's on the data plate.

[jwc66k]

Jim, in the VMF post, the poster says that the three other VINS stamped into the aprons match the one pictured.

Yup, sure is. I read the original post on VMF when it was first posted a couple of days back and in reading the follow-up the replies, completely disregarded the original. Some of the follow-up posts on VMF were misleading which further added to interpretation problems.
Jim

[jwc66k]

No response yet on what's on the data plate.

I got trapped too. The original post say no door data plate.
Jim

[jwc66k]

Is it possible for the factory to stamp a VIN that's that crooked?

It's San Jose, a known hotbed of alcoholism and drug use back in the 60's (as were a lot of businesses in the SF Bay area). I've seen many misaligned and even one of the RH stampings visible with the fender in place. Oh, that one was a 65 Shelby. I was sworn to secrecy.
Jim

[J_Speegle]

Got a email; from the poster a few weeks back so didn't pay much attention when it showed up over on VFM since stuff often goes sideways there now a days. Seen allot of San Jose stampings and this is a first for me - not sure what could have been placed in the stamp holder to produce that nor how it got by multiple inspectors

Have always found San Jose to have had less quality issues than the other plants and more likely to follow the "instructions" of course there were those guys but that IMHO why those things are remembered - they stood out   Most of these workers were out dad's, uncles or grand fathers - not a generation that typically didn't take pride in their work.

As far as the stamping not sure how it happened or how DMV address the issue since the door tag wasn't suppose to be used. Would like to see a copy of the title also

[zray]

It's San Jose, a known hotbed of alcoholism and drug use back in the 60's (as were a lot of businesses in the SF Bay area)......."

That's a good one. 

I was a "well  traveled" hippie in those days, and since the statute of limitations has passed  I'm free to divulge that from the smallest hamlet in New England, thru the towns of of the flat Kansas prarie, to the smoggy cities of Southern California,  the ENTIRE nation was awash in weed, and of course alcohol, but weed was cheaper in those days. 

For example, when traveling across country, a gas station , full service of course, (remember those), would fill the tank, check the oil, clean your windshield, and then, if you  looked approachable, would try to sell you some weed. I remember quite well telling one attendant that I couldn't buy any weed since all I had was Phillips 66 credit card.  He said, " no problem, I'll just write it up as a set of used tires....." 

Not fair to pick on San Jose.  I can guarantee you they had no more, and no less, consumption that the rest of the country.

Z

[jwc66k]

It's San Jose, a known hotbed of alcoholism and drug use back in the 60's -
Jim

That's a good one. 

I was a "well  traveled" hippie in those days, and since the statute of limitations has passed  I'm free to divulge that from the smallest hamlet in New England, thru the towns of of the flat Kansas prarie, to the smoggy cities of Southern California,  the ENTIRE nation was awash in weed, and of course alcohol, but weed was cheaper in those days. 

For example, when traveling across country, a gas station , full service of course, (remember those), would fill the tank, check the oil, clean your windshield, and then, if you  looked approachable, would try to sell you some weed. I remember quite well telling one attendant that I couldn't buy any weed since all I had was Phillips 66 credit card.  He said, " no problem, I'll just write it up as a set of used tires....." 

Not fair to pick on San Jose.  I can guarantee you they had no more, and no less, consumption that the rest of the country.

Z

I was not a "well traveled Hippie", I worked for companies that had Government contracts in Santa Clara County. A prerequisite for employment in those companies was a drug test. If you failed, you didn't get the job. That failure followed you, especially if a clearance was involved. I never failed. There was also a lot (it's two words) of company jumping, some following contracts, others playing the "I want more money" game. Every company change got you a drug test. Non-government contract high-tech companies, Apple, Fairchild, Memorex, HP, usually did not have a test. Add Ford Motor to that list, and with the San Jose plant at the South end of San Francisco Bay, union run, workers took advantage of union protection for their jobs. It was a boring job in a noisy environment so "escape" was sought in an existing problem, alcohol, and a new problem, drugs. There were reports in the San Jose Mercury all the time of drug busts at the Ford plant. Same for the GM plant in Fremont. Many former Ford assembly workers still live here and they confirm the problems. A bad worker, or a sloppy quality inspector is all you need. If San Jose had a relatively higher level of quality, it does not say much about the other plants.
Jim 

[zray]

"....... There was also a lot (it's two words) of  ...."
Jim

I never doubted it.  It's great that correct spelling and grammar still matters.

I was not a "well traveled Hippie"......."

Too bad, but I applaud your purity.

Living on the road was a tough life, but a lot of adventure. Not everyone was cut out for the nomadic life, it's hardships, or the rewards.

PS, I've done my share of Gov. work. just not inclined to talk about it. Unlike the current  trend, I take non-disclosure agreements seriously.

However, none of this has much to do with the OP's initial post.  Suffice it to say, all I was trying to point out was San Jose, or NorCal, was no different than the rest of the country, and still isn't.

Z.

[2+2=GT350]

.Hello Thanks for the interest in my post Thought I would share what else I found out over the weekend. Found the 3rd Vin that is hidden under the driver side fender by the hood hinge. I was able to get a picture of the hidden vin for all to see as well. The aprons have not been replaced as you can see a datecode with the 3rd vin. Thanks for all the interest. I was also able to view the title and it has a number where the dash is. Wish the door tag was there I would like to know what it read. The hood to cowl brkt has a datecode that can be read, and as you can see there is also one with the "3rd hidden vin". There is a picture of the passenger side vin under the fender, and a picture of the dash area with fog light switch and the early "A" knob for the vent. I was told in the beginning this was a GT, but not the case. It is NOT a GT.