Would this VIN plate draw attention?

[audiocontr]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Other-Makes-Pin ... 2183262659

That plate seems sketchy, especially from CA. I'm sure i'm wrong of course. Its probably perfectly normal. It just seems so new compared to the vehicle, that I would call it out at inspection

[m15256]

Why is the plate stamped 740 if it is a Pinzgauer 710?

[OhioPinz]

Numbers are stamped too large and the model should be in ink not stamped. Was there ever a model 740? Doubt it. Didn't someone back in the 90's alter a bunch of data plates?

[VinceAtReal4x4s]

I saw some that looked kinda like this back in 2001 that came from very reputable sellers in Switzerland, although I don't recall seeing a "740" before.

[Profpinz]

No mention of a 740 in the Steyr Puch Bible (Puch-Automobile 1900 - 1990), or any other Steyr Puch literature that I can find.
It would be easy enough to check.........Contact S-Tec!

[Profpinz]

The 740 listing has got me intrigued so I did some additional research........whilst I didn't find any reference to a 740 project, according to the book, PUCH by Egon Rudolf, there were early projects (mainly in the 1960's) designated as
720, 730 and 750.

The 750 was interesting as it was basically a Haflinger style concept, but with a mid/side mounted 4 cylinder air-cooled boxer motor.

[ExpeditionImports]

Thats is NOT the Vin plate. Simply an additional ID tag, which does look suspect.

As long as it has the original Vin tag under the seat, and the matching vin stamped on the tube it should be ok.

Over the years there have been various companies that tried to "cook the books" and import or register trucks in countries/states that the truck was not eligible for. The most common fraud came from a company in Switzerland that generated entirely different vin #'s and changed 1980's vintage trucks to 1970's vintage trucks by changing the tag pictured in this thread.

Bottom line, a truck that has been in the U.S. system with title and registration for an extended time, is pretty much over the hump when it comes to verification of the Vin information. When was the last time a DMV inspector has the knowledge or ability to say "this looks like a counterfeit Pinzgauer data tag....."?

While it might have had some liability to the purchaser 10-15 years ago when said truck was officially illegal to import, today the purchaser needs to be most concerned about current title and registration with no liens.

The factory is always happy to verify the information which would catch an incorrect year modification or a bogus vin number. If you can determine who the original importer was that also can help to either question the vehicle, or lesson the concern.

Cheers,

Scott