1970 Chrysler Newport VIN question. 0 (zero) or letter "o"

[NWPT70]

As some of you know, I have 2 1970 Chrysler Newport coupes. I just noticed the titles for both of them show the VINs as CE23LOCxxxxxx. I was wondering if the 6th digit O is the letter "O" or the number 0? My insurance cards show them more looking like zeros and the vin tags looks like zeros. I'm sure 0 and O could be used interchangeably but I would just like to know for my records what the 6th digit actually is .

 

[saforwardlook]

It is a zero denoting the model year, 1970. 1971 models show a 1 as the sixth digit accordingly, etc.

 

[NWPT70]

It is a zero denoting the model year, 1970. 1971 models show a 1 as the sixth digit accordingly.

Thanks for that clarification.

Do you think it is worth the hassle of having the NJ DMV change the VINs on the titles from the Os to 0s.

 

[polara71]

I'd go ask them but I wouldn't push it.
The NJ MVS is much better these days

 

[saforwardlook]

Thanks for that clarification.

Do you think it is worth the hassle of having the NJ DMV change the VINs on the titles from the Os to 0s.

In California, the zeros and o's both look the same on the titles, as all the numerals and letters (capitals) are the same height and, therefore, the zeros and o's can't be distinguished - if that helps.

I suppose the legislators/DMV personnel probably decided that if all the other numerals/letters on the title's VIN are correct, the probability of the car and the VIN not matching are near zero due to being unable to distinguish a zero from and o.

 

[NWPT70]

In California, the zeros and o's both look the same on the titles, as all the numerals and letters (capitals) are the same height and, therefore, the zeros and o's can't be distinguished - if that helps.

I suppose the legislators/DMV personnel probably decided that if all the other numerals/letters on the title's VIN are correct, the probability of the car and the VIN not matching are near zero due to being unable to distinguish a zero from and o.

It definitely makes me feel better looking at it from that perspective. Thank you.

 

[Pete Kaczmarski]

Its irrelevant, as in law enforcement (for almost 33 years and retiring in January) all vin's have zero's not the letter "O". So if needed to be run they should know that automatically.

 

[Duncan]

I believe if you look closer at the VINs in California, the Os are 'rounder/fatter' than the zeros. On the registration for my Fury, the zero [0] in the VIN is 'skinnier' than the Oh [O] in my name (just like the examples in brackets in this sentence). Whether there are no Os in VINs I have no idea.

 

[saforwardlook]

I believe if you look closer at the VINs in California, the Os are 'rounder/fatter' than the zeros. On the registration for my Fury, the zero [0] in the VIN is 'skinnier' than the Oh [O] in my name (just like the examples in brackets in this sentence). Whether there are no Os in VINs I have no idea.

If you look at the word "AUTOMOBILE" on California titles, then yes, the letter O is more skinny than the zeros. But for the actual VINs, none of my many 1970 titles differ at all between a zero and a letter O. Sure, they could be all wrong, but if you think about it, none of the VIN verifiers that come to my house to verify the vehicles can tell the difference on the VIN tags and just note a "circle", not distinguishing between O and zero. Also, with a group of letters together such as TOC on the VIN tag seemingly, most would probably assume the letter O among the three letters rather than a zero for my 1970 models at least. Not one of them has the narrow O as in the word AUTOMOBILE on the title. I examined this issue on all my titles before I replied, at least 10 of them for my 1970 models, and not one of them showed any difference.

You need to show me a difference between an actual VIN letter O vs. the number O on any VIN on a California title and then I will believe you. DMV would lose in any such court battle it would seem to me if they tried to pursue something like this.

 

[saforwardlook]

Also, because this issue was real, in 1981, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the United States standardized the format.[1] It required all on-road vehicles sold to contain a 17-character VIN, which does not include the letters O (o), I (i), and Q (q) (to avoid confusion with numerals 0, 1, and 9). So given that precedent, DMV would not pursue the issue on any older car.

So my previous reply has been VINdicated!