Reproduction fender tags...... thoughts?

[resq302]

Talking to a few people at our NCPC outing yesterday, I over heard someone saying that they had their fender tag stolen from their car at one of the big shows a couple years ago.  This got me to thinking about what to do to secure my own fender tag to my car or even replace it with a repro in the event that some scum bag tries to take one off of our cars.  This way, we would still have the original secured in a safe place while the repro is on the car.

What is everyones thoughts on this?  Would you do it or would you be worried that someone would say that the car never had those options and such on it such as power disc brakes, three speed wiper, air grabber hood, 26 inch rad, etc.  As it is, there are cars out there now that are repro'd tags that are completely fake with stuff that never came on them.  It just got me thinking about our own cars since this happened to a fellow members car.   

[Ghoste]

I would rather have them steal the repro.  Couldn't care less what someone else says about the car but if you need to prove it to them, keep a photo of the original displayed along with an explanation that this is the expense and headache you need to go through thanks to thieving douchebags.

[Baldwinvette77]

Remove it and replace it with a picture of your fender tag? 

[Aero426]

Leave your original tag on.    Replace one screw with an uncommon fastener or put a rivet in.   It won't go anywhere.       Pulling the original tag off is an easy way for it become lost or missing should something happen to you.  

I have yet to run into someone who has had their tag stolen.     Not sure why anyone would want it, unless a person has some adversaries in the field.

The other easy solution is to shut your hood.    The car looks better this way too.     

[ECS]

Talking to a few people......

Sorry to go off topic but since the thread on the green Charger was locked I thought I'd use your Fender Tag question to provide everyone with an update.  The Fender Tag on the Charger (XS29?OG186075) is POSITIVELY, ABSOLUTELY a Reproduction.  I personally talked with the gentleman who verified that he made it for the guy who also had me reproduce the VIN Decal.  The reproduction Fender Tag for that Charger was made in January of 2007.  I also called my contact at the NICB to check their registration records for the same vehicle.  I hope to hear back from him this afternoon.  It shouldn't be too long until the vehicle has been completely exposed and all questions answered.    

[JB400]

I think I'd consider screwing the fender tag to the inside of the glove box door or maybe the inside of the rear deck lid.  Just someplace secure that is normally locked up during a car show or out on the street.  No one needs to know what your car originally came with unless they're buying it.

[Ghoste]

Aero426 actually had the best suggestion I think.  A rivet might be the best way to go.

[FJ5WING]

I was going to go with lock tite?

Not good enough?

[472 R/T SE]

Simple.  I took the pic I had of my tag & shrunk it to exact measurements of original & print.  I then laminated it & even bent the top left hand corner.  The screw holes line up so it's good to go.  

[resq302]

Leave your original tag on.    Replace one screw with an uncommon fastener or put a rivet in.   It won't go anywhere.       Pulling the original tag off is an easy way for it become lost or missing should something happen to you.  

I have yet to run into someone who has had their tag stolen.     Not sure why anyone would want it, unless a person has some adversaries in the field.

The other easy solution is to shut your hood.    The car looks better this way too.    

As much as I like the idea of the rivet, it does not look original to the car.  GM had it right I guess with the rivets that held the cowl tags on.  If I were to pull the original tag off, it would be attached or put in an envelope with the title for the car.  Lets face it, we all know where our titles are right?

Also, this is not the first time I have heard of people having things stolen off of their car at shows.  Something as valuable as a fender tag could be stolen for any number of reasons.  First and foremost would be to devalue a car in my opinion.  Jealousy does a lot of things to people so stealing someones fender tag cause they might not have one on their own car might make them feel better.  Who knows.    I don't plan on stealing anyones tag for any reason.

Talking to a few people......

Sorry to go off topic but since the thread on the green Charger was locked I thought I'd use your Fender Tag question to provide everyone with an update.  The Fender Tag on the Charger (XS29?OG186075) is POSITIVELY, ABSOLUTELY a Reproduction.  I personally talked with the gentleman who verified that he made it for the guy who also had me reproduce the VIN Decal.  The reproduction Fender Tag for that Charger was made in January of 2007.  I also called my contact at the NICB to check their registration records for the same vehicle.  I hope to hear back from him this afternoon.  It shouldn't be too long until the vehicle has been completely exposed and all questions answered.    

Dave, that is my only reservation about getting a repro tag.  With all of the repros out there making cars something they aren't, I don't want to be included in that bunch to only have my car questioned as to what was original or not.  Biggest two things on my car is the power disc brakes and tic toc tach from the factory besides the console.

Its a shame that we live in a society of such deceitful people try to make a dishonest buck off the uninformed or trying to verify something of which it is not.  Be it by "experts" or other means.

[resq302]

Simple.  I took the pic I had of my tag & shrunk it to exact measurements of original & print.  I then laminated it & even bent the top left hand corner.  The screw holes line up so it's good to go.  

Thats actually a hell of a good idea but I would just be worried about the freak rain storm I occasionally get in with my cars and think that the water might get in and / or under the screw and damage the picture even though it is laminated.

[stripedelete]

Simple.  I took the pic I had of my tag & shrunk it to exact measurements of original & print.  I then laminated it & even bent the top left hand corner.  The screw holes line up so it's good to go.  

Thats actually a hell of a good idea but I would just be worried about the freak rain storm I occasionally get in with my cars and think that the water might get in and / or under the screw and damage the picture even though it is laminated.

Make a couple

[polywideblock]

how does no-one spot a scumbag with a screwdriver undoing your fender tag  at a car show  

leave your hood down when car is not attended  

   what about a dab of liquid nails or similar on back of tag  if car is finished its not coming off again ,right

[Old Moparz]

Doug's answer on the rivet is probably the best for anyone who worries, wants, or needs the tag to be there. I am one of those who almost never looks at tags on a car unless I want to know the color. I don't have a car that would be considered rare so I doubt anyone would steal the tag. Of course there will always be that dirtbag POS that will take whatever they think they can get away with, so it's possible it could be stolen.

I removed the tag on my Scamp when it went to the body shop for paint but I never put it back on the car yet. It's with the paperwork for it so I am not worried about losing it. The tag for my Charger was in an envelope with the title when I bought it because every body part of the car had been worked on & in primer. That tag is also with the paper work. I don't have a tag for the Road Runner & don't care because the car isn't original. It was either red or orange & now lime, & originally had a 383 but now a 440.

If I did have a rare car that might generate interest in the tag I'd probably remove it & store it with the papers for safe keeping. As for making a copy for display, I wouldn't. The only thing I would do is get a tag that says......

  THIS IS THE FENDER TAG FOR
  MY MATCHING NUMBERS CAR
   ALL NUMBERS IN THE PRICE
MATCHED THE DOLLARS I HAD     

[Troy]

Superglue? Body panel adhesive? No need to remove the tag until the next restoration. Hopefully after I'm dead...

Troy

[bill440rt]

Not sure what other solutions there are for you, Brian. Most of the suggestions here are good ones, but are not meeting your requirements.
1) Use one rivet or odd-headed screw.
2) Laminated photo substitution of the tag.
3) Glue/adhesive.
4) Shut your hood when away from the car.
5) Leave it off.

Or, find a threaded screw with the same phillips head as the tag sheetmetal screw & use a locknut underneath. 

[69rtse4spd]

If & when I ever get any of mine done & show them, will take off & store in bank valt with titles. Do not really care what pople say, if I sell then they get both.  

[BananaDan]

When I put my car into the body shop I kept the fender tag with me through the entire process.  At the very end when she was done, I brought it to the shop and told him to fasten it with stainless steel rivets while I watched.  All done and I haven't sweated about it since.  To be honest, of the things people have helped me with or pointed out to correct on my car, including NCPC judges, the rivets have never been mentioned.  Not that it matters, but I have enough trophys in my basement to make me not worry about originality in this area.  The security of my fender tag is more important.  I think it would look worse to not be there at all than to be there with a non-original fastener.  Just about anyone, including a judge or Mopar enthusiast, should completely understand why rivets are there and not little screws.  In addition, I have had something stolen from my engine compartment before at a show - the little filter cap on the vacuum pump I used to have.  Not having to ever worry about my fender tag being a target is worth the appearance cost of rivets.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Use the Sharpie method like someone did at Carlisle did this year....hand wrote the fender tag codes i a Sharpie on the inner fender

[ws23rt]

Simple.  I took the pic I had of my tag & shrunk it to exact measurements of original & print.  I then laminated it & even bent the top left hand corner.  The screw holes line up so it's good to go.  

 I like this idea the best.  A laminated picture. Since the tag has become as important as it has it should be protected like the title is.

A step further would be a plastic copy from a 3D printer.

These ideas would be presentable and also indicate that there is no intent to deceive. If someone want's to question the plastic copy than it's time to move on and talk to someone else.

Crooks will do what they do but something like this separates us from them.

BTW a scanned and printed tag will reproduce all the original rust pitting/factory flaws etc. and in a color of choice.

[TUFCAT]

I don't know of anyone who ever had a fender tag stolen.  But if you're that worried about it, I like Bill's idea of a machine screw through one hole with a nut underneath.  

I don't know why someone would want to steal a fender tag? To me there's nothing to gain, except pissing someone off.    Don't leave the cars unattended.  People are nutty.

[resq302]

Tom,

I have no clue what goes through peoples warped minds.  All I know is that they seem to somehow find their way to the town where I work and they usually get arrested.     The only time I leave my car unattended by me (and someone else is usually watching the car for me) is when I am walking around the show / swap meet or out helping judge cars.

Either way, I now have it secured and it looks factory so unless the person has a ton of time on their hands when I am indisposed, they had better be invisible in order to get the tag off our cars now! 

[TUFCAT]

Personally I'd be more worried about easier things to steal off these cars, that can be sold for money... 

[Aero426]

Personally I'd be more worried about easier things to steal off these cars, that can be sold for money... 

Yes.

[toocheaptosmoke]

Use the Sharpie method like someone did at Carlisle did this year....hand wrote the fender tag codes i a Sharpie on the inner fender

There has been at least two times (not at carlisle) where people actually believed what's on there.