1964 SS - STRANGE VIN/COWL?! HELP please!

2092 Views 22 Replies 11 Participants Last post by Kels 64, 1 mo ago

acgee831

Discussion Starter · 6 mo ago

3

Hey everyone, I’m in the middle of purchasing on what it appears to me a 1964 SS impala. I’m not so new to these cars so I am able to distinguish lots of different details on these impalas but after checking out the vin tag & cowl tag. Something is not matching up.

The car is clearly an impala, but the vin tag shows it as a Biscayne. Owner seems clueless as to why this is but I want to see if by any chance I can get some help/opinions on this one. Please reference to attached photos.

VIN TAG = 41111 L 150511
COWL TAG = 64-1447 AT 011372

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65_&_67_Impala

· #2 · 6 mo ago

is the current owner the original owner? if not, he was probably sold a fake too when he bought it

acgee831

Discussion Starter · #3 · 6 mo ago

I don’t think so. He told me his son gifted him the car about 4 years ago

62BillT

· #4 · 6 mo ago (Edited)

Could be a case of no title. Through the years, especially years ago, it was too easy just to take a VIN tag from a junk car with a title than to try to somehow get the original title to the car.

I can't see the Rivets on the Cowl Tag, but sure enough, the Rivets on the VIN tag do not look original to me. Actually in '64, it may be that all of them were tack welded on.

Beautiful SS by the way.

acgee831

Discussion Starter · #5 · 6 mo ago

I forgot to mention, the car does come with clean title. And the title has the same VIN number as the plate. It’s just super odd to me

65_&_67_Impala

· #6 · 6 mo ago

62BillT said:
Could be a case of no title. Through the years, especially years ago, it was too easy just to take a VIN tag from a junk car with a title than to try to somehow get the original title to the car.

I can't see the Rivets on the Cowl Tag, but sure enough, the Rivets on the VIN tag do not look original to me. Actually in '64, it may be that all of them were tack welded on.

Beautiful SS by the way.

bill, what are the body parts on a 64 that distinguish a BelAir/Biscayne from an Impala? on a '65 it's the trunk lid but that can be swapped out easily enough

Seon

· #7 · 6 mo ago

Many years ago I looked at a Camaro RS SS Pace car. Car wasn't pristine but a good looking driver condition. Problem popped it's ugly head when the VIN tag and matching numbers on the title showed it being a coupe rather than a convertible. Thanks but no thanks. As much as I wanted to buy it and over look the discrepancy, I walked away.

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62BillT

· #8 · 6 mo ago

65_&_67_Impala said:
bill, what are the body parts on a 64 that distinguish a BelAir/Biscayne from an Impala? on a '65 it's the trunk lid but that can be swapped out easily enough

The big difference is the body style. All Bel-Air and Biscayne cars in '64 were Sedans. Not only a post car but a whole different style roof as well.

62BillT

· #9 · 6 mo ago

acgee831 said:
I forgot to mention, the car does come with clean title. And the title has the same VIN number as the plate. It’s just super odd to me

Which adds to the same thing. Evidently someone took a Tag and Title from another car.

I don't know how many times guys have called me for a Tag and Title to sell through the years. The answer is always a polite "No".

Not only do I personally do not like that, it's highly illegal here in Virginia.

dcairns

· #10 · 6 mo ago

2

Here is the un-molested VIN tag on my 64 Impala. You can see the "spot welds" on the tag, no pop rivets. Personally, I would stay away from buying a car that has had the VIN tag pop riveted on like that. It could be the original VIN just re-attached after restoration work, or it could be a stolen car with a clean VIN tag put on it. You could have your car impounded indefinitely while you try to sort out the legal issues (State laws vary).

Trim tag

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62BillT

· #11 · 6 mo ago

Yeah, there sure are some horror stories out there and my DMV guy also has some to tell.

But, you may not want to totally give up on the car. See if the present owner can trace the car back to the previous owner.

62BillT

· #12 · 6 mo ago

This also reminds me of some guys out there that will get an old car and totally restore it dumping $1000's into it and not worrying about the title till it's done. Anytime I get a car, I always title it right away. You don't have to register it, not here in Virginia anyway, but I always make it a point to title it.

I like states that don't require a title. But we aren't one of them.

Reactions: 1

65_&_67_Impala

· #13 · 6 mo ago

62BillT said:
This also reminds me of some guys out there that will get an old car and totally restore it dumping $1000's into it and not worrying about the title till it's done. Anytime I get a car, I always title it right away. You don't have to register it, not here in Virginia anyway, but I always make it a point to title it.

I like states that don't require a title. But we aren't one of them.

Vermont

Reactions: 1

BigDogSS

· #14 · 6 mo ago

FYI, the "L" in the VIN means the the car was built in Van Nuys (Los Angeles), CA. The "AT" on the cowl tag means the car was built in Atlanta, GA. Something is not right here......

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Fatphil1

· #15 · 6 mo ago

The 1447 makes it a V8 super sport. From memory 1347 made it a six-cylinder super sport (yeah by the book that was a possibility, but not many of them were ever produced) . The 47 minute to be a SS I think again this is for memory 46 made it an Impala 36 made it to Bel Air and so on and so on...

SILVER FOX

· #16 · 6 mo ago

The last post is correct. Looking in my 1964 Shop Manual the 1447 is a V8 Impala Supersport. The 1347 is a 6 cyl. Impala Supersport. The 1847 is a V8 Impala. The 1747 is a 6 cyl. Impala. If the car you are looking at is the light blue, I own a 64 Supersport hardtop in light blue. Totally restored and original. 327, 4 speed.

BigDogSS

· #17 · 6 mo ago (Edited)

62BillT said:
.....I like states that don't require a title. But we aren't one of them.

I like states that DO require a title. I like to have an official document that says I own the car. No question as to who owns the car.

Reactions: 2

TAR6569

· #18 · 6 mo ago

It's stay away from the car without the original vin tag. Doesn't even have the right body style!

Reactions: 1

Kels 64

· #19 · 5 mo ago

Hope this link helps to decode the Vin. Good luck hope everything works out.

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and Cowl Tag Decoding |

acgee831 said:
Hey everyone, I’m in the middle of purchasing on what it appears to me a 1964 SS impala. I’m not so new to these cars so I am able to distinguish lots of different details on these impalas but after checking out the vin tag & cowl tag. Something is not matching up.

The car is clearly an impala, but the vin tag shows it as a Biscayne. Owner seems clueless as to why this is but I want to see if by any chance I can get some help/opinions on this one. Please reference to attached photos.

VIN TAG = 41111 L 150511
COWL TAG = 64-1447 AT 011372

acgee831

Discussion Starter · #20 · 2 mo ago

SILVER FOX said:
The last post is correct. Looking in my 1964 Shop Manual the 1447 is a V8 Impala Supersport. The 1347 is a 6 cyl. Impala Supersport. The 1847 is a V8 Impala. The 1747 is a 6 cyl. Impala. If the car you are looking at is the light blue, I own a 64 Supersport hardtop in light blue. Totally restored and original. 327, 4 speed.

Are you selling it?

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