1950 Dodge Coronet VIN QUESTION

[1950DodgeC]

I am trying to register my 1950 Dodge Coronet in FL from alabama, but they are giving me a hard time about the VIN verification. The door Jam has a VIN plate and the officer is trying to tell me its not the original. She is also trying to tell me the Engine number is suppose to match the VIN PLATE on the Door. I tried to tell her thats not the case and then she is trying to tell me there is suppose to be another tag on the firewall that matches the VIN plate...

- CAN ANYONE TELL ME IF THERE IS ANOTHER VIN LOCATION ON THE VEHICLE THAT WILL MATCH THE VIN PLATE?

[Plymouthy Adams]

The vin number is one thing, the body number is another and the engine number is yet a third distinct number...the body number on the door jumb is correct for registeration as would be the engine number...according to where it was first registered..being a 1950 your engine number would have to begin with D34 in order for it to be correct..(the smaller D33 still have engine desigination of the larger car) If the lady is fighting registration over engine number from an original document and the engine may have been changed, ask them for the correct form for an officer to drop by your house to nspect the vehicle and annotate the correct body number...odds are you have a person not really up to speed concerning the older cars..a casual converstion with the director of the facility may get quicker, more accurate results..I have found this to be true in most all cases..

[1950DodgeC]

The officer is trying to tell me the VIN plate on the Door and the Engine Number are suppose to match... I have a bill of sale along with the registration that have the Door VIN number on it and she wont sign off on it.

[Plymouthy Adams]

you can't fight city hall and ignorance..you getting a double dose...ask them to quote you the DMV statute or better yet produce said statue for you to read...they will be so far out in left field it is not funny...typical case of what they want..not the law...is there another office you can take this to..maybe even better, a quick e-mail to the state capital with the officers name and branch number in the subject..ask for clarification...have had to do this before...state level may be best avenue of approach. Fought my local for long time..got po'd went to state level..walked out 15 minute later not only with clarification..but with legal new title assigned to me on the spot..kicked myself for even trying to talk with the locals...at the first sign of trouble..go higher...

[oldmopar]

Ask the office where in the dmv code it states that the engine and vin # are the same and must match.

Sometimes its easier to just go to a different DMV office.

[PatS....]

Sometimes its easier to just go to a different DMV office.

My solution as well, works almost every time!!!!

Incidentaly, the 1950 door jamb number is NOT a V.I.N., it's a serial number.

The modern universal 17 digit V.I.N. was started around 1980.

Before that it was whatever the maker decided it was as far as what, if anything, it meant and whether they matched the engine.

This clerk needs to be retrained.

[greg g]

Most mopar cars of the 40 and 50 had a Manufacturers Serial number on one or the other A pillar doorposts. There is also a Body number on a plate on the firewall. These bodies were made off site by another manufacturer (Plymouth used Briggs Bodies, don't know about Dodge) and also a series specific engine number stamped into a boss on the engine. None of these were "matched" like a "numbers matching corvette.

If you commuicate with the Chrysler Historic folks at the Walter P Chrysler museum, they will ask you what your serial number is. They can then do a build card look up for you (the fee is about 50 bucks) Thie will provide you with a facsimile of the build card. the build card will specify, the serial number, the engine number, and the body number (none of which are related to each other except by this instrument) and they can tell you where and when the car was built and what dealership it was originally sent to.

Some states used engine numbers, but engines were treated like parts, and were swaped as routine mantanence.

So if the serial number is the key for Chrysler Corporation, it should be good enough for the Florida Dumb M V.

I think Flaorida is unique in that each county has an office and ya gotta go there if you live in that county.

Next time ask to see the office supervisor or manager, before you start your transaction attempt.

[BobT-47P15]

I think the only other thing the motor number matches is the number

stamped into the frame a bit in front of the left rear wheel.

Otherwise, as others just said, the door tag and firewall tag do not

match the motor number. And when the motor has been replaced,

then, of course, it matches nothing at all. My engine number, used on

the MO title, is 9 digits including the beginning "P".

[TodFitch]

All been said in this thread before but here is something that might get through the slow witted bureaucrat's skull since they are unlikely to accept your word: Have them call the Chrysler historical collection with the serial number in hand. I believe that the collection will handle an official call like that immediately and they can tell the clerk about serial numbers, body numbers and engine numbers and look up the build card to tell them if they "match" (i.e. were shipped as one unit).

Since it will be the manufacturer's representative telling them the information rather than someone they think is trying to scam them maybe they will get a clue.

http://www.ply33.com/Misc/vin

http://www.ply33.com/Misc/buildcard

[TodFitch]

I have not looked for the # on the frame, but I was under the impression that that # matched the door post

The number on the frame should be the original engine number not the door post (serial) number.

[Young Ed]

Trucks at least 39-47 have the serial # stamped into the frame. Never found the engine # on one.

[1950DodgeC]

Well, she called me back and told me she would not sign off on it and that I would have to take it up to the DMV and talk to them about it. She is from the Sheriff's office, so you know how they are. the 2 times before that it was registered with the serial number on the door in texas and alabama, NOW all of a sudden its a problem??????

I do appreciate everyone's advice.

[B-Watson]

Little bit late on this, but that police officer should be advised the car's VIN was not mandated to be placed on the engine until January 1, 1968. And that was a PARTIAL VIN as well, not the full VIN. Thus there will not be a VIN in any way, shape or form on a 1950 model.

Also, some manufacturers, such as Chrysler, had an engine number that was not related to the VIN. Thus on engines built by Chrysler after January 1, 1968, you will find both the engine number (front of the block) and the partial VIN toward the rear on inline engines and side centre on V8 engines.

I am surprised the official is not questionning the VIN itself. The present day 17-digit VIN was mandated on all 1981 and later vehicles. Prior to that there were no industry standards and an auto maker could, and did, choose any format they fancied. The 1950 Dodge Coronet has an 8-digit VIN (or Vehicle Number as Chrysler called them back them). Surprised they are not upset the number is nine digits short.

The Serial Number / Vehicle Number / Vehicle Identification Number for a 1950 Dodge Coronet, D34 :

Detroit - 31420001 to 31660411

LosAngeles - 45505001 to 45515652

SanLeandro - 45064001 to 45077531

Windsor - 99004001 to 99007100

Engine numbers (D33 Wayfarer fell in the same sequence) -

America - D34-1001 to D34-341043

Canada - D34-1001-C to D34-8100-C

Bill

Vancouver, BC

[greg g]

Make an appointment to see the sheriff, or at least one off the under sheriffs.

Deputies are the paid help you need to speak to one of the top dogs.

[oldmopar]

Well, she called me back and told me she would not sign off on it and that I would have to take it up to the DMV and talk to them about it. She is from the Sheriff's office, so you know how they are. the 2 times before that it was registered with the serial number on the door in texas and alabama, NOW all of a sudden its a problem??????

I do appreciate everyone's advice.

The thing I do not understand if it has a title or registration from another state why you cannot take it to the dmv and just get a title for your state like any other car.

[JerseyHarold]

Why not go back to the state that issued the title that was signed over to you and get a new title from them in your name. Then, turn it in for a new one from your state.

[48mirage]

If it is like Kansas any vehicle that comes into the state with an out of state title has to be inspected by the local sheriffs department. There may be another option, the Kansas Hiway Patrol can also do the vin verification. These guys are typically smarter than the local yokels.

[oldmopar]

If it is like Kansas any vehicle that comes into the state with an out of state title has to be inspected by the local sheriffs department. There may be another option, the Kansas Hiway Patrol can also do the vin verification. These guys are typically smarter than the local yokels.

I guess this is one good think about New jersey If you have a title and $20.00 you get a new title. The only headace here is trying to get something titled that does not have a existing title or registration.

[JerseyHarold]

I guess this is one good think about New jersey If you have a title and $20.00 you get a new title.

That's one good thing you have to say about the Garden State. My wife and I recently bought a car from an auction. Within 10 minutes of getting the signed-over title, we went across the street to Motor Vehicles and had a new title in our name.

[Frank Elder]

In omaha if you buy an out if state car you must show actual vehicle to the inspector and all he does is check the VIN against the paperwork charges you $15.00, then you drive around to the other side of the building to the DMV and get your new title.

No inspection of automobile functions by the way, lites

horn wipers just paperwork!

[TodFitch]

In omaha if you buy an out if state car you must show actual vehicle to the inspector and all he does is check the VIN against the paperwork charges you $15.00, then you drive around to the other side of the building to the DMV and get your new title.

No inspection of automobile functions by the way, lites

horn wipers just paperwork!

Minus the $15 charge, that is basically what happened to me when I moved to California in 1978: Drove the car to the side of the DMV building and a person, I assume inspector, came on out and checked the number on the car against the number on the paperwork. He did not like the fact that the engine number, body number and serial number were different but since one of the numbers matched (serial number) he signed off.

[Frank Elder]

MY oh my how things have changed in your neck of the woods! My daughter dahlia, says you darn near have to work on your car in secret out there and can it pass inspection afterwards.

Even farther ot..I hear Mike Singletary is your new coach, I bet he can whip em into line!

[TodFitch]

MY oh my how things have changed in your neck of the woods! My daughter dahlia, says you darn near have to work on your car in secret out there and can it pass inspection afterwards.

Even farther ot..I hear Mike Singletary is your new coach, I bet he can whip em into line!

The local city council this week passed regulations that require major work (body work, engine overhauls, etc.) on a car to be done in a enclosed area (i.e. out of sight) and hours allowed (7AM to 10PM to keep from bothering neighbors). But they did eliminate the previous calendar time limit for the work to be completed. No real change for me as I have always kept the yard and driveway clear of "work in progress" and tried to do any noisy work at reasonable hours. So I guess your daughter is correct, the work does get done in secret. But that fits with how I have personally done it even when I lived in neighborhoods where everyone had a project car in the driveway. I have never liked having a messy front yard. The back yard is an entirely different matter. . .

And to show how little I follow sports and popular culture, I had to Google "Mike Singletary" to figure out your reference.

[Hooliganxmotorsports]

I have a 1950 Dodge Wayfarer and the Title has the engine block number on it. My car I think spent most of its life in Arkansas.

 

My wife has a 1949 Dodge Wayfarer and her title is the same as the body serial number. Her car spent most of it's life and California.

 

Now i have done research and found that the D34 in my 1950 model is applicable.

 

I checked my wife's engine code however and it has an Engine code of D51.

 

Can anyone give me some insight on what the specs on both of these are?

[Sniper]

D51 is a 1954 engine

 

https://www.t137.com/registry/help/otherengines/dengines.html