Dash VIN plate

SVX92-97 · #1 04-21-2011, 06:14 PM

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.

Blacky · #2 04-21-2011, 06:47 PM

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.

svxcess · #3 04-21-2011, 07:16 PM

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.

Sometimes things have a way of getting overlooked...

.

Ron Mummert · #4 04-21-2011, 07:58 PM

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.

Blacky · #5 04-21-2011, 08:15 PM

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

LetItSnow · #6 04-21-2011, 09:51 PM

Whoa, hold everything.

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

dcarrb · #7 04-22-2011, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Mummert

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.

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

SVX92-97 · #8 04-22-2011, 07:23 AM

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.