Dash VIN plate
 

My recently purchase 97 Ebony does not have a dash VIN plate at the bottom of the left windshield on the dash. It appears it never came with one, as there are no holes where it would be mounted with the two rivets. Svxcess called Subaru of America and they called me back and said they could not get me a replacement dash vin plate. Anyone know how or if I can get one made and just stick it to the dash with double stick tape. This is really odd, and Subaru has no answer for me.:confused:

Re: Dash VIN plate
 

Sounds suspicious. Probably switched VINs. I know a shady mechanic that does it all the time. Possibly a rebuilt wreck or stolen. Check the VINs in other places on the car and see if they match up.
My '97 has one as do both of my '92s.

Re: Dash VIN plate
 

No. I have seen the closeup photos.

There never was a plate installed. No marks or hints of holes where a plate would have been attached.The dash has faded uniformly and there is no hint of discoloration.

The VIN on both the firewall and on the build plate are the same and correct. The carfax is clean and has no issues.

See the Carfax HERE




When I bought my 1975 Datsun 280Z, I was at the dealership when the transport unloaded my car. There was another Z that was unloaded at the same time and came through from the factory without a radiator installed! Engine bay was painted and finished, just a big gaping empty space. Don't know how it ever made it through QC. :eek:

Sometimes things have a way of getting overlooked...


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Re: Dash VIN plate
 

My first "me-owned" car, a '53 Olds, had the Olds chrome logo on the grill bar spelled OLDSMOBLIE. Obviously portended the product's demise.

Rno.

Re: Dash VIN plate
 

Maybe it will be a collectors item like a misprinted stamp.

Re: Dash VIN plate
 

Whoa, hold everything.

Pics or it didn't happen. You know the rules.

Re: Dash VIN plate
 

Post 'em, Danno!


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Re: Dash VIN plate
 

I bet the dash was replaced at some point and the vin plate was not transferred from the previous dash. It could have been from an accident where the passenger airbag deployed and distorted the dash.

Re: Dash VIN plate
 

Hard to say. Maybe after you own the car for a while, you'll find out more.

It's hard to tell buying a used car. Carfax really doesn't tell everything.

Everytime when I get acquainted with the cars I bought, after I own them for a while, wash and wax, service and drive for a while, I seem to be able to pull back some histories from my imaginations that what could happen to here and there.


PS: how about Mike's 92 Claret? When he swapped in the entire 96 dash, did he move the dash VIN plate as well?? Now it get me thinking of that.

Re: Dash VIN plate
 

In the late 80s my ex and I rented a "Cougarbird" in Denver, with Mercury Cougar sheetmetal and badging on the outside and Ford Thunderbird ID inside (or vice-versa). It had like 2 miles on the odometer.

(We hit snow and fishtailed back to Denver from Breckinridge, and I remember wishing we'd rented a Suby.)

The notion that the dash was replaced seems plausible to me. I'd definitely feel better about it if all the "tamper-evident" VIN stickers matched the firewall and data plates.

dcb

Re: Dash VIN plate
 

Windshield and passenger airbag where replaced by seller. He hit a curb hard and dented the fender which deployed the airbag and cracked the windshield. He mentioned nothing about the dash being replaced. This was two owner vehicle, with the current seller owning it since 2001, so if dash was replaced, it would have had to have been by original owner between 1997-2000. :confused:

Re: Dash VIN plate
 

Again we see not to put much faith in a clean Carfax. My guess is there was more damage than he informed you of.

I'm trying to remember the build of dash's with the passenger airbag?? Wouldn't the entire dash need to be replaced if the passenger bag blows? (Well not the entire dash, but the piece that goes across to where the VIN tag is.)

Re: Dash VIN plate
 

He hit a curb, that dented the fender, and deployed the airbag?
How to you dent a fender, or deploy an air bag, by hitting a curb?
Maybe it was a jersey barrier shaped "curb"?

I would suspect its a replacement dash.
The important number is the one on the firewall.

And yes the entire dash is one big piece, at least the one on the 92 that I just ripped out like 2 weeks ago was.

Re: Dash VIN plate
 

:lol::lol: Jersey barrier made me laugh hard.

I need to quit reading this stuff at work.

Re: Dash VIN plate
 

Yes, that part would need to be replaced. The passenger airbag almost always deforms the dash when it deploys.