Bodyshell Repairs to VIN Stamped Area

[mat205125]

After some help.

I need to undertake some repairs and strengthening to my Mk2 Escort around the strut top areas. The repairs will effect the area where the factory VIN number is struck into the shell, and I want to ensure that the ID of the shell isn't lost or reduced to just the rivetted plate on the slam panel.

How have people approached this kind of problem with their cars?

I could take a load of pictures of the repair, before, during and after, however I was looking for something a little more perminant and tamperproof for if I was unlucky enough to have my car taken.

Are there companies, perhaps, who will prestamp a repair panel with an ID if I product my logbook, and maybe visit and certify that the new ID is being applied to the car which they have stamped the panel for?

Any other ideas would be perfect, as I want to avoid all possible risk of suggestion in the future that my car is not what I know and claim it is, or that it might be a ringer or reshell for example.

[Snake the Sniper]

If it's a normal style of stamp, just get yourself off to Ebay and buy a set. Or take the panel to the local engravers/trophy shop place and get them to do it.

[mat205125]

That's not a bad suggestion.

I'd rather not stamp the repair panel myself, in order that the job looked as factory as possible.

Maybe I can find a way that someone can laser etch the VIN into the repair / strengthening panel.

[Snake the Sniper]

I doubt laser etching will look right, although I suppose they could match the type font. How neat is the stamping you have now?

[mat205125]

Current stamping is from the factory, so very neat.

Laser etching won't look "right" as in genuine, however with the restoration and mods the car is getting, there is going to be a great deal that isn't factory any longer.