Vin# or Id#
- Thread starter Tgibby
- Start date
Charlie Stephens
Well-known member
Actually it is the serial number. Should be visible on top of left frame rail near steering. May be as far forward as the front crossmember. Two more places under body. See http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/flathead_serialnumbers.htm
for diagram. Number is also stamped into transmission but since the transmission is easy/common to change this location is generally not used by the DMV.
Charlie Stephens
for diagram. Number is also stamped into transmission but since the transmission is easy/common to change this location is generally not used by the DMV.
Charlie Stephens
deuce lover
Well-known member
On left side of frame near steering box or front x-member.If orig trans they are stamped above inspection cover.
corvette8n
Well-known member
In my 3 year quest to buy a pre-war coupe I looked at at lot of cars for sale and only found a few with the serial # visible, over the course of the years number have been ground on, painted over, welded on etc. Sometimes the worker at the factory didn't always stamp them where they were supposed to.
The Vanpelt site is the best resource I've found.
The Vanpelt site is the best resource I've found.
blucar
Well-known member
OK, the location of the "serial number" for the Early Ford V8's has been well explained within the previous response's..
The terminology "serial number was used by the majority of the manufactures, that due to fact that the numbers are just that, in most cases they are the sequential production numbers with no general reference to place/plant of origin, power train, etc. GM and Chrysler, starting in about 1928 started to use a numbering system that clearly documented a vehicles pedigree, ie, place of origin, engine, etc. and then the sequential serial number. Ford did not adopt this type of vehicle ID until 1949.
Generally speaking the term VIN, short for Vehicle Identification Number did not come into vogue until the early 70's.
It should be kept in mind that most states, especially the less populated states of the south and mid-west did not issue titles to vehicles until the early 1970's.
I had a terrible time about ten years ago clearing up the legality of a '39 Plym convertible that came into California with a Bill of Sale from Alabama. California would not honor the Bill of Sale because California has issued titles since the 1930's. California also wanted a serial/VIN number for the vehicle. The number on the Bill of Sale was an engine number which did not match any of the known Chrysler numbers for '39..
I find it to be very interesting that the documentation has been around for a long time, however, it took the invention of computers, which fostered books like "The Standard Catalog of American Cars", to make it available.
The terminology "serial number was used by the majority of the manufactures, that due to fact that the numbers are just that, in most cases they are the sequential production numbers with no general reference to place/plant of origin, power train, etc. GM and Chrysler, starting in about 1928 started to use a numbering system that clearly documented a vehicles pedigree, ie, place of origin, engine, etc. and then the sequential serial number. Ford did not adopt this type of vehicle ID until 1949.
Generally speaking the term VIN, short for Vehicle Identification Number did not come into vogue until the early 70's.
It should be kept in mind that most states, especially the less populated states of the south and mid-west did not issue titles to vehicles until the early 1970's.
I had a terrible time about ten years ago clearing up the legality of a '39 Plym convertible that came into California with a Bill of Sale from Alabama. California would not honor the Bill of Sale because California has issued titles since the 1930's. California also wanted a serial/VIN number for the vehicle. The number on the Bill of Sale was an engine number which did not match any of the known Chrysler numbers for '39..
I find it to be very interesting that the documentation has been around for a long time, however, it took the invention of computers, which fostered books like "The Standard Catalog of American Cars", to make it available.
deuce lover
Well-known member
In 2008 while living in CA I bought a 35 tudor from MO.It only had a bill of sale.In the high desert where I was living is a DMV services Co.(Karen's Kar Kare).I contacted her first.She said Bill of Sales were nothing but problems.All she did was take the number off the frame and submit that to the CA DMV and no record was found.From that I had a title in 3 weeks.
JimG
Senior Member
This thread has some really good information by DavidG on Ford serial numbers on page 2.
http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38763&page=2
http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38763&page=2
blucar
Well-known member
I have been dealing with undocumented vehicles since about 1985, over the years it has gotten very difficult.
I build my 'Case" before I go to the DMV.. Different states have different agencies for vehicle registration/licensing.
I start off by looking the serial/Vin number up in the Standard Catalog of American Cars. If you don't have one, buy one.. Barnes & Noble usually carry then, if not they will order one for you.
Once you find the page in the Catalog that has the info for your car, copy that page and the cover of the catalog. This will provide written proof regarding the pedigree, location, etc., of the serial number. In the case of the EFV8's and other vehicles the correct location of the serial will be documented.
The requirement to certify the serial number varies from state to state. find out what your state requirement is and go accordingly. Some states will allow any peace officer to do the inspection, some states/counties will send an officer to your home, CA requires the vehicle be transported to the DMV or the CHP office .
I build my 'Case" before I go to the DMV.. Different states have different agencies for vehicle registration/licensing.
I start off by looking the serial/Vin number up in the Standard Catalog of American Cars. If you don't have one, buy one.. Barnes & Noble usually carry then, if not they will order one for you.
Once you find the page in the Catalog that has the info for your car, copy that page and the cover of the catalog. This will provide written proof regarding the pedigree, location, etc., of the serial number. In the case of the EFV8's and other vehicles the correct location of the serial will be documented.
The requirement to certify the serial number varies from state to state. find out what your state requirement is and go accordingly. Some states will allow any peace officer to do the inspection, some states/counties will send an officer to your home, CA requires the vehicle be transported to the DMV or the CHP office .
JSeery
Member Emeritus
The serial number IS there on the frame, it is just often hard to locate/see/find! Even on bare frames it is still often hard to locate them, but they are there. Even if the frame has had the number ground down they will still appear with the proper techniques.
TJ
Well-known member
You can also use a title service in California if there is one in your area. It costs a few bucks , but many times it is well worth it and you don't have to go to DMV. The service does all the work.
blucar
Well-known member
I did not mention the private title services that are available in California because the man that originally asked the question is not located in CA, he's in Florida, a whole different game.
On the average I buy/sell six vintage cars per year, the majority of which have doubtful parentage. If I am dealing on a vintage vehicle in another state, or CA, I call CARS, have them run the serial/vin, if it comes up clean I buy the car, getting what ever paperwork the seller has including a bill of sale, I then load the car and head home. I will not transport an undocumented vehicle because it is against the law in most states. I have been using a title service in CA, C.A.R.S for about fifteen years, makes the whole deal very painless, cost, $150. plus the DMV fees.
On the average I buy/sell six vintage cars per year, the majority of which have doubtful parentage. If I am dealing on a vintage vehicle in another state, or CA, I call CARS, have them run the serial/vin, if it comes up clean I buy the car, getting what ever paperwork the seller has including a bill of sale, I then load the car and head home. I will not transport an undocumented vehicle because it is against the law in most states. I have been using a title service in CA, C.A.R.S for about fifteen years, makes the whole deal very painless, cost, $150. plus the DMV fees.
Habusailor
Senior Member
I am looking at a 1949 sedan in Canada. S/n is 0473H49-70417. Can someone help me determine what the s/n tells me? I am curious as to where the car may have been built.
Thanks for any help
Sent from my SM-T550 using Tapatalk
Thanks for any help
Sent from my SM-T550 using Tapatalk
rotorwrench
Well-known member
This is a good link for Ford of Canada ID numbering. http://www.wnyrg.org/canvins.html
The number you list is not in keeping with the 9B-1234 numbering scheme. Where is the number you list located on the car?
Canada liked the short numbers in the earlier prewar era so they would change the prefix after the linear number was up to 9999. They didn't go more than 4-digits. That practice changed after the war.
The number you list is not in keeping with the 9B-1234 numbering scheme. Where is the number you list located on the car?
Canada liked the short numbers in the earlier prewar era so they would change the prefix after the linear number was up to 9999. They didn't go more than 4-digits. That practice changed after the war.