Looking at acquiring a 63 Duo. Have concerns with VIN and bellies. Right side belly #s look good. However, left side belly #s seem to have correct font, but do not match the right side and the 8's look upside down. VIN and boss look rough, but the fonts appear correct (although the 6 is rounded instead of serif). Cases were painted and the speedo cable had been rubbing across the VIN. Bike is clear titled with the VIN. Bike runs and has a '62 date coded trans. Left case could be a restamp. Looking for opinions on if Dr. Frankenstein has operated on her.

Right side belly with a good 6.

Left side belly #s (no 6, but a 0 in the second position). All other numbers match.

VIN

 

@Speeding Big Twin

 

A clearer photo of the R-H BN would have been a good idea but it may be okay. Especially notice the year 3 appears to have a round top and that’s what I’d expect.

But in the left BN the year 3 has a flat top and that is not consistent with factory stamping.
I’m wondering if someone stamped 0 in the left BN because they thought the R-H BN had 0 in that position when in fact the R-H BN has 6.
I’ve seen upside-down 8s before but in this instance it’s unusual for them to be like that in one BN and not the other BN.
I suspect the entire left BN may be non-factory.



I agree the boss looks rough but it looks like it may have more damage than what a speedo cable could account for.

The fonts appear correct although the 6 is rounded instead of serif? Are you saying the 6 should be seriffed?

Here’s a partial photo for comparison of some characters. Straight-back 6 but with its top pointing to the right. No serif.






In your photo the sequence portion looks like 7002? If so it complies with the 60–69 even-odd code but all four characters appear to have problems.
The 7 appears to be sans serif but in my example the 7 is seriffed. Also notice the back is different.
Notice the 0s appear rounded when for 63 I’d expect them to be oblong in shape.
Regarding the 2, it looks like the horizontal stroke has a diagonal stroke at its end when normally there would be a short vertical serif there for 63.

If the trans case has a 62 date code it may have an additional original component identifying number, aka security code, aka anti-theft number, stamped on the front on the R-H side just below where the lid attaches. For example A/B123 or A/B1234.

Cylinders look like they have logos indicating they were produced by Motor Castings Company. On H-D Panhead cylinders the MCC logos were present from about mid-63 models through 65 models.
Eric

 

Thanks Eric. Think I'm gonna pass. Too many anomalies. Really appreciate your response!