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Can anyone tell me where to find the vin on a 1930 Chevy 3 window coupe? Thanks

Welcome to Chevy Chatter. You'll find a lot of good info on this site, although some of it you may not want to hear, to wit:

The VIN was stamped on a small metal plate, nailed to the floor board, on the passenger side next to the door sill. Since the plates were nailed to the floor, and the floor may have rotted out and been replaced over time, a lot of these cars are missing this plate.

Most states used the engine number as the VIN through '55. The unit serial number was stamped on the data plate. I'm not sure where the engine number is on a '30 but it's on the boss behind the distributor on my '38. I had to scrape off about 1/4" of crud to get to it.

On a '30, the engine number is stamped on a boss just behind the fuel pump.

Also, on a 1930 it isn't a "VIN"...it is a Car Serial Number.

Right you are Mr. Dog. The current VIN usage did not start until when, 1981?

Don't really know but I think it was earlier than that. Maybe Gene can pop in here on this one.

The literal interpretation of VIN is Vehicle Identification Number. Any number used to identify the vehicle would technically be the VIN wouldn't it? On my title the number in the space for the "VIN" is my engine number. Granted the modern version of the VIN started much later but it (the engine number) was still the VIN for titling purposes was it not? You say po-tay-toe, I say po-tah-toe.

Ha ha!

Actually, the "VIN" number and the engine number are two completely different things. Even though the engine number is in the place for the "VIN" number on your title, the engine number is still just that...the engine number and not the "VIN" number.

One of my favorite pages....

http://1931chevrolet.com/specs6.htm

(Be sure to click on the photos to enlarge them.)

Arguing semantics is always fun. Any number used to identify a vehicle is a Vehicle Identification Number. You can call it anything you wish but it's still just that, a Vehicle Identification Number. A good metaphor is saying you can't call a Nova a Chevrolet because it's a Nova when in fact it's both. If the engine number is used by the authorities to identify the vehicle, it's by definition a Vehicle Identification Number and yes an engine number as well.

When a vehicle has both a designated VIN number and a designated engine number it doesn't matter if the engine number is used in place of the VIN number.....the number used is still the designated engine number.

It is the same as a person's name. If your legal name is John and people identify you as Bill...you are still really John.

Folks, it does make a difference what you call the numbers on these old cars.

If you insist on calling the number a VIN and do so to your registration personnel (DMV), you have backed yourself into a corner.

Here is the problem. The data plates on these cars are often damaged and or missing. If you purchase a data plate and have it stamped with a VIN, you have just committed a crime. However, if the number is a data number you have a better chance of survival. So it does make a big difference what we call these DATA NUMBERS.

Ask me how I know this information.

Ray - Ok, I'll bite. How do you know this?
Roger

Yep I reckon that YOU can call an engine number or a car ID number or a data number a VIN but when it is capiltized like VIN it is a horse of a different color, it ain't a roan, it ain't a palominto and it ain't a pinto. It is a VIN maybe a apaloosa! or even a stick horse, but it ain't a engine number. Go ahead and tell the Robots down at the Department of Motor Vehicle Registrations that it is a VIN. See what happens! Maybe you will be OK, maybe not, it depends on if you get a Robot that is wearing a VIN snatcher badge, and hates cars made in America, specially those made in America before 1955 or 1954. You can tell them from regular Robots, if you know what to look for!...Me and Ray know!

The serial number would ID the year and model and production sequence number.....thats all.

The VIN number does the same and also includes a lot of other info about the car and its options.

Its like the serial number, Fisher Body number combined plus even more info. Guess you could call it the VEHICLE INFORMATION NUMBER.

I cannot understand why someone would purchase a car without the serial number plate on the car.

First, there is no way to track a "non serial number car" if the car was / is stolen. Second, the new owner is opening himself up to a can of worms with the local DMV. Third, the engine number is good on the title until the engine is swapped out, then all bets are off.

Bob

That is all so true.......especially if you are trying to title a vehicle in California from another state and the vehicle is missing the VIN plate.

Hey!!!!...... The guy wants the car!...... He has got to have THAT car!...... Maybe the price was too good to pass up......

I have purchased several vehicles without titles. Have actually put together two from pieces collected at swap meets and back yards. Obtaining legal paperwork has been somewhat of a hassle on some but relatively easy on others. Depends on the state laws and the state officials involved. Once took a year to get a title when I had all the correct paperwork. So you never know.

All those cars that were pulled from a farmers field, ravine or out of a barn did not have titles. Some states still don't have titles for pre-80s cars. And there are a bunch of them.

Yep...it all depends upon the state as you mentioned. In California or Oregon if the car is from out of state and you have no paperwork and/or the original VIN plate is missing getting a title can be almost impossible. And, sometimes it depends upon which DMV office you go to as well.

Another issue here in Oregon that just came into law is a birth certificate. If you don't have a legal, certified birth certificate you can't get your driver's license renewed...even if you were born here and you have had a driver's license for the past 40 years! Without the correct paperwork you are considered an illegal alien!

HI Everybody, in Connecticut all you need is a " bill of sale".Can't get much easier than that. My 28 number on the seat is unreadable. I also have a Title From Indiana that uses the engine number. What a dilema. trooper