no title

[mike wenschlag]

Hi again everyone the subject of that grille is same truck that has no title or registration, I lived on a farm growing up and for as long as I can remember it has been sitting in trees,just before my dad passed away he said it was mine if I wanted it, I said sure, so it sat another 10years then I gave to one of my boys.my mom has no idea where it came from there is no info or record of where my dad got it. There is no vin# on it,how is my boy to get it titled,thanks

 

[ShadetreeRet]

Obviously your state does title vehicles. If it belonged to your father, the DMV may still have a record of the truck in his name, that being the case, you may be able to apply for a replacement title. I have also heard, but never had it confirmed, that vehicles back then had an ID number stamped somewhere on the frame. You might contact a member of a local collectors club and ask about that. Just some thoughts, and good luck.

 

[Gambles]

Welcome to the world of getting a replacement title. It used to be (and maybe still are!) that there were companies that would "buy" your vehicle, get a title from some state that had loose title requirements, and then "sell" the vehicle back to you. You are best to avoid this method as some states could impound your vehicle from some company like this.
In your case, I would find a DMV in a small county and sit down and talk to an employee that will help you out. (I think they still exist. I know they do in my county that has a population of about 3,000) One of the best methods is to put a mechanics or a storage lien on the truck and possibly have the state issue you a new title.
Finding a usable VIN might be tricky, as early vehicles didn't necessarily have them underneath the windshield. It could be on the frame, the door, or even the numbers off of the engine block. Are there absolutely no old insurance or registration papers in the glove box?
BTW, to answer your previous post, you can not chrome or put a finish on anything that has body putty on it.

 

[ericlb]

back in that day the vin number is the motor number its on the block itself, the truck could have come on the place when your family bough it hence no information on it, you can file for lost title with most dmv's usually theyll check to make sure its not stolen or has a lein against it anywhere and issue a replacement title, if you get a dmv person who obviously doesnt know their job you need to go to a different one, i did this long ago with a 1938 chevy coupe i built up into a street rod the body we found in a creek bed and drug out and rebuilt, [ i wont do that again] there was no info on that thing either

 

[Anonymous-0]

For a 49 Chevy truck the VIN tag should be on the drivers door post. Open the door and look between the hinges on the door post. The ID tag is mounted with two rivets.

 

[mike wenschlag]

Ya I saw the tag it just has serial # just tells me when and where it was made

 

[mike wenschlag]

Thanks for the info,since posting this I spoke with a lawyer, he said to file an affidavit of small claims,so I guess I'll try that

 

[willie in mn]

The serial number on the tag is what was used in "most states" back in the prehistoric years. That number was also stamped on the frame. The VIN is a relatively new name for the same thing, & includes more info such as which engine etc was installed at factory.
Key word is "most states".
In states where license fees were based on original cost, or weight, the plates & registration stayed with the body/frame serial number, no matter what engine may have been installed later.
In states where the fees were horsepower based, the plates & registration stayed with the engine block, no matter what body/frame it may be later transplanted into.
Then there is Wisconsin, & maybe a few others. If it hasn't changed recently, the plates stay with the owner, no matter what vehicle he/she happens to own at the time. When trading cars, the old plates got transfered to the newer car.
Willie

 

[Mike Van]

If it was me, I"d call my state DMV and see what they want/need. I registered a 1974 here in Ct a few years ago, lady at the counter said " no need for a title on the truck now, it"s too old"

 

[Hal/ Eastern WA]

I may be a little late in telling you this, but I would suggest that you find out what is necessary to gain legal ownership of the vehicle in your state and GET THAT PROCEDURE DONE before you spend any money on getting it running.

Years ago I was an auto theft investigator. I got assigned a case in which a couple had really fixed up an older GMC 2 ton nice, with some engine repair, new paint, tires and a newer steel dump bed. They said the truck had been abandoned for some time and SOMEHOW they got it relicensed. They were using it for various jobs in a nearby town and had been driving it around for about a year, according to what they said.

Unfortunately another guy saw the truck and realized that this truck that he saw driving around was HIS truck, which he had parked a couple of years before. In the time since then he served a prison term, but had finally been released. I talked to him and he produced a valid title for the vehicle, which he wanted back.

I contacted the people who had possession of the truck and heard their story about how the truck was abandoned and how they had put several thousand dollars into it to get the truck running, reliable and useful. Unfortunately these folks had not followed the proper procedure to get legal ownership of an abandoned vehicle as specified in Washington State law.

I talked it over with the prosecutor, who told me that the people who had the truck would have to turn the vehicle over to the legal owner. The prosecutor did not want to charge anyone with a crime, but it might come to that if the couple would not release the truck willingly. I then had to relay this information to the couple and persuade them to release the truck. They were not happy!

I ended up being present when the people turned the truck over to the rightful owner, who was a real dirtbag. The couple wondered about all the money they had invested in the truck, and I suggested that they talk to a lawyer to see if there was any way to recover anything.

They called me back a few days later and said that the lawyer they talked to believed that it would be a waste of time to try to sue the convict because they probably would not win in court because they did not have any legal right to ever possess the truck.

I learned something and that couple learned something. If they had followed the procedure specified in the law, it is probable that they would have been able to keep the truck, as then they would have BECOME the new legal owners.

Sometimes you just shake your head! Good luck, I hope your experience works out OK.