The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks frame / VIN number question 63 C10

All,
Need help with this. Took a fieldtrip to a buddies garage. He is working on a 63 C10, SWB, Stepside. I wanted to compare his frame number to the VIN tag. VIN tag good for 63 C10 SWB.
Attached 3 pictures of frame numbers. Frame manufacture plant (S) and numbers matched VIN tag - EXCEPT - we noticed the last digit in both frame numbers was stenciled with an X, slightly faint, but distinguishable. You may be able to see it in the pictures if you look closely. Stenciled on top of the X is the # 5. In both frame locations, the number 6 was stenciled below the last digit, also noticed in the photos.
The VIN tag is 6c144S159446.

Is there a plausible explanation? Can we conclude it was friday afternoon and the stencil man was ready to go or is there something more interesting?

Looks like he caught his mistake and X'd out the 5 and placed the 6 underneath, makes sense and probably happens more frequently than you might think. Humans making mistakes.

Would be nice to know there is a "5" vin somewhere. But probably a mistake. I sure would not show that to DMV unless I had to.

I believe the x was stenciled first and the more pronounced 5 on top of the x. I have not seen many frames, but is this wicked weird or just something that occurs from time to time? Has anyone seen this previously?

Can you tell by height, width and style that the X and 5 came from the same letter set as the rest? If the X was under the 5. I don't see how someone could accidently put an X there first? I have to go with the 5 is under the X.

I also can't believe that someone nefarious would ever do that. That's a straight out factory stamp job. Not a PO vin changer. A billion to one chance of finding a frame that is one number off of the VIN and changing it........or vice versa.

There is evidence on the internet of factory errors on Ford sites. One explanation, other than Friday afternoon in the 60's in CA bong land, is that stamp users mixed up the location of stamps within the set. The next guy pulled a 5 out of where the 6 was supposed to be. I don't know what kind of stamping tools were used in 63.

I see your logic. 5 first, oh shxxxt, then x then the correct number. I think it is a cool aspect of that truck as long as dmv can stand it.

Agreed. In my state, the DMV never sees the truck. Just get a transfer of title from them. No VIN check or safety check, etc.