VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1933-1936 VIN numbers for a '36 sedan

Where is the official VIN number located on a '36 sedan? I've heard it should be on the engine and that the data plate on the passenger's floor board sill is "other " information about the car, body, color, etc. The data plate would not be considered the official VIN number? Without a matching VIN number from the correct engine tied to title how could a car be legally transferred without assigning a new VIN number via the proper authorities? Need to know what to look for when a purchase is made so the correct information is documented and transferred at sale? Thanks.

There was no such thing as a VIN number in 1936.
Prior to 1955 most states used the engine number for registration.In 1936 it was stamped into the block near the fuel pump.The 1936 engine numbers ran from M5500179 thru M6784512.You may need to scrape off some paint to read the number-It is stamped into a little raised pad.
The serial number should be under the floor mat, next to right front door-between battery cover and door sill.Should read like 8FC50966 as an example.Will have the FC for letters noting that it is a 1936 Standard.The purpose of this tag was for ordering body parts,paint,etc.
The body data plate on the firewall was not used for registration.It contained the body style number,a letter designating where the body was made and production sequence number, the paint number and the trim number which refers to the interior upholstery.
The state you live in will derermine what it wants to use for registration and what it considers legal.

Good luck

I'm not sure what Texas uses these days, but Kansas uses engine numbers for registration, as Chevgene noted. My 36 Master Sedan is M6592102. That's the number that is on the original engine, which is still in the car. There's also another identifying number on the engine that indicates when the engine was cast. This is useful for determinining if the original engine is in the car. For example, mine is GM F226 836010-6. "F" indicates it was cast in June. "226" means 22nd (of June), 1936. The rest of the numbers are the block cast part # and mold #.

i have some cars and truck registered in texas using the engine numbers as the numbers were on the title when i purchased the vehicle the last one was a out of state process that went through the state of maine and they wanted a car number which is on the sill plate on the passenger side sill . the state of texas accepted this also so i have some registered both ways . i think some states require the letters on the car number tag like ae- ba- ea -db-etc. as i tried the engine numbers first and they said they need the other . hope this helps

For years Arkansas used the engine number. If you replaced the engine you needed a "Bill of Sale" for the new engine. This was the documentation to change the number on the title.

Years ago Oregon also registered their vehicles by the engine number. When I hauled home my '32 cabriolet out of California (it was in a barn there for around 40 years) I took it to the Oregon DMV to get the title changed into my name. Since the car was from out of state the DMV also had to inspect the numbers on the car as well. The car was titled in California by the engine number. Since Oregon no longer uses the engine numbers for registration, they re-titled the car using the Car Number (serial number) that was stamped on the serial number plate that was still attached to the wood main sill on the passenger side of the car.

So I learn some more,excuse me for asking a stupid question especially when the answer is right in front of me. But do I read this right the numbers on the data plate on the door sill is different than data on the engine is different? Is there a book that clearly states this? I am in this licensing process in CA, they will send a California Highway Patrolman to check your car, so all info I can supply can only help. I will back up a little here, I called DMV, told them no vin no title did not want to register 2006 standard they said did not have to, will issue CA ID # after a CHP verifies it is the year in question, but I did need a Bill Of Sale which I have. By the way at the CA DMV with todays employees its best to use the term Vin, if you try to be smarter than them first the door closes a little.

Yes,The engine nimber and serial numbers are different.The engine numbers for a 1933 will be prefixed by a M or an S, with several numbers following
The serial number will beging with one or two numbers,then the letters CA or CC plus several more numbers.

Thanx Gene! To GMO if you spend some time reading all posts from all years pertaining to the subject vin#, serial#, data plates, registering vehicles and licensing vehicles you will formulate your own answer and gain a tremendous amount of knowledge. The one common one is every state is different on how they handle this. One other idea, at the DMV deal with only one person and wait for that one person even if it takes an hour or two of your time, the trick is finding that one person, good luck Gerry Moe