[Mcronk]

Need help ASAP. Look at picture of VIN plate and let me know if you think it has been swapped from another car. Looking to purchase this convertible. Car has PHS and a copy of current title and they have matching VINs. Just trying to make sure Vin tag has not been swapped. It is a Baltimore built car. I can barely make out the VIN number on the tag only because I know what title says.

Thanks.

[Mcronk]

Looking to buy this convertible. PHS VIN matches title VIN but can barely make out VIN numbers on tag. I want to make sure the tag was not swapped from another car. Thanks

[Joe's Garage]

24267 8 is clearer than the rest.

Then it looks like B and maybe 109199

But that just means the tag was originally on a 1968 GTO convertible, not necessarily THIS 1968 GTO convertible.

Anything could have happened in 52 years.

Good luck!

[Mcronk]

This helps at least verify the car is represented as born. Picture of data plate verifies body style, color, convertible top color, interior color and the plate appears original to the car. Still wish VIN tag was "cleaner".

[Entropy11]

I’d say it’s fine. Just looks like somebody painted over it several times, same as the fender tag.

Hers a similar shot of mine if it helps to compare

[Verdoro 68]

Hard to say for sure without seeing the rivets. Seems odd they’d cake the paint on in this area, but I’ve seen other restored cars that look like this. Does the rest of the car give you any suspicions that the VIN might have been swapped? What about verifying the vin on the frame or the engine?

[Mcronk]

Thanks for the replies. Car matches PHS and billing history card perfectly. It is 875 miles away and I hope to speak to the actual owner today. It is not a extremely rare high dollar car so likelihood of someone swapping VIN tag for profit is unlikely. Also I can tell they laid paint on very thick in areas they worked on.

[Mcronk]

Originally Posted by Joe's Garage

24267 8 is clearer than the rest.

Then it looks like B and maybe 109199

But that just means the tag was originally on a 1968 GTO convertible, not necessarily THIS 1968 GTO convertible.

Anything could have happened in 52 years.

Good luck!

You did very good on that VIN number! You were only off by the last digit. It is an 8 not a 9. Your eyes are better than mine.

All options on PHS match the car. Data plate appears as original and trim codes match the car as well as what PHS says trim codes should be. Unusual options are all present and help verify VIN is correct for this car. Who would order HO engine then order HD dual stage air cleaner which would replace the free flowing HO air cleaner? The dash was repainted which may account for paint thickness. I was concerned with what appeared to be sealant or glue around edges of dash opening on VIN tag. However the fact the data plate appears original and matches PHS helps me believe the VIN tag is original to the car.

[dataway]

I wasn't aware there was a difference between the air cleaner on an HO engine and the standard GTO 4bbl air cleaner. The dual stage air cleaner consisted of a thin foam wrap around the air filter element ... I don't think there was any difference in the air cleaner housing.
Far as I know, other than RA engines, the GTO air cleaner housings were all the same in 68. The dual snorkels started in 69. 68 should have a single short snorkel with a pronounced oval opening.

[OG68]

IIRC the two barrel engines had a smaller diameter snorkel but the HO and Std engines did share the same air cleaner.

[Mcronk]

Originally Posted by OG68

IIRC the two barrel engines had a smaller diameter snorkel but the HO and Std engines did share the same air cleaner.

My bad. I have a 67 GTO HO car that has the open element air cleaner and the 69 GTO'S I had were the dual snorkel air cleaners. My 68 Tempest Custom has a single snorkel air cleaner but is a 2bbl.. I assumed the 68 had the same HO air cleaner as 67. Thanks for setting me straight.

It also helps confirm VIN tag as car has all and only the options the VIN supports with the PHS. Since it is not a rare RA car and the chances of someone going to the trouble to make the car match perfectly seems unlikely I believe the VIN tag is original to the car. Also title says actual mileage was 30,000 in 2012 and current mileage is 38,700. So if someone was going to commit crimes of swapping VIN and tampering with mileage for pretty much a "plain GTO convertible" it seems like a huge risk for little to no reward.

[PurelyGTO68]

Originally Posted by dataway

I wasn't aware there was a difference between the air cleaner on an HO engine and the standard GTO 4bbl air cleaner. The dual stage air cleaner consisted of a thin foam wrap around the air filter element ... I don't think there was any difference in the air cleaner housing.
Far as I know, other than RA engines, the GTO air cleaner housings were all the same in 68. The dual snorkels started in 69. 68 should have a single short snorkel with a pronounced oval opening.

I believe all 1968 GTO 4bbl engines had the same air cleaner housing....even the RA cars. The RA open pan, hood baffle, foam and open scoops shipped separately and had to be installed at the destination.

[Greg Reid]

So....where are the rosette rivets?
Funny, I can see them on my car but apparently, since on one else asked, you can't see them on any of yours?

[Mcronk]

Originally Posted by Greg Reid

So....where are the rosette rivets?
Funny, I can see them on my car but apparently, since on one else asked, you can't see them on any of yours?

I thought the same thing at first. Then I did a search for images of 68 GTO VIN tags and none of them had rivets I could see. Some were from very original cars. Not sure why but maybe it was an assembly plant thing?

What does appear original to car and correct rivets is the trim plate on the cowl. It coincides with the PHS information that is tied to the VIN number. So if you were going to,switch VIN tag you would also have to switch trim plate so everything matched. Then install all the correct options on the PHS exactly as the factory did. Also car is low mileage. Title states actual mileage in 2012 as 37,000. Current mileage is 38,277. VIN tag is hard to read and ugly but other things match up very well to the VIN number on the tag. If this were a RA convertible I would be very careful but it is pretty much a regular 68 convertible. Not a high dollar car.

[Gastiresandoil]

Originally Posted by PurelyGTO68

I believe all 1968 GTO 4bbl engines had the same air cleaner housing....even the RA cars. The RA open pan, hood baffle, foam and open scoops shipped separately and had to be installed at the destination.

I don't know if they are all the same excluding the RA air cleaner. I think there is a difference as some air cleaner housings have a baffle between the snorkel inlet and the air cleaner element and others do not. Not sure if this is why the screen printed label on the air cleaners have a PP and other have a PB as well.

[John Milner]

Isn’t the rosette portion of the rivet visible from the bottom on a 68?

[dataway]

The rivets are to the rear of the vin tag opening .... I think most are covered up by the padded dash, some are not, some are half covered. My guess is the most in-exact part of the bunch would be the padded dash so that's probably where the differences come from.

[John Milner]

I was thinking that the rivet was installed from the bottom of the dash frame, with the bottom of the rivet visible from the top of the dash frame. The rosette portion is visible looking up from the bottom of the dash in my car. I do think that the padded part of the dash covers the rivets up.

[gto66yellow]

I have seen them both ways . Probably what was easiest for the person doing it.

[67428HO]

Mine are visible looking up at the bottom as well.