I have a question for anyone that could help me. There is a car that is on ebay (72 Chevelle) that is being sold by NYS Office of government services. Anyway, it is in our office complex, so I gave it a look. I thought the car was really nice and looked really interesting for the price. Well my question. The car was seized, thats why the government is selling it. In the ad, the car listed the original Vin number and than listed that it had been Re-Vined. I thought the reason for this was because it was seized. My friend said it can only be Re-Vined if it has been totaled. Is he right? Is that the only reason a car is Re-Vined or would anyone know of another reason?

Cars that have been stolen and later recovered often receive a new VIN issued by a state motor vehicle bureau. Not all rebuilt totalled cars receive a new VIN. As long as the title is still with the car, You can get a "Rebuilt" or Prior Salvage" title with the original VIN. You need to ask for the title history of the car.

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69 SS 350 4 Speed
75 400 4 Speed
93 Z28 6 Speed

75 400 4speed is correct !! The reason that car is re-vined is most likely because it was seized.Even if a car is wrecked or totaled it is usually only re-vined if it was cut and welded togather with another cars main structure to make one.

If the VIN plate is still on a car, and the plate is not tampered with or missing, this VIN will remain with the car regardless what the car went through. Only the TITLE will be branded, for example, if the car is a recovered stolen, or reconstructed, etc. If the car's VIN was missing, damaged, etc. and had to be issued a state replacement VIN plate, and if the true VIN could be determined through a VIN verification (finding a confidential VIN), then the state issued VIN plate, (metal plate usually attached to the firewall in PA; sticker to the doorpost in NY), will get the actual VIN number. If no determination could be made, then the state assigns a new/different VIN number. In either case, the title would now be rebranded as a "revinned vehicle." Duane28, in your case, I'll bet the original VIN tag was missing, but the original VIN was known, and a state replacement VIN tag with the original/correct VIN was issued. If the original number wasn't known, then a new number was probably assigned.

[This message has been edited by vfitom2aol.com (edited May 20, 2003).]