For the last couple of years I've been scared that my '69 could have be re-vinned (ie: stolen and a wrecked VIN replaced), because the cowl tag is a reproduction and the VIN tag installation looked a little "off" to me.

I finally bit the bullet and pulled off the cowl, ground off the mud in the right spot, and found the "hidden" VIN, and it matches. And there's no welding around that area (you can feel the backside as well).

Don't know why I didn't do it sooner, guess I just was afraid of what I might find. But luckily, it's all legit!