Hi all. New here, and honestly my first post on FChat. With that said, I recently purchased a 1995 355 Berlinetta with a manual. Only been a week, but love it! There are a few strange things about the car, but the focus of the post is that the car has TWO VIN’s from the factory! Both stamped codes (steering column and inside door) are matching. But the warranty book and printed sticker on the inside of the door match as a different VIN. The only difference is one digit, and it’s either a 6 or a 9. Have any of you heard of this happening before, or do I have a 1/1 Ferrari?! Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
The VIN sticker in the door jamb with the bar code is the apparent oddball as it has the wrong model year digit (a "1" instead of a "4", "4" = 2004 which would be the correct model year for the Challenge Stradale). Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login In your case the VIN sticker with the barcode seems correct and it's the engraved tags that are wrong (check digit should be a "6", not a "9").
So the VIN is identical on all parts EXCEPT the 9th digit shows either a 6 or a 9. Which digit shows the build date? I’m confused, as others posted another photo which isn’t from my car.
I’m surprised that the bar code — the one usually scanned at emissions stations, etc. — and the one in the windshield — the vin primarily referenced by eye — not matching hasn’t caused a bunch of issues with registration, emissions, inspections, etc.
Interesting point. I tried using my barcode scanner on my phone for it and the picture isn't good enough to get a reading. I wonder if the barcode is right, just the typo in the VIN?
As Ylshih so accurately pointed out, its not unusual. When inspecting new cars it was a check list item and saw several new cars where it was wrong. The only two that really matter are the ones stamped into the car. The others are all removable labels.
Right, but that’s not what he’s saying. The one on his frame doesn’t match the windshield vin or the door plaque.
And what I am saying are the 2 stamped in the car are the real ones. The removable plates all 3 he is showing are easily changed and often were wrong. Same thing It is supposed to be inspected and reconciled before car was sold but often not done. He said book and frame say the same thing. Car should have been registered by what is in book. If so just send pictures to Ferrari and they will supply new plate for steering column and the one in the door.
He said "Both stamped codes (steering column and inside door) are matching. But the warranty book and printed sticker on the inside of the door match as a different VIN." Its the sticker inside of the door that is wrong. All changeable and sometimes wrong. Open the engine compartment, 18 inches toward the front, on the right hand side, there is a slot 5 inches long next to the edge of the compartment near the shock tower. The VIN is engraved onto the frame in large 1/2 inch long letters. That number should match the number on the steering column so I understand. Although all that is also swappable I suppose.
Italians of that era were not like like Germans or Japanese of that era regarding quality control, fwiw. It's part of the charm.
We are confusing the issue. Neither the steering column or the federal door plate are stamped into the car. The real stampings, like the engine compartment stamping. are the real number.
