No Title 29 Tudor

You are right in wanting to get a PROPER title before putting a bunch of money into your rod. Most every state has either a "special construction" or "street rod" title process now. Rules vary from state to state so you need to check with your DMV. I am sure that they would have the rules/instructions to apply for a PROPER title on their DMV web site. As Brent has said I would never try to pass an original title off for a "street rod". If you do it WILL come back to bite you in the rear end down the road. Several years ago here in NC the DMV pulled a bunch of street rod/hot rodder's registrations and issued big fines to the owners because they had been titled as original cars. Some of the guys had been driving their cars for many years before getting caught with what was deemed INVALID registrations.
 
Good advice here-especially that of finding out the specifics for your state and NOT BUYING the car until you have the title ducks all in a row.

Drop on over to the HAMB-do an intro if you are posting (read the rules to avoid getting flamed) then do a search. You have a very common problem-but one that often has different solutions. Which ever one you pick, it never pays in the long run to run on the shady side-what if you put a ton of money in to your car with a "legitimate" title. but then couldn't resell it if you had to?
 
interesting exchange. I'm in total agreement with Brent on this one. if you have no engine or frame how can you be entitled to use that number, regardless of whether or not it's in the system.

I recently looked at a '32 BB flatbed dump truck in very nice unrestored condition. in addition to an unrealistic asking price, the truck had no title AND the bellhousing/transmission assembly had been replaced with an AA unit. (am I correct- no serial number anywhere else on the vehicle?) may be verrry interesting getting a good title for that puppy with just a bill of sale......
 
Nothing more important in buying an old car than having a good title to it, IMHO. ...otherwise it is a pile of parts until you get a good title. My second Model A, in 1962-3 was picked up, abandoned after a flood off the side of a road, and we were able to get an assigned number from CA DMV without much trouble; but those days are long gone. DMV just told us how and where to stamp the number on it and a friendly CHP officer verified it for us.

My most recent A was put together from parts and the previous owner registered it non-op and as a '29 and using the '30 motor number (and hopefully the matching frame). I almost did not buy it for that reason; but when I did buy it, it was contingent on DMV accepting the paperwork as it was brought into current operation registration. I did the DMV thing the day after I got the car home to be sure I did not need to take it back to the seller.

My recommendation is to go to your state's DMV immediately, find out the relevant rules for your situation, and start doing what you need to do to get a clear title for the car you have as it sits. Playing games by buying a title document from some other car is just asking for trouble, maybe not today, but perhaps a few years later after you have spent too much money on a questionably titled car.

The journey to getting a clear title may not be easy or fun, but there surely will be a legal path you can follow to get there.
 
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