FYI FORD MustangSteve's Ford Mustang Forum / Proper way to keep VIN when replacing Inner Fender

**Posted by Brian** 5/21/2024 7:10 PM

I am replacing the inner fenders on my 67 and wondering what the best/legal way to transfer the VIN to the new panels is. Unfortunately, I don't have a dash VIN, as I believe that started in 68, so the inner fender VINs are all I have for identification. Has anyone dealt with this maybe feedback from the Police or DMV?

**Posted by Texas!** 5/21/2024 7:32 PM

Use a cut-off wheel or jig saw to cut them out and then weld them into the new inner fender. It's entirely legal.

**Posted by Brian** 5/21/2024 7:35 PM

Thanks, Texas! Easy enough.

**Posted by TKOPerformance** 5/22/2024 6:18 AM

You should have a door tag for use with the DMV. No one at the DMV ever lifted the hood on my '67; they went by the door tag. Though, Texas! stated the correct method for transferring the inner fender stamp, and that's always nice to have for originality if nothing else. If you don't have a door tag Marti Autoworks can make you one.

https://www.martiauto.com/index.cfm

**Posted by TimC** 5/22/2024 7:58 PM

I would check with your state's DMV. I know in Illinois the law is different. It is a criminal offense to "cut & paste" a VIN in Illinois. We are required to contact the State Police, who will pay a visit to observe the VIN on the apron. They will then prepare a State Police VIN tag and permanently affix it to the panel below the door latch, and then you can do what you please with the apron.

The Illinois State Police are very aware that you can order a door plate with any data you choose, and also know that doors or door tags can easily be exchanged between cars, and treat the door tags as meaningless.

**Posted by Quicksilver** 5/23/2024 9:11 AM

Isn't there usually two vin numbers on the left and right side of the aprons? The passenger side is concealed by the actual fender. They should be the same numbers on them. Mine was double stamped on both sides. Like the stamper dude didn't think it stamped good enough the first time so he stamped it again. Got pictures of the placement of th i.d's some place I will look for them.

**Posted by MS** 5/23/2024 11:44 AM

Texas! wrote:
Use a cut-off wheel or jig saw to cut them out and then weld them into the new inner fender. It's entirely legal.

Are you 100% sure about this in Texas?

**Posted by Texas!** 5/23/2024 8:40 PM

MS wrote:
Texas! wrote:
Use a cut-off wheel or jig saw to cut them out and then weld them into the new inner fender. It's entirely legal.
Are you 100% sure about this in Texas?

Absolutely. It is only illegal to transfer a VIN from one vehicle to another vehicle. A replacement inner fender is not another vehicle.

**Posted by MS** 5/23/2024 9:12 PM

Texas! wrote:
MS wrote:
Texas! wrote:
Use a cut-off wheel or jig saw to cut them out and then weld them into the new inner fender. It's entirely legal.
Are you 100% sure about this in Texas?
Absolutely. It is only illegal to transfer a VIN from one vehicle to another vehicle. A replacement inner fender is not another vehicle.

Is that your opinion, or a legal fact?

**Posted by BILLY WALTON from GEORGIA** 5/23/2024 9:19 PM

MS wrote:
Texas! wrote:
MS wrote:

Are you 100% sure about this in Texas?
Absolutely. It is only illegal to transfer a VIN from one vehicle to another vehicle. A replacement inner fender is not another vehicle.

Is that your opinion, or a legal fact?

Glen Buzek is the man that could answer this.

**Posted by Texas!** 5/24/2024 6:39 AM

MS wrote:
Texas! wrote:
MS wrote:

Are you 100% sure about this in Texas?
Absolutely. It is only illegal to transfer a VIN from one vehicle to another vehicle. A replacement inner fender is not another vehicle.

Is that your opinion, or a legal fact?

Every county in Texas has a representative of the Auto Theft Task Force who goes to the court house on certain days and clears up title issues. Find out when yours will be at the court house and ask him personally like I did. He even verified that a Dynacorn body shell is sold as a "replacement part" and he would authorize a title using the VINs from my rusted out '66 fastback when I showed him "substantial progress" in rebuilding the car.

**Posted by Quicksilver** 5/24/2024 7:55 AM

Interesting, I always thought that Dynacorn bodies came with their own updated vin. numbers on each body that they made.

**Posted by MS** 5/24/2024 8:22 AM

Quicksilver wrote:
Interesting, I always thought that Dynacorn bodies came with their own updated vin. numbers on each body that they made.

Yeah. If that isn’t illegal, it sure ought to be. I can see replacing the VIN on the car it came on, but a dynacorn body is just outright fraudulent

**Posted by Texas!** 5/24/2024 10:13 AM

Dynacorn bodies are sold as a "replacement part" and do not have a VIN so they are not a vehicle. Like I said, ask your local Auto Theft Task Force officer. Or look at Dynacorn's website in this link.
https://dynacornclassicbodies.com/faqs/

**Posted by Bolted to Floor** 6/20/2024 11:44 AM

Yes, the dash VIN started in 68. The safest bet is to check with the DMV and see what they have to say.

Anyone that wants to see the VIN on my car has to pop the hood. The door tag was removed for body work and the rivets don’t hold it on very well. So, it’s tucked safely away in a draw. Haven’t had any issues getting it inspected since 2018. I cut out the battery apron about 1989 and lost that VIN. Didn’t know any better at the time of the significance.

Good welding and grinding skills can have them moved into the new apron and you would have to X-ray it to know it was done…… goes back to how legal…. The downside to this is if you don’t clean/blast, paint, and detail the rest of the engine compartment, then it will be as easy to spot as Coupedaddy’s Orange ride….. I do like that color.

I see no reason why the new / old aprons can’t be sectioned to allow the VINs to remain. It could be cleaned up well enough to not look like a hack job or draw too much attention.

**Posted by Rudi** 6/20/2024 1:23 PM

I have no vin stamping on me 68. I know I didn’t replace that fender apron and it doesn’t have the witness marks of being done previously. I did replace the rear left apron ,seems the brake fluid rotted it away.
All other aprons are to the best of my inspection seem original.
The vin on the dash and the door tag match.
I wonder if there are more cars out there like that?

**Posted by Rufus68** 6/20/2024 4:31 PM

Rudy, I also have a '68. A couple of weeks ago I was looking up in the passenger wheel well while attaching the battery tray and I spotted a VIN stamped in the inner fender towards the front of the wheel well. This stamping is covered by the fender so it can not be seen from above. Before seeing this, I didn't know I had a hidden stamped VIN.

**Posted by Rudi** 6/21/2024 8:40 AM

I have had the fenders off a couple of times and did not see any stamping , weird.

Last edited by Rudi (6/21/2024 9:21 AM)

**Posted by Rufus68** 6/21/2024 11:14 AM

I've also had both fenders off and didn't notice it from above. The way my flashlight was shining made the VIN stamping stand out from below.

**Posted by BobE** 6/21/2024 5:56 PM

We had a 70 Maverick that we drag raced, while taking off all the undercoating, we found the VIN number stamped near the top of the transmission tunnel. I have no idea if this was 'universal' across the Ford line.