Is this VIN plate original?
 

Supposedly a 1972 model pickup. The VIN denotes a 72 pickup but all my 72 B pillar VIN plates have had much of the text printed rather than embossed. However I’ve not had a Janesville assembled example. Were there two styles for 72?

Re: Is this VIN plate original?
 

I’m accustomed to seeing this style on a 72.

Re: Is this VIN plate original?
 

Pete, My K20 is a late ‘72 (June) Janesville built truck and I’m 90% sure it has the lower style your used to. My truck was built almost exactly 25,000 units after the one in the first picture above.
That said, it sure seems like that embossed plate would be difficult to fake, I’m not really sure how things like this are embossed on a large scale, so maybe in reality it’s not that difficult...

Edit: this is an original paint Fremont 70 GMC K2500 I’ve been working on for a friend, it happens to be in my shop this morning so I snapped a pic. It seems to follow the same format as the first picture above. I bet that first picture is legit.

Re: Is this VIN plate original?
 

Great info Tyler - thanks for the follow-up. I actually prefer the embossed plate. Agree it would be difficult to fake. I'm wondering if some plant(s) carried over the earlier style. The 72 VIN I posted that I'm curious about wasn't from an early in the model year assembled truck. Would like to see more examples.

Re: Is this VIN plate original?
 

Those look like the correct rosette rivets that GM used.

Re: Is this VIN plate original?
 

VIN plate on my '72 STL build

Re: Is this VIN plate original?
 

Thanks - that 70 example has the same look as that on the 72 I'm scratching my head over.

Thanks, were the rivets replaced?

Re: Is this VIN plate original?
 

Yes, they were replaced when the body work was done.

Re: Is this VIN plate original?
 

Wow! I'll look those up. That the 72-style I'm accustomed to.

From the Netherlands apparently. "Embossed with your info". How sketchy it that?

LINK DELETED

Re: Is this VIN plate original?
 

By the way, this VIN plate is attached to a 71 cab.

Does anyone have a 72 cab with a VIN plate that looks like that in the first post? Could this be a reproduction VIN plate?

Re: Is this VIN plate original?
 

I’ve seen those “reproduction” vin plaques before, sketchy as hell in my opinion. Remember guys we shouldn’t discuss rosette rivet tampering or vin tampering here as that is against board rules. This is a pretty good thread Pete started(as usual) that we can learn from so let’s try and not get it shut down please.

Re: Is this VIN plate original?
 

Not sure if either of these Janesville tags will help. Green one is a '71. Red one ('72) is pretty bad pic, but all there was for the posting I found it on.

Re: Is this VIN plate original?
 

Thanks for posting. I’m accustomed to seeing the partially printed VIN on 72s. Still no totally embossed 72 example that matches the one in the first post, which is on a purported 72 swb k10 now on auction but cab is certainly a 71.

Re: Is this VIN plate original?
 

-
As 57taskforce said, this is an informative thread. Posts about VIN tampering, instructions on it , or links to VIN tampering products, etc. are not allowed and haven't been for many years. Administrators and board owners see it as a liability issue and are pretty strict about it. It really doesn't matter what individual states rules are on it.

Thanks for understanding.
LockDoc, Moderator

Re: Is this VIN plate original?
 

Your last comment pretty much answers your original question.

Re: Is this VIN plate original?
 

Hey Pete,
That is the same embossed plate that is on the inside of my 70 K5, and I'm pretty sure its original. Since the Blazers don't have a separate cab that might have been changed out, I don't see a problem with it. If the VIN and everything else matches up, I think your okay. Maybe its just me but i don't see what it would hurt to drill out the rivets if you are going to change the paint under it. Put regular stainless or better, aluminum rivets back in, and if someone has a problem with it, you can at least tell them that you didn't try to hide it.

The "Rosette" rivets are for sale on certain popular sites. Don't want to mention which, but you can find them. I also think that they were being used more for rare Camaros, Firebirds, Trans Ams, Chevelles and that sort. I do vehicle and accident reconstructions, so I may be saying more than I should.

Always a Pleasure!

Chris.

Re: Is this VIN plate original?
 

Thanks for the correction LocDoc,

I posted my reply before I saw yours, and I guess I should have been more aware of the rules. Not going to say how, or why I know about the many past and ongoing FBI and other investigations into VIN and Vehicle Fraud, but its a living. Thanks again,

Chris.

Re: Is this VIN plate original?
 

My goal w this thread is to learn whether or not GM carried over the “all embossed” earlier example 70 model year type plate for the 72 model year. I’m skeptical but plant specific assembly variations exist. Does anyone have a 72 with an “all embossed” VIN plate?

Re: Is this VIN plate original?
 

I will see if I can get to my '72 Dually and check it. It's pretty well drifted in. I know I can't get to the '72 Cheyenne Super right now without wading through snow up to my Tootie...:)

LockDoc

Re: Is this VIN plate original?
 

My 72

Re: Is this VIN plate original?
 

Pete as expected my K20 follows the “normal” 72 pattern. My K10 being a 69 is the old style dual plaque.

Re: Is this VIN plate original?
 

Thanks for posting guys.

I’m just going to assume the VIN plate in the initial post is a reproduction. If ever somebody can show a genuine 72 VIN plate that doesn’t follow the typical partially printed convention please share.

Re: Is this VIN plate original?
 

My 71 C30, and the 71K10 I recently let go both have the printed style

Re: Is this VIN plate original?
 

So I guess it would be a relatively safe bet (always seems to be exceptions somewhere)
That ‘70 only had the fully embossed plate, while 71/72 had the printed and embossed plate? Obviously 67-69 follow a totally different format.

At first I wasn’t so sure, but after seeing some more of this thread unfold, Pete I think you may be correct on the one you posted being a reproduction. If they were using the printed plate in 71 I see no way an embossed plate leftover would have made it all the way to 72. Especially as late in the production run as the truck you posted is. I’d bet it’s probably a March or April 72 build. I’ll have to check the build date project but I bet we could nail it down pretty close.

Re: Is this VIN plate original?
 

Another data point... I forgot I had this vin in my garage. 72 Janesville truck.