VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1949-1954 1951 CHEVROLET CAR SERIAL NUMBER

I own two 1951 Chevys.
Both are legal, no issues with the serial numbers.
BUT, I have ongoing issues with the NC DMV, since OCTOBER.
NC PLATES were issued in October, a clear, clean NC TITLE was issued in NOVEMBER.
Issue NOW, for the NC DMV, is the physical appearance of the serial number tag itself.
Serial number tags on both of my 1951 Chevys look identical, both cars were assembled in Janesville, Wisconsin.
3 weeks ago, the issue for the NC DMV was the manner in which the serial number tag was attached to the A pillar (rivets on mine ).
NC DMV said serial number tag had to be welded on, but we got past that point.
Bottom line, today is the third time in 3 months that the NC DMV inspector (police officer) is coming to my home. Very upsetting to this old guy.
I need your assistance now.
IF ANYONE OUT THERE HAS A LEGITIMATE 1951 CHEVROLET PASSENGER CAR, I need a photo of the serial number tag.
Cover part of the serial number itself, if you like, but I need photo proof to show the NC DMV that this car is legal, based on the appearance of the serial number tag.
The NC DMV also states a SECOND SERIAL NUMBER is located on the passenger side of the floor, on the 1951 Chevrolet. Not on mine.
I'm growing weary from this type of action from the NC DMV.
Please assist, if you are able to do so.
Thanks, Bob. 12-29-2016.

Bob I'd love to help, but my Canadian built car has only the firewall tag. We did stuff different up here. Best I can do is bump this to the top, and add my comments that the rivets are correct, and they stopped tagging floors back in the '30's when wood framework went out, as far as I know. Frames were stamped on top of the rails later on in the '50's, but not for the '49-'52's. perhaps you could supply these guys with the number for the GM Heritage Centre in Michigan, where they have experts that and know folks that may have the proper number of letters after their names to talk about these things, instead of guys like yourself that were actually in the business back in the day. Find out what this inspector's credentials are for '49-'52 Chevrolets.

Bob, check your email.

As Brewster mentioned above, the serial number tags for the US Cars were riveted on and there IS NO number on the passenger side floor. The dudes that you are dealing with really need to do their own research so that they will have the correct information. You have another 1951 Chevrolet there that is made in the same factory to back you up so they should use that as documentation.

Yes,
JYDog, I do have two '51's, but he's not buying the serial number tag on either one, because of the DIFFERENT TYPE pics in the shop manual serial number section for '49 to '53, thus my request for a pic from an outside source.
In addition, the rivets are not EXACTLY the same on both vehicles, which casts doubt for him, concerning either tag.
Both are Janesville products, but one was assembled in December of 1950, while the other was assembled in July of 1951.
IT'S MY problem now, because they want to consider revoking the new title they issued, in early November.
I'm on defense now, somehow.
Too old for this type of stress.
P.S.
My tags do not look like these pictured black tags, thus my ongoing problem.
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/models/index.htm
Any pics of yours ?

Bruce,
The officer/inspector quoted the Institute that they use for their facts, certainly he doesn't pretend to be an authority on '49 to '52's.
The floor mounted tag, according to my info, stopped in 1948, the rest of the story is posted in my reply to JYDog.
Thanks for the pic.

I would take a photo of the serial number plate on my '51 but I don't have a digital camera.

The dude that is checking your car is definitely paranoid.

JYDOG,

The police officer / inspector who visits me is the gopher, in this case.

He does the visual inspections, then takes pictures.

He then sends all his pics and info to state capital in Raleigh.

It is there, that those pencil pushers make their demands, etc.

I'm told the P.I.T.A. person, who is making my life miserable, is a newer employee, someone who is trying to make a name for himself.

I agree, and the name I have given him is S.O.B.

Thanks for your feedback, Happy New Year.

Bob.

Has this been resolved?

Bob,
I am in the Sandhills of NC. This is what mine looks like. I bought the car in Mocksville and it had an existing NC title.
Hugh

How have you made out on the serial number issue?

Boy,I apologize.
I thought I filled you guys in, as to the final results.
The ongoing issues for the DMV, in the state capital of Raleigh, was two concerns.
1. Raleigh DMV said the serial number should be spot welded to A Pillar, and not riveted.
I have TWO '51 Chevys, both have the same rivets for the serial number tag.
Local trooper/inspector took pics of serial number tags on both of my '51's, sent them to Raleigh.
Either both tags were correct, or I modified both tags.
Raleigh DMV came back, accepted the rivets ..... only after inspecting a 1951 Chevy at a Raleigh car auction. I guess they didn't trust either of my two '51's to be correct.
2. Raleigh DMV stated my serial number tag did not look like the serial number tag, in the picture, in the Chevy '49 to '53 Shop Manual.
Local trooper/inspector again forwarded pics of both of my '51 serial number tags. Raleigh DMV did not accept those pics as a solution, then told me they could and would revoke the new NC title they had processed for me, before this witch hunt began.
Folks from VCCA, AACA and H.A.M.B. send me pics of their serial number tags, all were forwarded to the Raleigh DMV office.
THEN ..... a couple of folks also sent their pics of their serial number tags, but these tags looked EXACTLY like the serial number tags in the Shop Manual !
Those pics that looked exactly like the tags in the Shop Manual were from Chevy PICK UP TRUCKS.
Raleigh inspected those pick up truck tag pics, as well, then agreed to discontinue the witch hunt, I mean investigation.
I felt I was harassed by the Raleigh DMV, told them the same, then I requested a letter, from the DMV, stating my '51 was legal, with the correct serial number tag, affixed correctly, in the correct location.
Raleigh DMV agreed, I received the above mentioned letter, am hoping it is all finished now.
All this was resolved on 1-11-2017.
To those of you who shared an interest in this thread, thanks.
To those who send pics of your own serial number tags, I give you a very special "thank you".

Bob.

Man, I'm glad you finally got that straightened out Bob.

I just can't believe what they put you through. When I titled my 32 a local police officer came to my house to check out my car. He asked "what do you need me to do? " and when I told him he needed to verify that the car was what I said it was he answered "I have no clue of what I am looking at-where do I need to sign?"

Glad to hear you're going to be on the road in '17, Bob!!

Thanks Dean.

I only wish my story had gone like that, Steve.

Thanks Bruce.

You know, I never understood the steps NC DMV takes.
In my case, I wanted NC title and plates.

1. I was issued plates immediately, paid for plate and state tax, based on NC "appraised value" of my 1951 Chevy, received my registration slip, with new license number on registration. Local DMV readily took my money for the plates and tax. Now I'm immediately out $200.00, but do not know if I'm legitimate, in the eyes of NC.

2. Application for NC title was sent to Raleigh, NC.

3. Local NC trooper/ inspector came to house, several days AFTER buying my plates, to verify serial number on my '51.

It seems the step #3 should have been step #1, because .... in the event there was a serial number snag, the owner would not have $200.00 cash already spent, if there was a serial number error / fraud or whatever.

When I lived in Ohio, an out of state procedure went like this ....

1. Serial number and verification at the local DMV.

2. After immediate verification, plates were issued, owner paid for plates.

3. New title was issued immediately, by the same local DMV.

Those steps made sense to me.

If there is a snag with the serial number, the #2 and #3 transactions are put on hold.

My buddy Jerry bought a '37 Chevy in WA state. We flew out, checked it out, he bought it and we went to the DMV to get temporary paper tags to drive it home to MI. The guy says "You know these are only good in Washington" I had already checked this out. Bull. I asked him if he had to buy a new plate if he drove into Oregon. Idiot.

There you go ...... folks you depend upon to guide you through a process, who don't know their jobs.

Serial number tags were spot welded to the "A" pillar beginning in 1953. I'm not sure if this was done at the beginning of the model run or begun sometime into it...but you will see that serial number tags are generally spot welded on 1953 models. In 1951-52 they were riveted as opposed to being screwed to the pillar which was the practice in 1949-50.

After making this statement I realized that I had not actually seen a 1952 Serial Number Plate...so I began to wonder if my statement was factual. It would seem that 1952 Serial Number Plates were in fact spot welded to the "A"pillar.

Yes, the one in the image is spot welded, but the only '52 that I have seen spot welded.

I recently finished a 3 month trip to hell and back with our NC DMV, the one in the image doesn't match any '51 or '52 serial number photographed and sent to the NC DMV.

The '51 and '52 photographed tags, I mailed to the NC DMV, were riveted.

Don't know what you have there.

Perhaps Kansas City did the spot welding, Janesville did rivets.

Click on this thread, then scroll down almost half way, you'll see a pic of a riveted '52 Kansas City tag, marked in yellow type.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/1951-chevy-serial-number-location-and-appearance.1044867/

Interesting...the photo I posted is a '52 Belair so that may have something to do with it.