Thread: VIN ID number on a 32

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At a car show today- the question of ID numbers came up on hot rods using aftermarket bodies & frames.
My body is a steel RodBod, my frame is TCI. The number is stamped on driver frame rail in 3/8 numbers by the car builder & after powdercoat- is almost non-visible. I have severeal titles (3) (I'm the 3rd owner) right from day of assembly & a current title/pink w/ number on it.
Several officers were judging the show- looking for the pic for "car most likely to be pulled over". Note, these cops were real cool. They were commenting on a Rat Rod several over from me that was "owner stamped" and said he would be in a world of hurt w/ those numbers- especially if it came up as questionable.

The subject came to my car &my almost invisible number- registered as a 1932 BTW since 1999. They suggested getting some type of aluminum plate pro stamped w/ correct 1/4 tall numbers w/ the star before & after & one of them can verify it (they weren't even sure if the stars are even needed on a repop plate). They said you could even go to a sign place & have a tag printed in aluminumized vinyl w/ the numbers & again, have the numbers verified. Or- stamp the frame. No way am I stamping a finished frame. There is a simple form for this VIN verification. None said I would be hassled- I have registration in car w/ number & insurance cert w/ number & they said that'sprobably as far as they would look.
All this talk has be concerned though- especially if I drove out of state.
Anyone have some facts? Who can print a legit plate?
Pics of yours & how visible it is?

For my last project, I bought a reproduction Ford Patent plate and had the ID number stampted in it. I stamped the legal number that matched my legal title.

http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb.dll?parta~partsort

Every state has different requirements and different regulations... What's legal here might not fly elsewhere. As long as you are legal in the state where registered, that should be enough... The inspector here likes to see the numbers stamped in the frame, not on a tag. Anybody with a set of number punches can make a tag. When I do a frame, it's stamped one place that is very visible, and a couple other places that are not so visible!!!!

Dave,

Are those numbers then used as the VIN?

Regardless of any numbers stamped in a frame - or on a MSO, Virginia issues a new VIN plate.

Nebraska didn't care what was stamped on the frame (nothing, since it was a TCI) since my repro plate matched my title.

Most DMVs could fubar a bread sandwich.

Just as FYI- I brought up my car to the officers when they were talking about the Rat Rod. They are all car guys & one is a buddy.
After talking to them- we followed them around looking at how cars are tagged.
Some had stamped frames, some had a vinyl sticker stuck in several locations. A buddies 37 Ford glass/TCI car has a vinyl sticker attached low on driver side dash- in similar location as a new car. Some had what looked like a home made aluminum plate that was stamped & then riveted to either firewall or frame. They were all over the map!!!! Seems like everything goes!
The coolest was a 34 Ford Roadster that had a brand new repop black Ford square plate w/ numbers at top, stamped into the tag. Said Ford Motor Co & looked very official w/ all the patent numbers below it. I believe this plate is probably more correct on a 40's car than a 32. All the cops liked the "official" look of the Ford tag. The tag was punched in all 4 corners for rivets & was aluminum & was obviously not owner stamped. I asked the owner of car who made the tag & I got that "deer in the headlights" look. Maybe because I was with several uniforms. I found out later he just bought the car & didn't know squat about the car.
Anyone have a link to the Ford tag? That tag would look very cool on my black frame. All the officers said if they pulled U over- they would run the VIN on the registration. If it came up 32 Ford & lic plate matched, end of story.

Jack- your link comes up "Invalid entry"

Originally Posted by Henry Rifle

Dave,

Are those numbers then used as the VIN?

Regardless of any numbers stamped in a frame - or on a MSO, Virginia issues a new VIN plate.

Nebraska didn't care what was stamped on the frame (nothing, since it was a TCI) since my repro plate matched my title.

Most DMVs could fubar a bread sandwich.

Yup, they become the VIN once your car passes inspection and the registration is processed.

Originally Posted by Steves32

!
The coolest was a 34 Ford Roadster that had a brand new repop black Ford square plate w/ numbers at top, stamped into the tag. Said Ford Motor Co & looked very official w/ all the patent numbers below it. I believe this plate is probably more correct on a 40's car than a 32. All the cops liked the "official" look of the Ford tag. The tag was punched in all 4 corners for rivets & was aluminum & was obviously not owner stamped. I asked the owner of car who made the tag & I got that "deer in the headlights" look. Maybe because I was with several uniforms. I found out later he just bought the car & didn't know squat about the car.
Anyone have a link to the Ford tag? That tag would look very cool on my black frame. All the officers said if they pulled U over- they would run the VIN on the registration. If it came up 32 Ford & lic plate matched, end of story.

One of my partners has a trophy and T-shirt shop that his wife runs... Wait til you see my "original" Shelby ID and VIN tag that will be on the Ranchero!!!!!!

I've seen the Ford patent tags advertised on eBay from time to time. You can either send the folks your information and have in engraved, or get a blank tag and have a local trophy shop do the engraving....

It probably came up invalid because of the internal search. Try googling "Ford Patent Plate."

Ok- I searched EBAY & found this one. This is the exact tag I saw- except above Ford was a space the width of the tag to stamp the ID number.

Ok - I found what I want. I found them here- a whopping $3.95 a pop.
I ordered the 2nd one from top.
In case anyone else wants an "official" looking tag...........Go here.


http://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/mo...rts/DataPlates

I'm not sure what you're trying to accomplish here, but the way I read it you might be confused about how Ford applied a VIN.

The aluminum plates you've attached pictures of are Patent numbers applicable to various years of production. These were done mostly by Ford because of disputes in the early 1900's over Selden patents (do a Google search if you're interested in that history).

While your cop buddies may believe they are being helpful in advising you have the VIN punched into an aluminum plate and attached to the body their advice won't help you if you're either looking for "autheniticity" or to avoid potential legal problems in another state (unlikely unless you either move or sell). Ford never used an attached plate in those years, the VIN was stamped on the left frame rail both in front of the firewall legs and on the portion that rises over the rear axle. Also it was often stamped on the bellhousing (less dependable because of the ease of swaping parts). Not only are the stars before and after a tipoff, but the shape of the number 9 is also unique. Most knowledgable state inspectors are tuned into these locations and "peculiarities" so you would likely be causing yourself exposure to charges of fraud if you tried to pass off an aluminum plate stamped VIN as "original".

As for a number of cars having a variety of plates attached in a number of locations and being done in a number of sizes, that's the nature of incorrect, non-standardized, useage. Also, they may be a method of attaching a state assigned VIN (often used for salvaged, assembled, and questionable origin [ne. abandoned] vehicles, though most of them will have the name and seal of the assigning state.

The State assigned VINs I've seen from Ca., at least in recent years, have had the State Seal, and say California (along with other words).

One like this is correct for 1932's ... without the number ...
The numbers were stamped " By hand " at the Ford factory in 1932 ... in three places. The most visible one is just at the firewall on the drivers side ...

Ford never used an attached plate in those years

The inspectors in Omaha had no clue about that. They were more interested in scoping the car. Kansas is a different story, though. The guy who wrote the inspection procedures there was a real hardass.

You can get an small VIN plate from Scott McCreary--a fellow '32 owner/builder. I got mine from him. All you have to do is to stamp the number on it. I had my numbers engraved on it at a local trophy shop. I have one on the firewall and one on the frame. His email address is: poorfarm@wilkshire.net. Nice guy, too.

I had two stainless steel tags made and engraved with the VIN number from the original (?) registration. These were fixed to the car, one on the firewall the other hidden on the frame. These were then reviewed by a policeman and certified by him as matching the current registration and properly attached to the vehicle. This is per State of Florida regulations and the cop was my son.