Hidden vin #s

I have a 1970 340 swinger that has the #s matching block in it for sale. A guy is very interested in it but wants it to be a #s matching car. I was never concerned about that and didn't represent it as such, but with him being interested I would like to know if it is the original body. Can any 1 tell me where to find #s to prove or disprove that? Thanks Dave

There will be a VIN sequence number stamping is on the upper drivers side package tray sheet metal (not easy to get to, requires removing the cardboard package tray etc.) and another one on the upper core support to the drivers side of the radiator. The same numbers will also be stamped on the engine and the passenger side of the transmission. The door decal, the fender tag, and broadcast sheet also contain the VIN#.

I'm not an A body expert but I think they are stamped in the top of the radiator support and the between the radio package tray area.

What Scott said - he beat me again

You gotta be quicker than that!

Click here ---->Old Man Fisherman

Yeah, thanks doll face lol. Scott, are they lightly stamped or difficult to find? We pulled the package tray and HE didn't see them. I have also heard they are on the trunk gasket rail, but what I found there is a part # I believe as the 2 rails had the even/odd # on the left and right and did not match any #s on the data plate or build sheet which I have. The thing that leads us to believe it isn't the original body is the color of the paint under the carpet, package tray etc, and an air conditioning firewall, but after 45 yrs who knows what occurred earlier in this cars life. I have owned it since 1996 and though you most likely don't remember istarted a hemi dart clone project which you helped me decifer and sell the warranty block I acquired for it. That was in 2004 or 2005. I have finished the clone and drive it most of the time, which is why the 70 swinger is for sale. I average about 1500 miles a yr on the clone and have put 2000 total on the swinger. Thanks again for any and all help

They changed the location of the VIN number in 1970 from the trunk lip rail to the package tray as show in Scott's picture since they shortened the trunk rail due to the quarter panel end cap.

Yea, the body color and A/C sheet metal tip offs would be a huge red flags, and the lack of a stamping in the package tray would be another nail in it's coffin (the stampings can hide under heavy paint, sometimes tough to read). I'd ask the buyer to hire an expert of his choice to verify the car for himself prior to purchase so there are no troubles down the road.

.02

After reading this post I looked at mine, it's apart. Heavily stamped, 1inch above driver side speaker hole looking toward the back glass.
I have a Duster

VIN isn't there on any Dart 23 series body I've ever seen. The package tray is correct for a Duster, Demon or Dart Sport.

If it has a rear stamping, it should be in the trunk lip area about where the tail stripe would run. Most I've seen have been on the pass side.

Never seen ANY VIN stampings on the passenger side!?!

I think the package tray VIN is only on the 29 body style, as mentioned above, All the 1970 Swinger 340 cars I have owned all had the numbers on the truk rail . But, they were R code Windsor Ontario built , if that matters . In fact, my Yellow swinger 340 had the last 8 digits on both the driver as well as passenger trunk rail .

Greg

Would that throw into question your expert qualifications?

Every single 70 Dart I have/had ALL have the pass side trunk stamping. Since the question is specific to 70's.

Approx. location on the rail? Hate to strip the rail as I don't have much paint left for touch-up

Assuming under the gasket like on a B, yo can usually see it from the back side, generally not able to read it but can tell you where to stripe it.

Sorry, I should have stated that my comments only apply to "29" bodied A-body cars.

Nice...confusion among the experts.

Duster, Demon and Dart Sport...partial VIN on the package tray. AFIK those are the only 70 and up A bodies with the partial VIN there. The rest were on the ps trunk lip.


No shame in admitting your not sure about something.
Remember...its not about never making mistakes, its how you recover from one that sets you apart from the rest.
(Thats Customer Service 101)