Help with engine bay VIN stamped

[Travolta]

I am new to the forum, however I have a very odd issue.

In my 1969 LHD 280 SL, the VIN in the engine bay resembles a 3, (see right hand side of the picture), however all of the titles/codex/confirmation from Mercedes state that should be an 8. 

The rest of the digits in the VIN matches the documents.

However it looks like a rounded 3. To the left of the picture the 3 included with the 113 is angular at the top.

My question here is whether anyone has come across this before and is there a process to address?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.   And yes I signed up as a member to help contribute:)

[Pawel66]

I think it is just poorly stamped 3. The last digits also show the same imperfection - they are 9 and 0? Clearly "3" is a different digit shape than 8. I am not sure if there is anything to worry about...

Is the plate original with matching VIN?

 

[Travolta]

Thank you Pawel,

Yes the original plate is clear, along with the title and its an 8.

As you say, poorly stamped, the last two digits are 90.

Teh question comes what is the process to get confirmation (from Mercedes?) so that I can have the car registered in Hungary.

Kind regards

Louis

[lreppond]

Mine is lightly stamped.  Actually very difficult to read, more so than yours.  I think yours was just an uneven stamping.  As long as your VIN plate is correct I would not worry. 

[Travolta]

Many thanks for the feedback.

Is this a common thing on 60's Mercedes?   

Problem is that for the registration test in Hungary, they are rather "difficult" and require a confirmation from Mercedes.....

Kind regards

Louis

[Bonnyboy]

Long ago my Dad bought an old gun that had the serial number partially ground off.  To register it he needed to confirm a serial number.  I think he used a combination of Nitric Acid and alcohol and took a picture of it when it showed the number and took that picture to the Police. 

Applying a small amount of the right mixture on the 8 may show everything you need to take a picture.
Look it up -  probably find information on the Gun forums.  It may be explosive so be careful and it may be destructive to the tag.

I have also seen a blue die used by an engine rebuilder to do the same but I don't know if it was the same thing or something different.  If it stamped -  even slightly it should show up with the right product. 

or

The 8 in question is definately different than the 3 so get some pictures of other 8s and 3s and plead your case to your local motor vehicle people who have the ability to change it.  Here in Canada I get things changed all the time -  I just have to prove it.   a bottle of wine at Christmas really goes a long way with my insurance broker. 

Good luck.

[rwmastel]

Problem is that for the registration test in Hungary, they are rather "difficult" and require a confirmation from Mercedes.....

Louis,

Then contact Mercedes.

[Pawel66]

Do you have the data card for your car? That is the place where you have all the numbers together, if I remember correctly (vin, chassis etc.). Last 3 or 4 digits of those numbers are stamped on various parts of the car. It is not a direct proof, but makes the car authenticity more probable. Similarly as engine number, transmission number, etc.

Of course you can compare the numbers on the data cards with a plate and see that they match the VIN number, but authorities may not plates in the car seriously. But parts of these numbers are stamped on car parts as I wrote above and this should be convincing.

Here the previous ownership related documents play a key role - you have to have them crystal clear.