I'm about to buy a SPF, but the VIN is odd

[JPastor]

Hello, I'm finally about to make my dream come true : having my own Cobra 427. I'm in Europe, and I've found a very nice Superformance, with a Ford 460 SVO engine. The car itself is in a "as new" condition, but there is one thing that bothers me : the VIN number doesn't correspond to any ot the 4 usual vin type of superformance (SP... / SPO... etc)

On the chassis, where the normal vin is supposed to be engraved, there is a riveted plate that says :
1965 Ford 2 door Conv
VIN# 5R51W304***

in the doors, the car appear to be #501 (it has the L501 and R501 numbers).

Am I missing something there ? In europe there is a lot of cars with fake papers, and the title does have the same VIN# 5R51W304***, but the fact that it doesn't correspond to a SPF vin really bothers me.

I've been reading a lot a learning a lot on this forum, I wish the forum in my country was as active as this one.

ps : sorry if my english isn't perfect, I'm french (but my wife is from indiana)

[1795]

Welcome aboard,

Because they are not production cars, but rather specially manufactured cars built by the owners, each state will assign a VIN number to the car. As long as the VIN number on the title and the tag match, you should be good. Each state varies in how they assign a VIN number. You could always contact the state that issued the VIN to determine if it is correct.

Good luck.

Jim

[SunDude]

Originally Posted by JPastor

On the chassis, where the normal vin is supposed to be engraved, there is a riveted plate that says :
1965 Ford 2 door Conv
VIN# 5R51W304***

in the doors, the car appear to be #501 (it has the L501 and R501 numbers).

Can you post some photos of the car, so we can help ID it?

The VIN number you cite suggests to me that it's a Factory Five Racing Cobra, not a Superformance. The door stamping seems to indicate Left and Right part numbers (501). I don't see any chassis numbers stamped on my SPF Cobra's doors.

A Superformance MkIII Cobra will have its chassis serial number stamped on the front cross-member, visible just in front of the engine on the left-hand side, like this. This shouldn't be covered up.



Another easy way to distinguish a SPF from an FFR is the angle of the radiator. SPF rads tilt forward and FFR rads tilt backwards.

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by JPastor

Hello, I'm finally about to make my dream come true : having my own Cobra 427. I'm in Europe, and I've found a very nice Superformance, with a Ford 460 SVO engine. The car itself is in a "as new" condition, but there is one thing that bothers me : the VIN number doesn't correspond to any ot the 4 usual vin type of superformance (SP... / SPO... etc)

On the chassis, where the normal vin is supposed to be engraved, there is a riveted plate that says :
1965 Ford 2 door Conv
VIN# 5R51W304***

in the doors, the car appear to be #501 (it has the L501 and R501 numbers).

Am I missing something there ? In europe there is a lot of cars with fake papers, and the title does have the same VIN# 5R51W304***, but the fact that it doesn't correspond to a SPF vin really bothers me.

I've been reading a lot a learning a lot on this forum, I wish the forum in my country was as active as this one.

ps : sorry if my english isn't perfect, I'm french (but my wife is from indiana)

The VIN configuration is not a state issued item, but one either made up by the original owner, or taken off a full size Ford vehicle of a certain age (60’s in this case).

Bill S.

[Mark IV]

The VIN is from a 1965 Ford Custom 500 2dr. built at the San Jose assembly plant.

It was once common to use a VIN off a junked car to allow easy registration and avoid taxes. It also was used to make a "new" car "old" to allow importation without excessive taxation and register as an "vintage" auto.

[ERA174]

If you have a feeling something may be wrong with the vin number, proceed with caution! You need to verify the vin affixed to the vehicle and the official documentation being used to transfer ownership are all in order. If everything is not in order, don’t buy it. Their are many knowledgeable people on this site who can help direct you. Good luck and I hope everything checks out and you will be a new Cobra owner soon.

[JPastor]

Wow, i wasn't expecting so many answers so fast, thank you all for your time.

So, to be more specific, the car is a Superformance, for sure, the problem is more : how was is homologated ?
In my country, iif it wan't done properly, then in case of an accident, the insurance will not cover me.

On the french title, the VIN is the weird one, that seems fabricated, and it doesn't correspond to a VIN that is on the chassis, that the owner also send me (they removed the rivets to look under).

The number that is engraved is correct, but it isn't straight, it really look like my 5 years old did it.

I was wondering if anyone would know of this kind of number, and maybe the DMV of the state it was registered in could provide me a document linking both the "weird state number" and the "superformance chassis number".


It doesn't look like this car will be mine, I guess I'm going to get my deposit back.

[ERA174]

Based on what MarkIV has stated about the vin, I would not buy the Cobra. I don’t know if the vin issue can be legally rectified. When the vin was removed from another vehicle and attached to the Cobra, a crime was committed. If you buy the Cobra and the vin tampering issue is discovered you will have a big headache, ask me how I know. I purchased a vin tampered vehicle and was able to rectify the problem legally thru the appropriate government agencies here in the states, it took a couple of years, with the vehicle sitting out in the elements in a law enforcement impound yard.

[Blas]

If you want to send me a few photos of the factory chassis number stamp directly, I can look thru my records for any info I might have.
My contact info is below. But I feel there is an issue as was mentioned by Mark IV.
Blas

[JPastor]

I sent you an email with all the pictures.

Thanks again to everyone that responded, I really appreciate it.

I hope to get a nice cobra and I'll be active on this forum when I do.

[JPastor]

Well, i finally got my deposit back on the car, and it wasn't the easiest process. In the end, it was a real SPF or course, but it wasn't homologated properly and I didn't want to risk it, especially in case of a real accident.

I'm looking at another SPF right now, everything matches perfectly : US title, french title and chassis numbers.

BUT (of course there is a but...)

the odd thing is that the number, instead of being SP0****, is RPMSP0****

I can't find any infos about this "RPM" in front of the vin, is it odd ?

[Blas]

Let me look into it tonight.
Blas

[Randall Thomas]

RPM = Reed Performance Motorsports. One of Superformance's first dealers in Louisiana.