Engine pad needs to be clean (no paint) in order for it to be fully accessed.
Understood Byron - the seller is a bit eccentric & wasn’t about to let me strip the paint off the pad🙂
I just have never seen a partial VIN upside down & thought the tranny should have it?
BTW JM also knows the car but has not seen it for a long time - so who knows what’s been done to it - if anything.
Thanks to all for your comments - the car is a number 3 & the seller is asking better than number 1 pricing so a deal is not imminent👎