I recently purchased a 1967 Camaro, or what I thought to be a 1967 Camaro that is. The title said 1967 Chevrolet and the VIN number on the title matched the vin on the dash. What I didn't know was that in 67, there was no VIN on the dash. Well, it being my first camaro, I wanted to do it right, so I took the vin and tried to decypher what it's package was only to find out that the VIN on the car was from a 62 Impala Sports Coupe. Thinking I bought a stolen car, I called the DMV where they told me the car was a salvage and that the VIN on the car and the title matched their records, so I shouldn't worry about it. Upon researching further, I found that there were several other places to check for full or partial vins. Since the car was not with origional drive train, it limited my options. There was no vin plate on the door pilar on the driver's side. The trim plate on the firewall was missing. So, I pulled the cowl off and found 8L314435, the 8 being crooked, about half way higher then the rest of the characters. Through further research, I found from that 8, it had to be a 68, and then was told to look for rear shock mounts and side markers, which were there. Not knowing the origional drive train I was left to surmise that the full vin was 12?378L314435, the ?=either 3 or 4 depending on the engine size. I then called the state police and the DMV and was told that neither VIN was ever registered in California. The state police kicked it off to the FBI and their vehicle identification unit came back that the car had never been registered anywhere. At the present time, chevrolet is researching it, but while I'm waiting, can you offer any suggestions? I have looked for a build sheet under the carpet, under and behind the back seat, and on top of the gas tank. The only place I have not lookd for a VIN is on the sub frame, which Chevy told me only the state police could check for me. While I'm waiting to hear from Chevrolet, can anyone tell me anything or make any suggestions? Thanks!
Title Says 67, But Everyone Says 68
rjschott
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I recently purchased a 1967 Camaro, or what I thought to be a 1967 Camaro that is. The title said 1967 Chevrolet and the VIN number on the title matched the vin on the dash. What I didn't know was that in 67, there was no VIN on the dash. Well, it being my first camaro, I wanted to do it right, so I took the vin and tried to decypher what it's package was only to find out that the VIN on the car was from a 62 Impala Sports Coupe. Thinking I bought a stolen car, I called the DMV where they told me the car was a salvage and that the VIN on the car and the title matched their records, so I shouldn't worry about it. Upon researching further, I found that there were several other places to check for full or partial vins. Since the car was not with origional drive train, it limited my options. There was no vin plate on the door pilar on the driver's side. The trim plate on the firewall was missing. So, I pulled the cowl off and found 8L314435, the 8 being crooked, about half way higher then the rest of the characters. Through further research, I found from that 8, it had to be a 68, and then was told to look for rear shock mounts and side markers, which were there. Not knowing the origional drive train I was left to surmise that the full vin was 12?378L314435, the ?=either 3 or 4 depending on the engine size. I then called the state police and the DMV and was told that neither VIN was ever registered in California. The state police kicked it off to the FBI and their vehicle identification unit came back that the car had never been registered anywhere. At the present time, chevrolet is researching it, but while I'm waiting, can you offer any suggestions? I have looked for a build sheet under the carpet, under and behind the back seat, and on top of the gas tank. The only place I have not lookd for a VIN is on the sub frame, which Chevy told me only the state police could check for me. While I'm waiting to hear from Chevrolet, can anyone tell me anything or make any suggestions? Thanks!
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1,700 Posts
I don't think you'll find a VIN on the subframe.....but from the partial...it is definately a '68 model.
Does it have the vent windows on the doors?
Where is the VIN tag....doorjamb or dash?
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Steve McCorry - Central Ohio Camaro Club
'69 Camaro RS/SS-350 - Daytona Yellow
'95 Camaro Z-28 - Sebring Silver
click here to see my webpage ---> www.mindspring.com/~mccorry (updated 2/3/01)
Does it have the vent windows on the doors?
Where is the VIN tag....doorjamb or dash?
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Steve McCorry - Central Ohio Camaro Club
'69 Camaro RS/SS-350 - Daytona Yellow
'95 Camaro Z-28 - Sebring Silver
click here to see my webpage ---> www.mindspring.com/~mccorry (updated 2/3/01)
This is the first camaro I've ever purchased. I'm usually a Classic Cadillac kinda guy. By vent windows, do you mean the quarter windows rear of the door, then yes, it does have vent windows. The Impalla vin was on the impalla dash that someone put in the car, the partial vin I found was stamped into the sheet metal under the cowl.
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27,011 Posts
What Steve is asking about is what some refer to as "wing-windows". They are on the front of the door if it's a '67. If it's a '68 the door will only have 1 piece of glass in it.
Any chance you have some digital pictures, I would love to see what a Camaro looks like with an Impala dash in it!
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...Dennis
The Cars:
'69 RS Convertible w/SS trim
'96 Z28SS #1679 of 2410
The Club:
Camaros Limited Nor-Cal
Any chance you have some digital pictures, I would love to see what a Camaro looks like with an Impala dash in it!
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...Dennis
The Cars:
'69 RS Convertible w/SS trim
'96 Z28SS #1679 of 2410
The Club:
Camaros Limited Nor-Cal
Oh, no, the door only has one piece of glass in it, but there's some quarter windows infront of the sails that are not part of the door. They're roll ups though. No, as of yet I don't have any pictures of her, but hopefully, I'll bring a digital camera home from work to snap a few off before the weekend's over.
Isnt that what DMV stands for, 'Document My Vehicle'. But anyways, In a case like this, I think that the heater box cover needs to come off cause I would want my money back. Also look at the door jamb it self, does it have the plastic vents in it?
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67 Camaro SS Conv.
70 Challenger R/T Conv.
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67 Camaro SS Conv.
70 Challenger R/T Conv.
Yup, the door jamb has plasit vents on the aft side of the jamb. Aft means back, right? Sorry, I was Army... heheh... anyhow, the heater box bit was done and the partial matches the partial found under the cowl on the passenger side. What I'm hoping to find out from Chevy is that since the FBI System Check came back that this vehicle's never been registered under the two possible VINs listed in the first post, that chevy owned it as a test or r&d vehicle. Either that or it was a production scrap straight off the line. Speaking to several folks that worked in GM plants at that time and to a gentleman that was in some sort of trade school, GM often donated line scraps to schools but they were handed over with the stipulation that they would be destroyed after they had served their purpose. Any other thoughts?
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3,176 Posts
Never been registered you should bring it out to Hawaii then and register it then for some reason Hawaii in all it's glory registers new cars in the year they were registered. Hence if you have a 1999 Cmaro they reg it as a 2000, got to love it here your 68 would be a one of a kind 2001
? for you are there plates on the car or were any assigned with the title/registration and if so what car do they belong to
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Jeff 68 RS
? for you are there plates on the car or were any assigned with the title/registration and if so what car do they belong to
--
Jeff 68 RS
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820 Posts
here is the door of my 67, if yours looks like this its a 67 door, if no then its a 68 door, but since the Vin is on the dash near the windshield its a 68... and you MOST likely have side marker lights on the fenders...
but heres the 67 door
![Image]()
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Chris's 67 RS can be seen at http://www.67rs.com
JOIN THE CAMARO NET WEBRING!
http://nav.webring.yahoo.com/hub?ring=camaronet&list
but heres the 67 door
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Chris's 67 RS can be seen at http://www.67rs.com
JOIN THE CAMARO NET WEBRING!
http://nav.webring.yahoo.com/hub?ring=camaronet&list
This is getting to be too funny. Chevrolet confirmed my detective work in that the VIN on the dash belongs to a Impala Sports Coupe. The doors, are from a 68, I know that for sure. I have a hard time using body pannels to decypher what year it is, because they can be mixed and matched. What I'm going by are the partial vins under the cowl and behind the heater box. They both start with a 8L so I know it has to be a 68, run off the line in Los Angeles in 67, no? heheheh... that's wierd... I always like Hawaii... wonder what it'll do for the value.... heheh
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27,011 Posts
Maybe it's an "Impalaro"!!
![Image]()
LOL!!!
![Image]()
You haven't mentioned a cowl tag, (or did I miss it) is there one? what info is on it? If the car was bought and went straight to the track it may have never been registered until it was put back together with the Impala dash for street use!!
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...Dennis
The Cars:
'69 RS Convertible w/SS trim
'96 Z28SS #1679 of 2410
The Club:
Camaros Limited Nor-Cal
[This message has been edited by DjD (edited 02-09-2001).]
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...Dennis
The Cars:
'69 RS Convertible w/SS trim
'96 Z28SS #1679 of 2410
The Club:
Camaros Limited Nor-Cal
[This message has been edited by DjD (edited 02-09-2001).]
Ok, now I'm confused again, what people refer to as the cowl tag, I see as being the trim tag attached to the firewall behind the master cylinder, no? Anyhow, that trim tag was for the Impala. Serials matched the vin on the dash. But the number I came up with when I lifted the cowl off is listed in my first message.
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27,011 Posts
I re-read your inital post. So there is no cowl or trim tag?... Now you're saying it's there but for an Impala?? Can you post the Impala numbers? Both what is on the dash and what is on the fire wall...
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...Dennis
The Cars:
'69 RS Convertible w/SS trim
'96 Z28SS #1679 of 2410
The Club:
Camaros Limited Nor-Cal
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...Dennis
The Cars:
'69 RS Convertible w/SS trim
'96 Z28SS #1679 of 2410
The Club:
Camaros Limited Nor-Cal
Ok, here we go...
On the title and on the dash I have:
164878l126786
Now chevy says it's an Impala Sports Coupe
The California DMV says it's a 67 Camaro
On the trim tag, which fell off I have:
BODY BY FISHER
128
ST 68 16487 LOS 05734 BODY
TR 812 K-2 PAINT
Now since the first few characters match the title, I'm assuming that it's for the Impala, right?
Under the Cowl and Under the Heater Box I have:
8L314435
This is why I am left thinking it has to be a 1968 Camaro with the the vin of
12?378L314435 the ?= 3or4 depending on the drivetrain.
On the title and on the dash I have:
164878l126786
Now chevy says it's an Impala Sports Coupe
The California DMV says it's a 67 Camaro
On the trim tag, which fell off I have:
BODY BY FISHER
128
ST 68 16487 LOS 05734 BODY
TR 812 K-2 PAINT
Now since the first few characters match the title, I'm assuming that it's for the Impala, right?
Under the Cowl and Under the Heater Box I have:
8L314435
This is why I am left thinking it has to be a 1968 Camaro with the the vin of
12?378L314435 the ?= 3or4 depending on the drivetrain.
Joined
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27,011 Posts
Let us know what you find...
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...Dennis
The Cars:
'69 RS Convertible w/SS trim
'96 Z28SS #1679 of 2410
The Club:
Camaros Limited Nor-Cal
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...Dennis
The Cars:
'69 RS Convertible w/SS trim
'96 Z28SS #1679 of 2410
The Club:
Camaros Limited Nor-Cal
I guess from what steve said, the car was stolen in 1981... the police are checking to see if it was ever recovered. Waaaaaaaa! So if I get to keep it, is there any way of telling what the car was... a 68 What? What package. RS/SS/Z? What??
Well, the LA County Taskforce for Regional Autotheft Prevention just hooked up and towed my camaro away. Seems the car was stolen in June of 81 and was never recovered. Keep your fingers crossed though, I could get it back in a week or so if they hit a dead end. THANKS FOR THE HELP EVERYONE!
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3,176 Posts
just a thought if you havent given the papers that you have on the car to the police make copies of everything you have on it. also make sure you get some sort of receipt that shows the they took the car from you. YOU will need it when the day comes to try and claim it back. Not to wish the last registered owner bad news, i hope he was paid for the car by his insurance company that way you will only have to deal with them. Find out who they were send them a letter stating what happened and that you would like to quick claim it which at the same time would save them storage/towing fees.
got a feeling they would go for that.
![Image]()
got a feeling they would go for that.
Thanks for the suggestion... I'm 10 steps ahead of ya! I'd like to thank everyone again for all of the interest in helping me out. I not only am not an old friend around here, but I know absolutly nothing about camaros too. You guys really say alot for the caliber of Camaro owners. Very Impressive. My hat's off to you guy's!
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