Making a key from a VIN? Possible? Options

[gnomefabtech]

Hi-

The patient is a 1976 that has spent some time sitting and the owner lost the ignition key. Is there a way to make an ignition key from the car's VIN? or is there a way to remove the lock cylinder without wrecking anything so I can have it keyed at a lock shop? Thanks

[fiacra]

I've been through this before..... Is the key for the ignition different from the door/trunk/frunk/glovebox lock? If you don't have keys for any of those you can simply pull either a door lock or the glovebox lock and take that to a locksmith to have a key made. Unfortunately there is a chance that everything is keyed differently (as it was with my car) and you won't have a key that works with the ignition, although at least now you have a key for the door or glovebox. If they have different keys then you're in a tougher spot. I couldn't find a way to get the cylinder out of the steering column without the key, but maybe someone else here has a trick? I ended up having a mobile locksmith come out and make a key. It cost $150. It was worth it. Good luck!