Is your title and VIN tag for a '48? That will determine the "year".

A friend had a "stock" Model A Sedan in HS and while it was titled as a '30 it was built from the mortal remains of several 29's, 30's and 31's. The purists picked it apart but it was still a nice old car and he enjoyed the heck out of it for 20 years and the guy that bought it from him didn't care that it was a "mutt" either.

 

I'd recommend you check with your DMV. Some states title by the year of the engine.

 

The vin tag will be on the cab.....that should determine the year. There may also be a vin # stamped into the frame, but I would still go with the cab.......What year paperwork do you have for it?

 

Ok kinda Off Topic butt, have you ever seen a vehicle that you knew was a certain yr, but the owner & title says a yr different that what you know it is ? my dad as a kid worked for several new car dealers in the 50s in albq nm. and (this is a example) say a 53 model vehicle did not sell till the 54yr, the title the owner would get would say the vehicle was a 54. people argue with me on this, but my dad said he seen it happen many Xs(it was legal) i know he said he seen it happen at a dodge dealership, and I think a Chevy dealership. and people tell me No Way. kinda like GM telling the dealerships to put bon ami (comet) in the 1955 Chevy 265 V8s to stop them from burning oil. this was on history channel or discovery channel.


Mustangsaly

 

Ford did it back in the late forties early fifties. Things were a little simpler then. No Gov regs or computerized vins.

 

Mustangsaly....haven't heard of dealers doing things like that as far as the year goes, although some of the other things you mentioned I wouldn't put past some used car dealers. Heard of one that put saw dust in pan to quiet a knock. Needless to say it didn't get very far once it left the lot.

MI2600....I hope they don't go by the engine...LOL....as it will have a '79.

Poncho...Yes the tag is "normally" on the cab on the door jamb but this one is missing.

I guess I meant this more of a discussion as far as cars you see on the road or at shows. I've seen folks with cars and/or trucks registered for a certain year when there are traits of another showing. Case in point is the 48 - 53 chevy pickups. There are a lot of them registered in shows as "48's when they are questionable. Mine for instance will be mostly '48 but the doors will say something different.

Barry

 

i've heard of used car dealer tricks too, but this was a New Car Dealers. and theres some older members on here, that know of or heard of the bon ami (comet) trick this was the GM Solution, not to mention it was on the discovery or history channel, and I think it worked. but changing the yrs on the title so if you bought a new 1951 in 1952 title said 1952.









Mustangsaly

 

they had a recall on some Buick Nailhead v8s back way way before I was around, since the rings wouldnt seat and they'd burn oil (never ending break in period I guess) and they put bon ami down the carb.

I've also heard pepper is a lot les expensive alternative to the 'fix a radiator leak in a bottle' stuff.

 

My dad used to sell MG's in the late 60's and British Leyland told the dealers to tell the customers they could title the year it was made or the year it was sold on the model holdovers. I don't think this could happen again, with the EPA being invoved now.

Doug

 

what year is this

Some of this "wrong year stuff" is from the owner, not the seller. Hot rod Nats recognize only 1948 and older, so if it is the same body as a 48, but its a later year, get it changed and have an "official" hot rod. Also a trick on stolen cars. Say you have a mid 60's corvette with no vin tag. The last digits of the serial number are stamped in the frame. Create the first part of the serial number (year, body style, etc.) and put it in front of the serial numbers. Run a check thru DMV, if it doesn't come up as stolen (because it's a 64 and you ran it as a 65) you can get a replacement/rebuilt title. If it's got parts from different years, and the vin tag has been replaced, I'd walk away. There is also the legit reason. body shops that do insurance rebuilds take 2 cars and piece them together. They use the title that matches the vin, but a lot of the car/truck/van could be a different year. I've seen the entire body except the hood and front fenders and A pillars grafted in an SUV rebuild. When I saw the finished truck, and a price at half of blue book, it looked like a deal for seller and buyer. all of this just supports the idea of buying cars with "matching numbers" .

 

Vin

Doc here, imp:

States vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction..

In California, They go by the year of the body (VIN on the title)

If you have no title, you must present bills of sale for the major parts...Frame , Body , Engine...

Then you must present the car for DMV VIN inspection, an official will inspect the car for numbers, and if it's missing a VIN plate, you must go to the CHP garage..and leave the car.

They will go over it with a fine tooth comb and extract the numbers and report to DMV, who , then will title the car..If it's clear.

If your applying for a new VIN (none ever issued) Then the inspection is much more critical...They will extract all the numbers, and then safety Inspect every inch of the car (right down to the PN's on the lighting system) To verify they are DOT approved parts, Then they will issue AND install a VIN plate.

If you go this route, DMV treats it as a "SPCNS" Specially Constructed Vehicle...AND then you must meet all 2005 safety and emissions regulations..This only applies to vehicles like sandrails and the like built at home..

Something to try, If you DO have a VIN number, take that to DMV , and have them run it for the last owner of record, (If your a titled state) then contact him/her and have them fill out an application for lost title form, and submit that..Here, they will issue a new title on that basis.

Good luck!
Red tape sucks... :sweat:

Doc imp:

 

My old Chevy is clearly a 1951 model, the registration lists a 1950, I investigated it and it is an early '51 actully sold in the 1950 model year, so it was listed and registered as a '50

 

Until 1975 heavy trucks were titled with the year they were sold in. In 1975 they first came out with the anti-lock brakes for heavy trucks and that was when they were forced to title by year of manufacture.

 

TItles

Doc here, imp:

In California, DMV has always titled by year and reflect it as so on the title and registration card:

Year First sold: 00/00/56 ...Make: Chev.....BodyType: CP... Class Vehicle : MP.....VIN: 1234567abcd...Plate Number: 1ABC2345

And they go by the date on the BUILD order...My 1980 Corvette was ordered in September 1980 From Saint Louis...The car was finished (in the mid's of the factory move) in Bowling green...(they didn't produce NEW line cars until Late 81 for 82..) But title shows 1980...

Mine has been registered since new each year in September..although the delivery date wasn't until early/mid 81...

Each state has it's own regulations on title requirements..some don't even title at all...Check to see what yours is at your local DMV website...and comply with those regs.

Doc imp:

 

I was living in Virginia at that time and that was in heavy trucks and not in cars. Sorry.

 

Do you want to be legal?

Legally in some states (NJ is one of them) if you are building a car that is not as original than you will have to get the car titled as a new car. You would have to pass a safety inspection (which I think most cars will fail one since most are just poorly thrown together or at least the ones I have looked at) and meet certain requirements. You would be issued a special vehicle title of some sort.

If you are in CA you can go to Boyd Cottingtons website where he tells you how to legally register your cars. BTW, you do not have to meet all the new car standards-- again read what is on Boyd's website. If you are caught in CA with an illegally registered car you will have pay some bucks to get out of jail.

Many people just get a title (many ways this can be done) for their year car and use that to register their street rod. This is not legal, but no one really checks in most states. Though I suspect as the states realize the revenue they are missing out on they may start to change how they enforce this. CA has already realized this so the other states are soon to follow (see Boyd's website). It is really not to hard to enforce since any car with historic tags shows the car was not registered a new title and then you just have to look a the engine an wheels, not too many Fords came with a 454 or a 350.

I would start by calling your states DMV title office and ask questions without giving your real name. The NJ office was surprisingly helpful. The process of legally registering your car may be much cheaper in the end over getting caught.

Also keep in mind if your car is not legally registered your insurance company might not have to pay off. Check your fine print. If the insurance companies figure this one out you have problems.