Earlier I thought the Vin numbers were scratched off, turns out it was dirt.
But now when I run the VIN on the now, 89 bronco(Though it was a 92) it turns up as an 86 ford ranger.

The vin plate does not look like its been tampered with. Has this ever happend to anyone else ? The ford website even reports it as an 86 ford ranger.

This is getting kind of wierd. For the price the guy is asking I cant just pass it up.

He has a title for the truck wich I am going to go look at tuesday. If the vin plate is not the original is there any way to make the truck legal ?

Hoping so. LMK, thanks.

 

Danger! Danger!

Meet him with the truck and the paperwork at the DMV & have do the 'splainin'.
Otherwise, pass. It's a deal because it's stolen or otherwise tainted.

 

Don't buy it. "Accident's" like this just do NOT happen. I'd say it's stolen or slavage rebuild and should you buy it there is a good chance that it will soon be seized by the state patrol. You mention that the price is just too good to pass up? Well, there is a reason for this.

Titles can be forged (getting harder but can still be done) and vin's can be swapped. Don't walk, but run from this deal, unless you want to risk loosing your money and the Bronco.

On edit: Have you confronted the current "owner" about your finding and asked for an explaination?

 

pack it up and run, forget about it before it puts you behind bars and report him the the local men.

 

yeah, I've spoken with him. he said it was stolen at one point in time and was recovered. The ignition is still torn out. Its been sititng in an old car lot for a while and I started pestering him about it, he finally caved(After about 9 months) and said I could have it for 600$.

I decided to run the vin and it came back as an 86 ranger. Thats when this all started. He told me up front that it had been stolen at one point in time. He has never tried to hide any of the info from me because it was his ammunition to keep me from pestering him about the truck.

The truck is in such good condition, I had a friend who works for a dealership in town look at it and he said its a hell of a steal.

I dont know though, I want the truck, I like the truck, I'm just wanting to know if it will ever be legal to drive. I hate bad deals.

 

Coke -

Like everyone's said - you need to leave skid marks runnin' away from this "deal"!!!

Steve

 

ok, skidmarks.. will do. damn.... thanks for the help

 

Call your local DMV and ask some questions about it, see what they think. Best bet tho is to run.

 

Hey talk to the local boys in blue. This guy is scamming people. They need to do a sting and shut this guy down. That not fair to us honest people to be screwed over. Report the _________ (fill in the blank)

 

As retired law Enforcement I would suggest passing on this deal. If you are dead set on this vehicle, there are hidden vin numbers. NATB (National Auto Theft Bureau) can usually find the hidden Vin's. But they probably will not do this for an individual. Experienced thieves are very good at changing Vin #s and obtaining titles (usually from junk yards). If you cannot get a title and Vin's that match and correspond to the year of the vehicle it will always be a problem. Bottom line is I personally would not touch this deal or one (or one like it) for any reason.

 

How aboout calling a local police deptment give them the v.i.n.# and see if it matches up and if it does great

be sure to write down the date and who gave you the info

Also you can call the dept of motor vehicals and confirm the V.I.N.

I just went thru this on my lastest truck , someone entered a "O" instead of a number "0" on the title It was showing two owners, but I got it fixed

 

It is against Federal law to put a VIN from one vehicle to another. If you are a salvage yard you are allowed to remove and deface it. Other exemptions apply too. I managed to track this down for you, it is not the most current version or complete, but, you can get the jist of what you are getting into:

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http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/eousa/foia...9/crm01364.htm

Altering or Removing Motor Vehicle Identification Numbers

Section 511(a) of Title 18 makes it a felony knowingly to remove, obliterate, tamper with, or alter an identification number for a road motor vehicle or a road motor vehicle part. Section 511(b) of Title 18 creates exceptions for certain persons who engage in lawful conduct that may result in removal or alteration of an identification number. The legislative history is abundantly clear that subsection (b) is not intended to create a loophole for the operators of "chop shops." See H.R.Rep. No. 1087 on H.R. 6257, 98th Congress, 2d Sess. 23-25 (1984).

Section 511(c) of Title 18 contains the definitions for "identification number," "motor vehicle," "motor vehicle demolisher," and "motor vehicle scrap processor." The term "identification number" means a number or symbol that is inscribed or affixed for purposes of identification under chapter 301 and Part C of subtitle VI of Title 49.

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At the very least I would just walk away and not have further contact with the person. A Ranger # on a Bronco tells you that this Bronco body probably did not belong to him. I am telling you a police detective will pull numbers from that vehicle that most vehicle "modifiers" do not know that are there.

If you want to do an easy one, pull the CPU and check to see if the VIN is on it or if the sticker has been scratched off. I would not do it with my back to the guy.

> If the vin plate is not the original is there any way to make the truck legal ?

Not likely because just being in possesson of the vehicle makes it a felony.

Example from a state web site:

(3) In all prosecutions under this section, possession by a person of a motor vehicle or of a mechanical device with the manufacturer's serial number or the engine or motor number removed, defaced, destroyed or altered or with a part bearing the number or numbers replaced by one on which the proper number does not appear, shall be prima facie evidence of violation of this section.

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> For the price the guy is asking I cant just pass it.

It is no bargain if he has stolen it or used the VIN to rip off his insurance company or something.

 

I'd be calling the property crimes unit of the local police. Give them both the vin on the dash and the vin on the title. It could be an "Alabama" title and the vehicle is made up from parts of MULTIPLE stolen vehicles. Everybody (INCLUDING YOUR GUT) is warning you or you wouldn't be asking. Go talk to a detective and see if he will go with you to look at it, they might like to have a look at this guys shop if there is a problem and they might be able to help you one way or another.

 

He said it had been stolen they might have been in the middle of a vin change when it was recovered. Check the paperwork he has the vin might not even match. Get DMV involved! Even if you do not want it let them know what is going on. the next person may not catch it.