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Need advice involving VIN plate damaged by theft
Someone stole my '94 RX-7, and while it was recovered, I'm having trouble figuring out what to do about the damaged VIN plate on the top of the driver's side dash.
Though the VIN is readable, with it just pried up near the middle by a screw driver, it sounds like in the state of FL they are going to remove it completely and replace it by a sticker on the windshield. I'm going to try to see if I can at least keep the original. Does anyone else know if there is anything else I can do? I'm bothered by the idea of not having a VIN plate, nor even the damaged one. |
Unfortunately you are stuck with whatever the state requires. Getting a new vin plate done would be next to impossible with its association to theft. Your original VIN should still be on the firewall and in the drivers side door jamb at the least.
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Also that VIN plate is REALLY hard to get to. If you wanted to do something substantial with it you would have to pull the dash or pull the windshield.
You won't be able to replace it, that's a one-off thing. You may be able to bend it back in shape so it looks decent, I think it's just a thin aluminum plate. It is riveted onto the dash. Dale |
It looks like it would bend back, but I think the state is going to want to destroy it.
And yes, I still have the VIN in other places of the vehicle. I was hoping I could get a legal recreation made, certified, and riveted back in. As far as I'm aware, some states do make plates and rivet them back into the dash but I guess mine doesn't... I believe I found the relevant law in regards to this 817.235 Personal property; removing or altering identification marks.—
(1) Except as otherwise provided by law, any person who, with intent to prevent identification by the true owner, removes, erases, defaces, or otherwise alters any serial number or other mark of identification placed on any item of personal property by the manufacturer or owner thereof is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.(2) Any person who possesses any item of personal property with the knowledge that the serial number or other mark of identification placed thereon by the manufacturer or owner thereof has been removed, erased, defaced, or otherwise altered with intent to prevent identification by the true owner is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.History.—s. 1, ch. 74-6. Though the VIN is still legible, it is defaced by the thiefs attempt to remove it under (2). It's murky in that regard that I'm the true owner and have all that documentation, and legally I could have removed and replaced, polished, or done whatever to the VIN. But as soon as someone else defaced it in the attempts to hide theft, it's a problem to have that in my possession like that so they might have to remove it. Or it might be this one http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/...s/0319.33.html which is more specific to motor vehicles. |
I finally got through with HSMV and they said since the numbers are readable, it doesn't actually need to be replaced. Detective said the same thing, that he didn't impound it since it was still perfectly readable and he was sure someone wouldn't want a sticker on a car like that.
Also the law in that last link appears to state that the car would only be contraband if *all* numbers were defaced to be unreadable as well. It does appear that I could legally flatten it back into place myself, but I'll need to read into it more. |
Can anyone post a picture of the engine compartment vin plate for a 1993 FD base model...Thanks
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I should say, my 1993 FD was stolen and recovered. Whoever stole it took the vin plates off the car. Florida state re-issued the original vin#....Thank goodness!!
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Originally Posted by Greg Sabol
(Post 12414150)
Can anyone post a picture of the engine compartment vin plate for a 1993 FD base model...Thanks
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Thanks Sgtblue....that's what I thought, it's only the FD 'Spirit' that has the engine compartment plate. The vin # on my firewall was cut out. The body shop fixed the firewall so I'll have to have a vin plate made.
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They cut the vin out of the firewall? Not sure I’d have wanted the car back.
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The Japanese cars had a small metal VIN plate riveted to the firewall. I think they also had the VIN etched into the firewall like the US cars as well.
Dale |
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...3061d723a8.jpg
Thanks for the feedback...I found someone that can make the Vin plates up. This FD is a nice one, never wrecked, I've gone thought the entire car, lots of nice reliability improvements, and custom trim. It was too nice a car to scrap just because of the damaged vins. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...13722bf456.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...dbd17a455d.jpg |
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