Where can I find the VIN on my car?

[Guest junkOnWheels]

I bought a 1946 Dodge club coupe from a guy in NY. I want to register it but I can't find the VIN. The only numbers I can find are the serial numbers on the inside of the door jam.

I was told that the VIN is stamped some ware on the frame? Is this true and if it is where on the frame should I look? I did look at the frame but, I am unable to locate the VIN.

I actually have an insurance card of a previous owner with the VIN number on the insurance card, so, I know what the number should be. I just can't find it to prove it is the car I bought.

Did these cars have VIN plates on the firewall?

If anybody can help I would appreciate it.

[Guest junkOnWheels]

I forgot to mention. I don't have the original motor in the car. The engine and transmission have been changed.

[BobT-47P15]

Then, you should find a number stamped into the outside of the frame a little bit in front of the left rear wheel. Probably have to do some wire brushing to see it. Usually a good coat of crud on the frame. If there is no title and you have to get a new one, you might consider using the number on that door frame tag instead. Then it will be obvious to others as well.

[greg g]

What state are you in now? NY should have used the serial number as its registration reference. NY was a non title state until 1972 or 73, prior to that the registration reciept was transferable. As far as I can recall, NY always used the manufacturer's serial number. VIN's are fairly recent adaptations. dating perhaps from the early to mid 60's. Did you get a NY registration certificate when you bought the car, if so the seller should have signed and dated the back of it, either filling your name as the buyer or leaving it blank for subsequent transfer to someone else. If the seller gave you a bill of sale, he should have noted the serial number on the document.

[greg g]

Thats wierd Shel, My 52 Plymouth, 60 Dodge, 63 Rambler American, 66 mustang were all serial based, not to mention a couple two three motorcycles.

Well we are talking about the mysteries of State Govt.

[Charlie Olson]

In WA, my PLYWOOD was registered with the engine number; when I moved to AZ, the state agent searched and uncovered the factory VIN on the passenger door post.

[Guest junkOnWheels]

I guess I screwed up real bad as far as the paperwork goes, because I only received a hand written bill of sale and no VIN or serial number on it. The bill of sale only states 1946 dodge and how much I paid for it.

The guy I bought the car from had never registered the car. He gave me the previous owners info (old registration card & insurance card with VIN on it).

I live in Connecticut and any vehicle from out of state has to go thru a VIN verification at the DMV.

The last time the car was registered was back in 1988, in NY, and the registration used the 8-digit VIN number.

I am going to try and clean off the frame by driver side tire tomorrow. Hopefully I will find the number under there.

The VIN number I have is “D2499017”, does that look like a legitimate manufacturer VIN?

[Guest usedmind]

I bought my car in Indiana and brought it to Ohio on a flatbed. The guy whole sold me the car dated when he sold it to me giving me only 30 days to get my car down to the DMV before a fine was incurred.

They didnt quite grasp the concept that a car I had brought to my house on a flatbed might not be running to the extent that it could make it to the DMV. She told me that since I bought the car out of state I HAD to get it to either a DMV or a Highway patrol to not incure a fine.

Since we were on the topic anyone know if there are any laws to keep me from paying this fine once I can get my car to the DMV? Someone must understand a car you find in a field that is 60 years old, might need alil more than a temporary set of tags to get it to the DMV.

[greg g]

The D24 number is the engine number. It should be stamped on to a flatspot cans in the block above the generator and just below the head. The D 24 is the Dodge model number and the following digits are the engine sequence number. As mentioned before some localities used the engine number and some used the serial number. Perhaps this led to the confusion that the federally mandated VIN numbers addressed. So a couple of questions:

Does your car have the serial number plate? It should be a rectangular or oval tag with a number embossed on it riveted to the A pillar. Could be on eiter side I think Plymouths were on the passenger side and Dodge was on the driver's.

What is the engine number?

Both of these if they exist will give you some idea about your car's history. The serial number will tell you whee and when it built. The engine number will verify if it is a model corect engine of if some one swapped in another one.

Remeber back in the day, motors were routinely ovehauled, at 40 to 50K, as the metalurgy of the rings and other components plus the low tech oil lead to higher wear then we are used to. To that end it was sometimes easier and les expensive to source an engine from a junkyard, a rebuilder, or even Sears and Roebuck. Sears sold remanufactured complete engines for between 150 and 190 dollars. So transplants were common to these cars. If the old registration you have witht he number mentioned on it matches your engine number, it would seem you would be good to go. And if the ins card matches the serial number, that might work for you also. Is the registration signed by the owner of record onthe reg??? If not can you write like an old guy??????

[JerseyHarold]

Every '51-'52 Plymouth I ever had came from New York and the old registrations had the motor number on them, not the VIN on the doorpost.

I would recommend contacting the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles (their website is www.nysdmv.org) They are very easy to deal with and will help you to correct the paperwork.

In my case, I had a 1974 NYS registration for my '51 business coupe, with the engine number on it. When I moved to New Jersey, I decided to get a NJ title for the car. When I went to New Jersey DMV, they refused to issue me a title with a VIN on it. I then contacted NYS DMV, and they told me to bring my old paperwork, a valid insurance card showing the VIN, and a tracing of the VIN off my car. They issued me a New York State registration with the VIN, which I then turned-in to NJ to get a title here.

New York also has a procedure for lost or insufficient paperwork. Call them, explain your situation completely and honestly, and they can probably help you.

[Guest junkOnWheels]

the engine and transmission have been changed by the seller of this car. I am guessing the previous owner must of had it registered with the engine number.

The serial number in on the inside post of the drivers door. It is also an 8-digit number. If the old engine is gone...maybe I can register it with the serial.

I did go to the car today...cleaned off the frame on both sides and back tire area too, but still found no numbers.

I guess I will call DMV in NY and see what they say.

[TodFitch]

I bought my 1933 Plymouth in Rochester, NY in 1973 and the registration had the engine number on it rather than the serial number. The car had been shipped from the factory to a Rochester dealer so I am pretty sure the car had always been local to the upstate NY area.

When I registered the car in Maryland in 1974 I had them change to use the serial number. I handed the clerk the NY paperwork and my notes that said what the engine, serial and body numbers were and requested that the Maryland registration be based on the serial number. The clerk disappeared for about 20 minutes. When she came back she said the numbers all matched and there would be no problem registering it with the serial number.

At the time I though she simply took a coffee break. Now I wonder if she had been on the phone with the people at the Chrysler archives. . .

[Don Coatney]

At the time I though she simply took a coffee break. Now I wonder if she had been on the phone with the people at the Chrysler archives. . .

Tod;

You should know that coffee breaks have priority at BMV offices:D

[JerseyHarold]

One thing I forgot to mention in my first post was that NY will probably ask for a pencil tracing of the VIN to confirm that it's the number you say it is. I had to do that every time I changed from engine number to VIN on my registrations. It might not hurt to take a digital photo of the VIN plate in addition to the pencil tracing. Hope this helps.

[greg g]

Did you find the engine number??? Be interesting to see what it was switched to.

[JerseyHarold]

Shel,

I'm surprised you needed a policeman to verify your VIN tracing. I got one of my '52's registered in Staten Island with only an old insurance policy (from 1969 showing the engine number), a typewritten bill of sale from the prior owner showing the VIN, the VIN tracing, and a fresh insurance card in my name with the VIN.

I think it helps to go to the DMV office and be neat and polite so it helps establish your credibility. You also need a little luck to get the 'right' person who understands the situation and has the authority to make it happen.