VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 VIN - Serial number Locations

I am sure this has been covered but I searched and didn't find what I need...

I have a 1938 2dr sedan and am finally getting to the point of registering and licensing and don't want any surprises. I have literally been over every square inch of the body and frame and have found no VIN or serial numbers anywhere but on the tag on the cowl. I don't have the original engine. Where are the numbers suppose to be or is the tag the only spot?
Picture of tag on cowl:

Do you have the title from the previous owner? Your car could be identified on the title by the tag number on the firewall or (big hurt) if it was identified by the engine number and you with no engine.

I would contact any DMV in the state for the rules. Don't check with the local office which you will use for the actual registration. That would be 'tipping your hand'. You want to know more than the local DMV to prevent any surprises.

Thanks Ray
I have a bill of sale from when I bought it 12 yrs ago from a gentleman from Chicago .. I have a copy of a notarized title which the original has been lost (long story). Anyway I just want to know if any of those numbers are located elsewhere? I have 12 years of work in the car and would like to get it ready for the street.

I don't believe there are any numbers anywhere else on the car other than the engine number. They frequently used the engine serial number on the title back then. Does the number on the title copy match the car number on the ID plate?

The serial number is on the bottom of the upper tag in the picture. Stamped in.

Your in SO CALIF. should be real easy,with paper work you have should be enough and have the dmv do the rest.(they will need to do a vin check, might be a good time to make an appt. first)
If you have AAA that`s even easier, they will do the VIN check in the parking lot, and finsh up with your title, IF your planning to run YOM plates, do not try to do both at the same time. title your car, then go back and do the YOM plates.
try to use the WESTMINSTER DMV THEY SEEM TO HAVE IT TOGTHER, and are real quick to get you in and out. but I use both , west. dmv, and AAA

Thanks all
So no numbers anywhere else correct? I just want to know more than the DMV inspectors.

That is the attitude you must present if you think there may be a flaw in the procedures.

Happy Birthday Ray, I just noticed your cake icon.

Thanks Tiny! Each year is more difficult at this age. At least I got 81 out of the way.

I agree with Chevgene.

There should be a department for verifying cars in California. Inquire about this and take the information to them before the DMV. The following is what I would do in NC.

Decipher the VIN Number. You can show anyone then what the letters and number represent. Master Deluxe, Master or whatever, 2dr, 4 dr etc. Plus that the number for the particular vehicles started with 1001. What year and month it was built, etc. Some don't know that information and it speaks for itself that you know your car.

Do not take the serial number plate off the car or, if you already have, don't take it with you. They are not supposed to be taken off. Instead take a pencil rubbing. Use a pencil and a sheet of paper and make several attempts to shade in the serial number.

If the rubbing doesn't turn out well, take the best one anyway. They will come out to your place and do it themselves to see if they can get a better rubbing and to see the plate in person.

After verifying the serial number from the plate and checking their data base for no stolen car, they will give you a verification paper that you can take with you to the DMV. It should, then, be a piece of cake to obtain a title and the plates you want (regular, historical, vintage, horseless carriage, etc. With a proper plate on board the car, then, most states will let you run the year plate on the car. Check as to what CA has as a policy.

Good luck with it. I have "been there and done that" in NC. (NC is a tough state. Our DMV motto here seems to be: "If at all possible, do not issue a title or plate for an old car, especially one from out of state. If all the paperwork is not absolutely A-1, then make up an excuse to turn the applicant down. Turn down several times is best and brings the most joy to the DMV clerk. Applicant anger, frustration and disappointment is preferred over satisfaction, every time. Above all, do not offer any helpful advice to the applicant, ever.")

Best,

Charlie

Mr59, is correct...I had to take my '47 down after not having registered for some time...They'll want to take a look/see...What will end up appearing on the title will probably be the engine #...It's good to have that issue cleared up...The time I had to take my '47 down the moron didn't even know where the engine # was...And asked if I had a flash-light so he could see it...I almost ended up going to jail... Just kidding...Yeah, get an appointment, they'll be a boat load of others there...I went there before I took the car, just to know what to expect...I don't think AAA can take care of this...You have to bring the vehicle down so DMV can check the #'S or you'll end up at the CHP office...Good Luck...

They don't care about a bill of sale...Anyone could write a bill of sale...They just want to see the goods...

I have alot of pratice at this, that`s why I use AAA for the titles
DMV for the YOM plates

Thanks to all for your help with this one. No telling what the DMV will put me through but I feel allot more confident to tackle it now.

Regards
Doug

Up here in Concord my AAA wouldn't have anything to do with Title's/Inspection other than to transfer ownership...They pointed me towards DMV...But, it's in the same parking lot, so it was just a short walk...And, yes AAA won't touch YOM plates with a 10 foot pole...That's a DMV issue...

I was standing at the counter with my YOM plates and they tried to tell me they had been issued to a motorcycle already...What a laugh...I asked to see the Sup...Problem solved.

In CA, the DMV wants a unique number that is attached to the body or frame. They won't use the engine number because the engine can be swapped out.

If you still have the cowl tag attached to the body, cool. Take the car to a user-friendly DMV (yes, there are some out there) and get the car registered with regular plates. I scheduled my appointment at the DMV to coincide with taking my 1927 Chevy truck to a show. Since my truck was up on a trailer anyway, it was easy to get it to the DMV. ;-)

If you don't have the cowl tag, you'll have to take the car to a Highway Patrol office (call and make an appt.) for them to assign and attach a new VIN number to the car. They put (rivet) two on the car: 1 on the body somewhere and one on the chassis. They also issue you a form that is a report of their inspection.

With the Highway Patrol report in hand, you can then register the car.

Do the YOM plate in a separate effort after the car is registered. KISS (keep it simple silly) because that's how to be successful with the DMV. You can ask AAA or the DMV if the numbers you have on the YOM plates are being used for any other vehicle. If they are clear (nobody is using the number), proceed.

Cheers, Dean

I have to disagree with you on that one, Dean...My California Title VIN #'s have always been the Engine Serial #...In case the engine is "swapped" DMV has a form for that change, too. Your issued a new Title, same as if you changed license plates...But, you can go to the CHP and go that route as an option. Seen it done to my buddy's truck...In fact, I think DMV sent him there. Poor guy...The gal at the DMV must have been having a bad day...

I did my YOM plates at the same time, too. I don't have time to "cool my heels" in line at the DMV...

My 48 uses the S/N on the passenger A pillar. Could be because the engine has been replaced 2 times before I got it.

i have also done both YOM plates and a new title all in 1 DMV visit, but the chances for something to go wrong increases,,,(now this is the DMV that gave me this warning) so I do the extra trip and do my plates another day.
(the DMV clerk did look overwhelmed when she was handed all the paperwork and plates)
a DMV "statement of facts" can help you go from engine number to vin number, and also a misread vin number to the correct numbers, I had that on my 47 convert, for 40 years the old owner had the vin plate misread on the title, statement of facts at AAA cleared that up

I do have a misread on the Vin and title where a 6 was written as a G which will add to the confusion. thanks for that info. now just to gather enough nerve to go to the DMV and get started.

just show all the supporting paper work, with either the wrong or the right number,,statement of facts showing it was a type-o then your good to go.
same thing on my 47 convert. the mistake was made back in `62, and it had the wrong number all these years till 2010