VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 41 serial number

I just bought a 41 coupe. It came with a title showing a VIN, but the serial number plate is missing from the car's floorboard. A friend has a 41 olds and found the serial number stamped in a few places on the frame after he removed the body. Has anyone seen anything similar on a 41 Chevrolet?
Thanks,
Sid

Sid
Here in Aus (not neccessarily in the US) all cars have a identification number stamped in the frame.
Tony

Most states used the engine number as the VIN on the title through '55. I don't believe that number would be anywhere else on the car. If your car still has the original engine check the raised boss behind the distributor to see if that's the number on your title. If the engine's been changed you'll need to contact your state licensing authority to see how to get the title cleaned up. All states have a policy for dealing with this issue although some are more anal than others. Good luck.

Thanks guys, It seems like I read somewhere that the only location for the serial # on the 41 in the US was on the passenger side of the floorboard, but I thought it was worth checking. My 31 is registered to the engine #, but the engine has been changed in this 41, so that kills that possibility. I'll talk to DMV.
Sid

Sid, you are right that originally the 41 serial number was on the passenger floor. However, because of corrosion and wear and tear in this area most have long since fallen off and disappeared, so now the engine number has been used for licensing/registering cars by most states. Also, originally the serial number and engine numbers were different. You're going to enjoy having a 41, lots of support by chat guys who love their 41s.

I have heard that the serial number was located on top of the frame at the left rear wheel hump, also. I have never verified this or know anyone who has. This information was put out by Bob Wingate in a 41 forum at the Indianapolis meet back in the Seventies.

Maybe Chevgene, Ray or Richie, et al, knows. I'm pretthy sure that Richie attended the same forum discussion. He may remember and can thus verify what I'm saying. It may be pure bunk. Don't know but it seems to me that the individual car had to start out as a build for a particular style and and individual serial number to match everything though to the end product. (I didn't say that just right, but you know what I mean).
Good luck.
Charlie

Since the passenger car frames were all the same, except for the cabriolet, the above may not apply.

There are (NO) serial numbers stamped on the 41 Chevy frames (no hidden numbers).

There may not be.

But, how do you know? Have you personally and fully examined one? Or, is it in some written documentation that you have? Or just something you've heard?

It seems to me that you would want to back up such a flat statement with some authoritative proof and/or other support for the claim.
Charlie

are you looking on the bottom of the floorboard? my 1940 tag was on the side of the floorboard just below the passenger door right in the middle. also if yours is missing or has been removed, you would have four holes where the rivets were holding the tag on. It's easy to overlook.

Perhaps you could tell us where to look to find a serial number?

Ray,
As I have contended all along, other than the usual place on the right passenger floor board, I don't know.
Charlie

From the Hotrodders Bulletin Board web site:

Question:

"I can't seem to find a vin number location on a 1941 Chevy Coupe. Is there any other vin number location other than the motor, and the passenger floor plate that people talk about? I bought this car without the motor and the plate is half oxidized. So none of those locations would be of use for my situation. Can it be found on the frame somewhere or stamped into the body somewhere? Please help! Thanks!"

Answer:

"Nope. The body tag located on the passenger's floor panel just inboard of the rocker panel is the only reliable source for the VIN on the '41."

There may not be.

But, how do you know? Have you personally and fully examined one? Or, is it in some written documentation that you have? Or just something you've heard?

It seems to me that you would want to back up such a flat statement with some authoritative proof and/or other support for the claim.
Charlie

????????

Yes, I read Charlie's posting previously a few days ago, however, I ran into the above on the Internet and I thought that some of the guys here would be interesting in reading it.