Two days ago I purchased a 1980 GL244 from the original owner. The VIN plate is my concern. The car was purchased in Saudi Arabia and is now in Cairo, Egypt. The VIN # on the plate is 2444A1541455 but the VIN # on the dashboard to the left of the driver is VC 24545A1274246. The dashboard could be a replacement but what about the number on the plate under the hood. Many I have chatted with say there is a number missing between the '4' and the 'A' but the plate number is very clear. Can anyone clear up this issue for me?

I have no owner's manual nor maintenance records.

odds are better than 50-50 that when you get to the concealed VIN, it will be a third number, and that you are looking at a car that has been stolen somehwere along the line. Been there. Good luck!

Thanks for your response. The thought of it possibly being stolen is not surprising to me.

May I press this a little further. If I have the correct chassis number and the correct engine number, can Volvo reconstruct a VIN number if the car HAS NOT BEEN stolen? If so, how can I find out?

Thanks again

Michael

"The VIN # on the plate is 2444A1541455 but the VIN # on the dashboard to the left of the driver is VC 24545A1274246."

There's a third location of the VIN. Open the passengers side front door and look at the post (a-pillar) between where the hinges are bolted to the car.

The first VIN, 2444A1541455, is the most correct for a 1980 244, of the two numbers given. The chassis number of 541,455 falls within the proper range for a 1980 244 (482,505 - 588,517), and the first three digits which describe the body type ("244") are correct.

The second VIN, VC24545A1274246, is for a 245 (3rd, 4th, and 5th digits are "245" to designate the body style). The chassis number of 274,246 also falls within the proper range for a 1980 245 (264,755 - 316,497).

The problem with the first VIN is that it's missing the "VC" in the beginning, and it's also missing 2 more digits. I can't tell exactly where the missing digits should go. The "244" is the body style. The "4A" is probably the engine/trans code. The '1' could be a check digit, or it could be the factory that the car was built (Torslanda, Sweden). It depends where the missing digits go, because the 'A' could also be the year (1980). Check the 3rd location to verify the VIN.

Source: www.volvoworld.com
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Volvo 240 Links | Parts For Sale | Volvo 240 Racing

Volvoworld has good inf on reading plates.

http://www.volvoworld.com/

good luck
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Richard Montgomery 83-244GL ; '90-780t; '92-940