I do not intend to be adverse to anything that has been said about what you should do. I'm just adding a little more info. Obviously, there is a reason all domestic production cars since about 1980 have the VIN in the same location. The way the rule is written, it applies to all cars, with an exception to imports (see link).
http://law.justia.com/cfr/title49/49-6.1.2.3.30.htmlThis part applies to passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, buses, trailers (including trailer kits), incomplete vehicles, and motorcycles.
(f) The VIN for passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles and trucks of 4536 kg or less GVWR shall be located inside the passenger compartment. It shall be readable, without moving any part of the vehicle, through the vehicle glazing under daylight lighting conditions by an observer having 20/20 vision (Snellen) whose eye-point is located outside the vehicle adjacent to the left windshield pillar. Each character in the VIN subject to this paragraph shall have a minimum height of 4 mm.
The regulation also states that you, as the manufacturer, would come up with your own number. As long as you follow the instruction of the State, I doubt it would ever be an issue. I'm just telling you what the code says.
I think easily read under the hood on the firewall and a punch tape or similar placard in an easy to read location near the left side of the car is reasonable, FWIW.
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Miata UBJ: ES-2074R('70s maz pickup)
Ford IFS
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13225&p=134742Simple Spring select
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360LA 442E: 134.5x46x15
Lotus7:115x39x7.25
Tiger Avon:114x40x13.3-12.6
Champion/Book:114x42x11
Gibbs/Haynes:122x42x14
VoDou:113x44x14
McSorley 442:122x46x14
Collins 241:127x46x12