If the story is true, the “VIN” would be for the wrecked 71 Cougar, not the body in white. BIW cars never got a VIN assigned. So, the Marti Report would only be for the “donor” car.
The vin stamps on the shock towers will tell all…
On a 71-73 car it’s easy to change the dash vin tag since it’s just part of the dash pad/not riveted to the body.
I assume a true body in white may not be stamped. You need to remove the front fenders to access the vin, although sometimes you can read it from underneath.
Also a real 429 body shell will be set up for staggered shocks. I am currently restoring a 71 429CJ xr7.
Jim
Yes, that will definitely be one of the “clues” I was going to look for. If the story is true, it will be factory spot welded shock towers without a factory VIN stamp. The Marti-report shows this car (that VIN) was originally ordered with the GT competition suspension which I think would have come with staggered shocks. So, if it was not body swapped, I think it still should have the staggered shocks.
Awesome story, hope it works out for you and it’s confirmable. Cool stuff if all true.
Bodies in white do have VIN stamps but they are not like the original VIN stamp. Body in white VIN’s are just a number. No information will be on the Marti Report for options so you may have a real problem.
If the unit body is really from a Body in White then the VIN won’t match the title. That would make ownership illegal or at least very questionable for purposes of operating or licensing. I would want to nail down that question before investing any time or money.
Nah. It has been titled and registered since new. Many Mustangs no longer have their original aprons or apron VIN stamps. I’m not worried about it at all. Also, it is my understanding that BIW cars come without VIN’s, titles or COM’s.
Your understanding is false. The body in white cars came with a Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin (MSO) and have VIN’s clearly stamped in several places. Bud Moore first was provided Bodies in White for the 1969 Trans Am series. He also received BIW’s in the 1970 Mustang body style. I suspect that he never received any 1971 Cougar Bodies in White - Ford had cancelled all racing activities after the 1970 season so there would be no reason.
Here’s one of the 1970 Bud Moore Engineering Bodies in white for example - the VIN stamped several places on the unit body is BME 4-1971
LOL… I would hardly call “BME4-1971” a “VIN”. It just signified the project number. Even by 1970-71, VINs in America were a standardized 11 digit format. Furthermore, that was a Karkraft modified car body and that number was most likely added by them. The KarKraft cars were highly modified bodies, not the standard body shell that rolled off the end of the body assembly line. Additionally, IF these BIW cars were ever issued a MSO, federal law would have required them to have a federally approved VIN stated ON the MSO.any
You are correct regarding him “never receiving” Cougar bodies, as all three bodies the seller described seeing were still on the rack behind the dealership and never delivered to Bud Moore.
Bud Moore’s 1970 Trans Am Mustang VIN’s were carefully recorded by a German website that apparently doesn’t exist any more. At least not in the 30 seconds I was willing to devote to looking.
Apparently you are capable of saying anything to suit your story. I am not going to participate further.
Don’t pick up your marbles and go home just because you are wrong. BIW did not come with VIN’s back in the 70’s, period. Do you have a copy of any of these BIW MSO’s you claim exist?
This same car is on Ebay right now. It is at $21,000 with a day to go.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/165546032584?_trksid=p2471758.m4704