ZFFAD08A0C0039165 History -- Fake VIN?

Can someone run a VIN check on this car. The door plate is a fake.
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I don't recall ever seeing a VIN tag like that one.

However, there's a thread on that car:

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/mondial/480633-another-whats-worth-thread-barn-find.html

 

Looking closer, the same tag was there when it sold last. Maybe it's had the door replaced during its lifetime.

The quick answer is to see if the other tags match (and they probably will).

BTW, the stick-on tag below the riveted one is all wrong.
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Unfortunately the VIN stamping on the chassis appears to be "compromised" so I fear this is a stolen car....

 

Red Headed - VIN Decoder

 

I was just looking at a similar decoder; this car, or it's VIN rather, is a US spec 1982 Mondial 8.

 

Russ, did you get a picture of that?

 

If you look at the ebay listing, in one of the photogs you can see the vin no. in the engine bay is messed with. I have asked the current owner for a fresh photo. He says "you don't need a title in GA on cars older than 85". I very much doubt that. You need a title on any car in order to register it in any state, as far as I know.

 

there is something to that, not exactly sure if it's 100% like hes stating but older cars in GA do have some special rules/exemptions. A little googling on the subject will turn up a wealth of info.

 

If you refer to an ebay listing, you are required by law to post the link

(Seriously, I searched on "Ferrari Mondial" at ebay, and couldn't find it.)

 

The original listing is here:

ZFFAD08A0C0039165 on eBay March 2015

But doing a zoom and crop I still don't see how anything can be determined from the photos.
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Don't forget, there's a VIN plate on top of the steering column housing.

 

That's interesting. My 82 Mondial 8 does not have a plate anything like that. That door plate looks made up. It does not belong on an 82 Mondial 8. I'm not sure if Ferrari used different plates at a whim I assume not.

 

If they did they can't spell

 

Indeed!
Alden
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It's also "Ferrari North America, Inc." not "Ferrari OF North America".

The good legibility and neatness is another clue that somethin' ain't right...

Thanks for the link Wade -- I'd go with the SN middle 1 not looking much like a "1" (even though you are right that the photo isn't super clear)

 

vin decodes to a NA car. Could this have been a canadian car that then went through the USA importation/smog procedure via a shop at the time hence the odd ball plate?

 

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Seating Capacity 2 ????

 

i would have no doubt that this car has been compromised.

i also want to point out that it is rather strange that the fake-plates have also been painted over very slightly.

this is something that is a sign the door has been repainted previously. you don't get new tags like these, so you tape over them, and shoot paint over everything else. paint often gets through the gaps on the side like that...

also with the pixelation of the vinplate on the back of the chassis, is it possible it's just covered by debris? it's too hard to tell.

 

SIZE TYRE 14 ??? NOOO it is 16

 

"Someone" should notify the local authorities where the car is being sold of these irregularities . Altering a original VIN number anywhere on a vehicle is a felony and the way this car looks, it should be investigated for the good of the F car and car buying community.

Let's give them the benefit of the doubt and say that the door has been replaced for some valid reason. Manufacturing up a "new" manufacturer's VIN tag, especially one as sloppy as this is probably illegal too and just plain stupid.

Alden

 

Russ. Many states have title exemption rules on older vehicles, for example, NH's is only 15 years, while CT is 20, I believe AL is 20 etc etc. it allows individuals to still purchase and register cares that may have lost Titles somewhere along the way. Usually these states only need a BoS (some notarized) and a registration. It doesn't always mean the car has sketchy history, but sometimes that's the case.

 

Car was sold on ebay many months ago. Not sure if its for sale again or where Russ has found it, let alone why he's interested.

 

if it were cheap enough, i'd love to have it, no real downside there, even if a lot of stuff is screwed up. means you just have something to play with that you don't need to keep original.

 

Note the word "probably". It MAY be a stolen vehicle, but I think it goes pretty far to report this to the police, DMV or whatever just on a suspicion, as it may have been something modified with a valid reason, such as a replacement door or whatever. No doubt there is something going on, but if reported all that means is that the current owner will be in a lot of hassle for a crime that may or may not have been committed two decades ago, the car will be impounded and possibly crushed.
Vehicle crime is a bad thing and everyone needs to be vigilant. In this case buyers need to be educated on what to and what not to buy. Treads like these help that tremendously.
I would not touch a car like this but I would also not put a possibly naive current owner in a world of hurt. It is imho up to him to decide what actions to take with it (and with the seller he obtained it from).