Hi kids,
I bought a Calif. "black" plate car and brought it back here to my beloved
Colorado to dream about during the winter . . . . .
So, me and my dumb @$$ gets to the DMV (surpringly with all the correct
papers) thinking I could get a plate and be on my merry way.
When you quit laughing, I'll tell you . . . . the rest of the story.
Well, Billy Bob was out that day, sighting in his gun for elk season. Billy
Bob being the only male in the office (read between the lines as you will, I
won't say it.) and the designated "figure out the out of state plate mess
and verify your VIN #" person. So, the unlucky but charmingly plump "office
mgr" says she will verify my VIN for me.
"Well, what kind of car is it?"
"I never heard of one of them."
"What year did you say it was?"
"Its a cute little thing . . . imagine all that motor in that tiny litte car
. . "
Being the brave soul that I am, and veteran of many Colorado winters (I have
seen mastodons!) I was as nice and charming to this extra soft creature as I
could be.
The Calif. title said Ihad a 1966 Rootes . . . VIN # XXXB and the rest but
not LXFRE at the end. So, the make is wrong, the VIN # is gawd knows what
and my darling public servant doesn't know what's going on, THEN sees the
Lister VIN tag . . . . .
Slowly, and in the best Book of NOrman-ese I explain the whole history,
starting w/ Ol Shel's being raised on a chicken farm in Texas . . LeMans . .
. Henry Ford . . . Lord Sunbeam . . . Rootes . . . Lister plant . . . Is
that your little girl? . . . Point to where it actually says on the car
"Sunbeam" and "Tiger" . . .Are we gonna have a hard winter? . . .Explain how
I only paid 900$ cause its such an old car . . . You look good in green . .
. Dragging the beast back across the desert w/ the motor in the back of my
pickumup truck . . .and ask her if she gets very good benefits, being a
public servent and all.
Back into the office, Public Servent Ms. Plump is off to the store room to
recover a box of very dusty kelley blue books. (and I'm pooping bricks,
sorry.)
My friend actually finds a 1966 Kelley Blue Book (and besides the little
side trip cause she can't spell "Sunbeam- funny, no "o")
She finally says, "Well, Billy Bob's (gonna get hate mail, I'm thinking -
gun or no.) not here today . . . Its says in the book they actually made
these cars (as if seeing the red beast didn't prove that) and you explained
it to me . . . . (call the ER - I'm having a major STROKE!) . . . . . I'll
just go ahead and change the VIN so it matches the car and while I'm at it
make it a "Sunbeam Tiger" and by the way, we only charge $50 use tax on
these old cars. Is that ok?
Let me tell you, when I see that chubbly litte seraphim at the Farmer's
Market or the Coop I get on my knees and bow down chanting "I'm not worthy,
I'm not worthy" in praise, thanks and admiration.
(My friend had to take the body off of his 36 Ford to find a vin tag . . . .
.truck and trailer . . . "Yes suh, Mr. Billy Bob suh.")
For gosh sake, get it right. It could be, well, exciting if you don't.
I wonder if Billy Bob got his elk . . . .
> Erich
>
> You do not describe what your registration says your VIN is vs what is
> on the cowl plate. For instance, my actual factory VIN, on the cowl is
> B9472289. The registration papers said 66B9472289. There is an obvious
> discrepancy. It is partially explained by the fact that in
> 1966 US cars
> had the year code, or numbers, as part of the factory VIN, but the
> imports did not.
>
> Some wise ass decided to correct that "error" by issuing a
> registration
> that does NOT coincide with the actual VIN. When I went to transfer
> title I spoke to the inspecting officer and pointed out the
> discrepancy.
> I also had The Book of Norman with me, showing my car was
> built in Feb.
> 1965, so was obviously not a '66 model, as the registration
> also stated.
>
> At that time this was important, as the cut-off on smog inspection was
> pre-'66, and the only smog equipment on the car was a PCV valve.
>
> The officer was a large woman, who carefully looked at the VIN plate,
> and noted it's originality, looked at TBN, and made the change on the
> new registration papers to the plate VIN and the '65 year model.
>
> The line inside the DMV was ridiculous, so I went to the Auto
> Club. They
> took me in about 15 minutes and then I was hassled about the
> numbers. I
> showed them the sworn officer's signed papers, as well as
> TBN, and they
> had to think about it at a higher management level. I pointed out the
> length of my membership, and the DMV concurrence and they went along.
> Should have waited at the DMV where they don't question their own
> officers. Then, again, everything I had done was legal, above board,
> supportable, and correct.
>
>
> But, if the number differences are actually different, you
> have a larger
> problem than whether you are forced to get an assigned VIN. They may
> question whether the car you own is actually the car whose papers you
> hold. That proof of ownership to the wrong car can get you in
> a world of
> hurt. They may have another owner listed for that number, or have it
> recorded as scrapped, or G-d knows what else.
>
> Hate to bring you that news, but better you do some homework with the
> seller, or you may not have even bought the car you are driving,
> according to the State, and he may have committed some non
> legal acts in
> selling you title to a car he did not deliver.
>
> Check it out before you walk into the DMV, even if you have to pay a
> fine for late registration. I think you have 10 days, and you are
> probably way beyond that anyway. This is very serious.
>
> Steve
> --
> Steve Laifman < Find out what is most >
> B9472289 < important in your life >
> < and don't let it get away!>
> <SLaifman@SoCal.RR.com>
> <http://www.TigersUnited.com/gallery/SteveLaifman.asp>
>
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