# Pre 1980 VIN Searches **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [April 10, 2008, 2:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pre-1980-vin-searches/12754 "2008-04-10T14:34:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![husefre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b77776/32.png) [@husefre](https://community.cartalk.com/u/husefre)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2008, 2:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pre-1980-vin-searches/12754/1 "2008-04-10T14:34:39Z")
Is there a website where I can submit a pre 1980 VIN to get the car’s history. A person on ebay is selling a car and I want to know if the car he’s selling is what he says it is. THe sites I came across will only lookup 17 digit VINS. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Ranck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aca169/32.png) [@Ranck](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Ranck)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2008, 2:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pre-1980-vin-searches/12754/2 "2008-04-10T14:48:59Z")
You will probably have to find a make/model specific web site, and even then you might have to go to the original manufacturer to get the info. I.E. write a letter and ask them for a copy of the build sheet. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![husefre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b77776/32.png) [@husefre](https://community.cartalk.com/u/husefre)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2008, 3:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pre-1980-vin-searches/12754/3 "2008-04-10T15:42:26Z")
Thanks for the fast reply. I was afraid of that but I will keep on searching. Thanks again. ---
**Author:** ![Roadrunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@Roadrunner](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Roadrunner)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2008, 6:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pre-1980-vin-searches/12754/4 "2008-04-10T18:11:14Z")
Alright you got my curiosity going now. What pre-1980 vehicle are you talking about? ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2008, 6:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pre-1980-vin-searches/12754/5 "2008-04-10T18:22:16Z")
There’s not an equivalent of a carfax service for older cars, so there’s no real way of finding the history of the car that way. However, if you’re wondering about the original configuration, most car-makers had some sort of serial number system that would identify specific models, sub-models, engine, trim, options, etc. in the period before standardized VIN’s. Even some that didn’t have such a system can still be identified by their sequential serial numbers. Tell us what you’re looking at! ---
**Author:** ![bscar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bscar/32/34_2.png) [@bscar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bscar)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2008, 9:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pre-1980-vin-searches/12754/6 "2008-04-10T21:55:30Z")
Perhaps they’re checking to see if it really IS an SS model Chevy. It’s known to happen where someone buys a I-6 Chevelle and changes it to a 396 v8, slaps the “SS” badges on it and tries to sell it as SS vehicle. ---
**Author:** ![Roadrunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@Roadrunner](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Roadrunner)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2008, 12:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pre-1980-vin-searches/12754/7 "2008-04-11T00:06:44Z")
Uh-huh, and clones (of nearly all makes and models) by the thousands. One short story I read a while ago (don’t know if true or not) related to someone who bought a restoration car from a guy for big bucks, found that (after some careful research and help from a pro) the ‘so-called’ numbers match didn’t match after all. The engine numbers had been very carefully ground off and the block refinished and the so-called matching number engraved on. Needless to say the guy was a bit pi\*\*ed. When he tried to find the seller, he couldn’t. D’oh!