1973 Plymouth Cuda - Bit of an Issue..

[Dads440]

So, I've got a bit of an issue.  I purchased a 1973 Plymouth Cuda for my dad on EBay a couple of years ago.  I received the car and had a couple of days to get it to a drivable condition (it ran, but needed a carb rebuild and brakes done).  In the mess of rushing before a deployment to Afghanistan, I checked the VIN on the door and completely missed the dash VIN.  Long story short, I had the car delivered to my dad who had it for 2 years, but is in poor health, so he was only able to drive it once.  We just had the car delivered back to Southern California where I tried to register it with the DMV (knowing I had verified the VIN, not realizing that I had only verified the door).  I got to the CA DMV where the car was verified with a BS dash VIN and a BH title VIN.  I was pretty flustered and it was 110 degrees out, so I left wondering what the heck was wrong..I knew I had checked the VIN (assuming I wasn't an idiot and only checked the door).  After about a few minutes, I figured out what I had done.

Now, I'm not quite sure what to do.  Ive got a 73 Plymouth Cuda with a BS dash VIN, BH door VIN and BH title VIN.  Anyone have any experience with a similar situation, or have any thoughts as to what I should do?

Thanks for the help and go easy on the jokes lol..I know I pulled idiot of the year here..just trying to figure out what to do next..

Thanks,
Darren

[blown motor]

I can't help you out much on this because I'm from Canada but is the sequential number the same?

[dfrazz]

 

Check the sequential number and/or a stamping on the radiator support/cowl/etc to see if you can get a match.  If the title VIN and door match, and the dash matches expect for the "H" instead of an "S", it may be the PO switched the dash VIN on you.  In CO you would need to have the State Patrol look it over and verify everything, then go to the DMV but I've heard CA is much more difficult to deal with.

[Dads440]

No luck on the sequential number.  I should have mentioned that from the get-go; they're completely different..

[ChallengerHK]

The numbers on the cowl and rad support will also contain the sequence number. BEtween the four, some of them must match somewhere, and that will give you a good idea of what the original number was.

[HP_Cuda]

If the motor and transmission are original to the car you can try and sleuth down which sequence number is correct for your Cuda.

Btw, what part of Calif you in?

[Dads440]

Thanks for the ideas guys.  I'll look into it this week.

I work in Poway, lived in Oceanside for about 6 years and moved to Temecula about a year and a half ago.  You?

- Darren

[moparman82]

Welcome Darren!  I lived in poway and rancho Bernardo back in the early/mid 2000s, you are in the right place for any help that you need!

[AussieMark]

Check if the fender tag matches the numbers on the radiator support and cowl, the dash pad and door may have been changed for better ones and someone forgot about the numbers.

[69ChargerRT]

no one here is going to joke about that.  that's a serious issue that we all want to help you get resolved. 

[Katfish]

Sounds like someone swapped out the dash in the past and didn't transfer the VIN.
If the door matches the title, get a new VIN made.
ECS or BackEast can probably help.

[Lbs]

Darren, I have a similar problem going on my 73 Cuda. My cowl does not match my dash or my door. I've had the car for 17 years and just noticed it about a week ago so don't feel to bad about not catching it. I've got you beat, haha. I'm from Cal. also and the highway patrol did the vin verification a couple months ago and they didn't catch it either. I'm just letting it ride for now. Good luck with it and thank you for service. :waving the flag.

[1 Wild R/T]

Couple photos that may help you locate the body stampings....
The radiator support VIN can be anywhere from the latch area to the drivers fender & can be on top or the surface facing the radiator... 

[Dads440]

Thanks for all of the help guys.  It's been a busy couple of days.  Hoping to go get it checked out.  I appreciate that diagram/photo with the VIN locations..that should help quite a bit.

 - Darren

[Dads440]

Hey guys..quick update, I just checked it out and find the numbers matching from the door to the cowl..just need to track dowm radiator support and fender.  The previous owner painted under the hood and it looks like he covered em up good.  Any suggestions on removing the paint?  Its chipping pretty good so I could probably find a way to scrape it off, but I dont want to make the numbers illegible.

Thanks again for all the help!

Darren