Date:         Sun, 15 Jan 2006 03:10:50 EST
Reply-To:     JordanVw@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         JordanVw@AOL.COM
Subject:      Re: here is a stumper....two VIN's on the dash???  anyone ever
              heard         ...
Comments: To: sales@fastforward.ca
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

In a message dated 1/15/06 1:36:35 AM Eastern Standard Time,
mailinglist@FASTFORWARD.CA writes:


> I think there is something totally wrong here.  Canadian Market vehicles
> have the same VIN structure as the US Market vehicle, the dash VIN will not
> have ZZZ in it.
>
> All European T3s (Vanagons) will have a VIN pop riveted in the front section
> of the passenger door opening.
>
> Now, the only thing I can think of is that there might be an "assigned VIN"
> on the vehicle.  Every time I register a European vehicle in BC, ICBC (the
> motor vehicle people) freak out as there is a "check digit error" and we
> have to apply for a new "BC assigned VIN" for the vehicle.  With that done,
> there is a VIN number like AR00071232243 given to the vehicle.  Then in the
> mail a few days later is new insurance / registration papers with the
> European VIN on it and a letter stating that the best VIN to use for the
> vehicle is the one that the manufacture assigned to it.  So, it looks like
> that process may not have happened and a new VIN got assigned to it.
>
> Still looks fishy as I have NEVER seen a door jam sticker stating that said
> vehicle meets all Canadian / US standards on a European vehicle, except for
> one vehicle which was illegally imported to the USA.... there is no way that
> any province would issue something like that!
>
> David Marshall
>
>

ive talked with a few people who replied and i think the general consensus is
that the dash was replaced with a european dash...and the person who did it
stupidly left the euro VIN on there, and just screwed the canadian VIN behind
it..     dont know why someone would do something dumb like that..but who
knows??.. theres alot of wierd stuff people do.   anyway, the drivers doorjamb
sticker matches the screwed on VIN  and that sticker and the orange engine
compartment stickers all say canadian/federal conformation..

i advised my buddy to check the RF frame jackpoint outrigger... the VIN is
stamped on the back of that frame member.  that should end this mystery..

chris