Seen body numbers stamped in different places and part number stamps in unusual places but this is new to me. Vin stamped behind heater box on firewall, this is new? 70 GS, is this normal and I just never noticed before on other Buick’s? If anyone knows about this fill me in. Thank Gary
Gary, I’m not sure how many different years had it, but there was partial VIN stamped on the firewall of our ‘70 GS which was built in Dec ‘69 at Flint. We’ve seen it stamped in a similar location on a ‘69 COPO Chevelle that was built at the Baltimore plant. My ‘69 GTO was built at the Atlanta plant and had the last digits of the VIN stamped on the firewall below the big opening for the A/C box.
These partial VIN stampings were done to comply with US DOT regulations regarding anti-theft features and to aid law enforcement in investigations regarding theft and parts resale. In short, these regulations require that major parts (assemblies) and multiple parts of the bodies and frames carry at least partial VIN stampings. A full VIN can be used in place of the partial VIN, e.g., engine & transmission. These regulations started in the 1960's and have expanded greatly to include doors, trunks, hoods, etc. If you recall the OKC bombing, the rental truck the bomber used and filled with explosives literally destroyed the entire body of the truck and even parts of the frame. But ..... the rear axle survived and, viola, the partial VIN was there and led Investigators to the VIN of the truck and then the location where it was rented. The US DOT and FBI maintain a database of every DOT compliant vehicle produced and the Manufacturer's location of all the "secret" VIN stamping locations. State law enforcement can access this information from the FBI when examining vehicles for investigations or for VIN integrity inspections.
I haven’t found them on Flint 70’s but have on GMAD built cars. I think all cars had them by 72? Maybe I did not look hard enough?
It seems to depend on the plant the cars were built. I usually see them stamped in the two locations behind the heater box on the firewall but not all of the cars have them. I have never kept an account of which cars have them and which don't but I have torn down many A-body cars through the years and I'd have to guess that about 80% of the cars I've worked on did have the vin stamp.
It’s funny you say that. I have spotted fakes that way. It’s only possible if the VIN is visible when you look at the car.
My 70 GS built in January 70 at Flint has a number in the same spot...Can't read it though, body shop guy put on too much primer and paint. It's just raised letters.
