Generation Specific => Second Generation 1970-1981 => Topic started by: CH75TA on October 29, 2023, 05:00:27 PM

Title: 2nd gen vin verification
Post by: CH75TA on October 29, 2023, 05:00:27 PM
I got a 78 Martinique blue 78 T/A and after I got it home I realized the vin was swapped from a 78 Formula. Is there a list somewhere of consecutive vins? I found the partial behind the heater box and need to research what I've found to seeing I can get
A title and new replacement vin. I was told the car was not stolen, does anyone have any idea's? Thanks for any help, it appears to be a 400 4-speed car.
Title: Re: 2nd gen vin verification
Post by: Wallington on October 29, 2023, 08:06:54 PM
Does the VIN in the windscreen not match the firewall partial, last 6 digits?

Does the cowl build plate match the VIN in minor details? Does it say it's a TA or a Formula, or something else?

Don't confuse the build plate on the wiper cowl that says it's a Firebird, they all say that. Does the windscreen VIN start with 2W87 or 2U87 or something else? Cowl build plate has options of WS4 or W66 or similar?
Title: Re: 2nd gen vin verification
Post by: aussieta on October 30, 2023, 02:28:50 AM
when i went to buy my TA
i looked at quite a few formulas that had TA decals
some owners would not believe me when i tried to tell them that their car was in fact a formula
so please post a bit more info on what you have happening
Title: Re: 2nd gen vin verification
Post by: Wallington on October 30, 2023, 05:36:12 AM
On the other side of the coin, mine was registered as a Trans Am because it's the only model they recognised.
Title: Re: 2nd gen vin verification
Post by: roadking77 on October 30, 2023, 06:18:17 AM
Yes, need some clarification. IF the vin has been swapped it sounds like a can of worms to me. May not be as easy to get things straightened out as you might think!!
Title: Re: 2nd gen vin verification
Post by: CH75TA on October 30, 2023, 08:00:04 PM
It's a real 78 Trans Am with a Trans Am data tag and formula Vin. Based on what the car has and the number on the firewall near the blower motor I come up with the correct Vin and found out it's not stolen. Now to decide to register it with the formula title or Get rid of it. It sucks to lose a Martinique blue car like this.
Title: Re: 2nd gen vin verification
Post by: Wallington on October 31, 2023, 03:35:55 AM
Parts car. Perhaps it's already been a cut and shut job.
Title: Re: 2nd gen vin verification
Post by: roadking77 on October 31, 2023, 06:11:45 AM
Does the vin match the number stamped in the firewall? IF the vin identifies as a Formula then that is what it is. Sounds like something hinky going on and stolen or not if the numbers dont match something is def. wrong. If the vin tag has been swapped I am pretty sure that is illegal in most states, so if it were me I would not want to put any money into something like that. Perhaps that is the reason the seller got rid of the car. Perhaps if all things are proper you may be able to get a 'state assigned' vin?
Title: Re: 2nd gen vin verification
Post by: aussieta on October 31, 2023, 05:59:30 PM
van nuys cars had nothing on the data tag to prove TA
please list some photos or write up of what you have
leave out last 6 digits of vin number
list vin number and all numbers off of cowl tag
Title: Re: 2nd gen vin verification
Post by: aussieta on October 31, 2023, 06:01:45 PM
if you order phs for the vin you have
you should be able to match up other numbers
did you find the chalk body number behind the hvac box
Title: Re: 2nd gen vin verification
Post by: Wallington on November 07, 2023, 04:13:25 PM
You're welcome.
Title: Re: 2nd gen vin verification
Post by: Maxthe222 on November 13, 2023, 10:39:47 PM
It's a real 78 Trans Am with a Trans Am data tag and formula Vin. Based on what the car has and the number on the firewall near the blower motor I come up with the correct Vin and found out it's not stolen. Now to decide to register it with the formula title or Get rid of it. It sucks to lose a Martinique blue car like this.

No it's not. The only defining factory of a "real" Trans Am is the VIN. That is all that separates a Trans Am from a 6cyl Firebird. Otherwise, it's just a Trans Am copy made from a lower end model. If the VIN number on the dash does not match the VIN on the firewall near the blower, it has been "re-bodied", that is a number job. Someone has replaced the VIN in the dash. If the VIN does match on the firewall and the dash VIN, then it's a Formula.
Title: Re: 2nd gen vin verification
Post by: b_hill_86 on November 13, 2023, 10:57:46 PM
It's a real 78 Trans Am with a Trans Am data tag and formula Vin. Based on what the car has and the number on the firewall near the blower motor I come up with the correct Vin and found out it's not stolen. Now to decide to register it with the formula title or Get rid of it. It sucks to lose a Martinique blue car like this. :grin:
:grin: :grin: :grin: :lol: :grin:

No it's not. The only defining factory of a "real" Trans Am is the VIN. That is all that separates a Trans Am from a 6cyl Firebird. Otherwise, it's just a Trans Am copy made from a lower end model. If the VIN number on the dash does not match the VIN on the firewall near the blower, it has been "re-bodied", that is a number job. Someone has replaced the VIN in the dash. If the VIN does match on the firewall and the dash VIN, then it's a Formula.


You know you show up here only slightly more often than the guys that post and disappear  :D

(Just giving you crap man lol)
Title: Re: 2nd gen vin verification
Post by: Wallington on November 14, 2023, 08:25:39 AM
Or it's the genuine Trans Formula prototype that was never meant to get out of the back design room.
Title: Re: 2nd gen vin verification
Post by: Wallington on November 16, 2023, 12:25:07 AM
Well, at least we cleared that up. Back to the Lobby.
Title: Re: 2nd gen vin verification
Post by: FormTA on November 16, 2023, 09:28:50 PM
😁
Title: Re: 2nd gen vin verification
Post by: nas t eh on November 17, 2023, 09:06:21 PM
Or it's the genuine Trans Formula prototype that was never meant to get out of the back design room.

It’s very progressive
Title: Re: 2nd gen vin verification
Post by: Maxthe222 on November 19, 2023, 03:33:38 AM
It's a real 78 Trans Am with a Trans Am data tag and formula Vin. Based on what the car has and the number on the firewall near the blower motor I come up with the correct Vin and found out it's not stolen. Now to decide to register it with the formula title or Get rid of it. It sucks to lose a Martinique blue car like this. :grin:
:grin: :grin: :grin: :lol: :grin:

No it's not. The only defining factory of a "real" Trans Am is the VIN. That is all that separates a Trans Am from a 6cyl Firebird. Otherwise, it's just a Trans Am copy made from a lower end model. If the VIN number on the dash does not match the VIN on the firewall near the blower, it has been "re-bodied", that is a number job. Someone has replaced the VIN in the dash. If the VIN does match on the firewall and the dash VIN, then it's a Formula.


You know you show up here only slightly more often than the guys that post and disappear  :D

Eh, the website barely works for me nowadays, sometimes it lets me log in, sometimes it blocks it due to failed netcert

(Just giving you crap man lol)
Title: Re: 2nd gen vin verification
Post by: Wallington on January 02, 2024, 08:22:47 PM
He never even returned to see the majority of posts after his second visit. I was intrigued, but it wasn't going to end well. He probably just sold it to some new sucker with a spiel about being rare and forgetting to mention nothing matches. I guess it all comes down to what your car identifies as being now.
Title: Re: 2nd gen vin verification
Post by: roadking77 on January 29, 2024, 07:04:18 AM
 :lol: :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: 2nd gen vin verification
Post by: FormTA on January 30, 2024, 04:55:09 AM
Ya, I think my car identifies as a Transvestite...