Potential Purchase VIN issue

[CamBiscuit]

Need some help guys

I'm looking at a 70E project car. The car is a UK delivery Bahia Red on black manual with sunroof with a 3.2 and 915 conversaion. The VIN and options check out from a search with Porsche Australia and I have no reason to believe it has been VIN swapped

It has had the shorthood treatment and the aluminium plate on the new slam panel has been removed. - I understand reproductions can be bought so probably not a big issue to replace once the slam panel is changed back for a long hood.

The issue is that at some point someone appears to have inadvertantly drilled a hole through the VIN as per the photo.Not hard to work out the two missing digits.

My question is would you run in horror from such a car if it was on the market in restored longhood form? I'm trying to decide if the car is worth putting the time and money into a resto if it would be hard to sell once completed.

What say you....?

[LongRanger]

. . . looking at a 70E project car . . . UK delivery Bahia Red on black manual with sunroof . . . VIN and options check out . . . no reason to believe it has been VIN swapped . . .

. . . had the shorthood treatment and the aluminium plate on the new slam panel has been removed. - I understand reproductions can be bought so probably not a big issue to replace once the slam panel is changed back for a long hood . . .

. . . someone appears to have inadvertently drilled a hole through the VIN as per the photo. Not hard to work out the two missing digits . . .

. . . would you run in horror from such a car if it was on the market in restored longhood form? . . .

Yes . . . . . .

[StephenAcworth]

inadvertantly drilled a hole through the VIN

you are kidding, right??? It looks suspiciously 'deliberate' to my eyes...

[CamBiscuit]

Well, it strikes me that nothing is gained by the hole being there.....so why would it be deliberate?

The seller is not trying to pass it off as an RS or anything. The rest of the number sequence stacks up for it being a '70 car.

Not trying to be provacative, just asking questions.

[LongRanger]

. . . Not trying to be provacative, just asking questions . . .

Hey --- you asked . . .

Seeing anything that touches on any numbers? . . . just not worth it --- to me


There are still plenty of cars around that have 'no/zip/zero/nada issues' like this

The very best this car could be? . . . . . is a parts donor --- IMO

[CamBiscuit]

I appreciate your feedback Rick

Any other thoughts guys?

Original right hand drive cars are not super thick on the ground and it would be nice to restore it to its former glory. Would a buyer be less put off if there was something from Porsche confirming VIN from the production number?

[pgxif]

Cam - do the numbers under the dash etc all stack up ?
Getting more involved - any yellow chalk on the top under the dashboard ?

[CamBiscuit]

Not sure John but I am going to check with Porsche Australia

Paul I don't own the car as yet so I can't pull the dash out. I will be looking at the production no. under the lower dash pad though and will see if Porsche Oz will verify but I have no reason to believe the VIN is a cut and shut (but I will get the mirror out.)

Will also check that it hasn't been stolen at some point in its past.

[Frank Beck]

Will also check that it hasn't been stolen at some point in its past.

I have to laugh...
We have no problem buying race cars or rust buckets where the VIN is completely obliterated but this is a problem?
Common sense (I'll use this term in spite of it being an oxymoron in today's culture.) tells us that destroying those two digits serves no malicious purpose. Making a case for "intent to deceive" would fall flat quickly.

Perform your due diligence; if all is clean, buy it. My concern would be just how far back they can check for theft.

[boba]

This is not a black or white situation. The numbers drilled do not alter the ability to ID what it is, but they do raise questions of why. If other numbers check out even less of an issue. This leaves the question of what impact on value when restored? I would think it will have some negative value effect and may disqualify it for some buyers. This in an already small market pond. In my mind this would be a better candidate for a track car or hot rod. There the unanswered questions would be less important.