Hot Rods Essex serial number search

I've got a bare frame I bought a decade ago from an older gentleman, and he told me back then it was an Essex. I thought I remembered him saying it was a 1931, but now I'm not so sure. I thought he signed a bill of sale but I can't find it now. His Dad bought the car new, it was a fordor, but only the bare frame was left when I got to it.

I'd like to do a bonded title here in Iowa, but I'd like to at least know the correct year when I file the paperwork. The frame has a brass tag riveted to the top of the right rear rail. It has the number 96A447XXX (X's are really numerals). But that number type and sequence doesn't fit any Essex serial number lists I can find on the internet.

Do any HAMBers know about early Essex serial numbers?

 

I have a Essex title . It’s an Illinois title, I believe it’s a 1929

 

you know you can't post a thread like this without pictures.....

I wonder if the frame is from something else? Seeing it might help someone ID it. As you said the serial numbers of Essex cars from around then don't look like that.

 

There's a club for Hudson/Essex/Terraplane owners. They might be able to help you. https://forum.hetclub.org/

 

@alchemy , do you have this?
http://hudsonterraplane.com/tech/other/1909-1957serialnumbers.pdf

Good luck. Hudson left us with quite a puzzle when it comes to serial numbers.

 

Yep, I found that document. None of the Essex numbers there, in the correct era, start with two digits, then a letter, then a number big enough to be 4 hundred thousand.

I did find a different explanation of the way Hudson created some of their later serial numbers. They used the last number of the year as the first digit in the serial. Then a letter designating production place. So I thought maybe my frame was a 1929 with the first 9 in the serial. Maybe the next 6 means six cylinder? Then the A, and then the actual serial production number? Dunno.

 

I might be able to get a pic this weekend. It's your standard parallel leaf, straight rails, with a slight kick over the rear axle. I can tell it's bigger than a Chevy.

 

I've looked through that website, but didn't find anything right off the bat. Maybe they have a thread hidden somewhere with serial numbers. If I want to ask a question I'll have to register as a member.

 

Yep, and if you do register, don't mention anything about building a hot rod. It all goes silent very quickly.....

I have just trawled all the info I have, and I don't think that number is Hudson/Essex. The serial number is stamped into the Hudson built frames. I have never heard of an attached brass tag.

 

You don't think they'd like to hear about the '27 Ford touring body, Model A Ford engine, or Whippet grille?

3 springers rule!




.

 

From my experience, probably not.......... but I would.

I went there when I was trying to identify my Hudson 1928 Model S frame and bits. Mentioned hot rod build and might have upset the apple cart. Ended up doing all the research myself to find out exactly what I had.

 

@alchemy
A 96A is a Willys-Overland Whippet 4 cylinder model. Your serial number puts it in the 1930 model year. And the frame serial number tag is also the correct location for a Whippet. Unfortunately its not the early model with the cool horse collar grille shell.

 

My 31 Hudson does not have a brass tag, number is just punched into the steel frame.

 

Excellent work. Looks like you are correct, except I think 96A447xxx serial number lands in the 1929 USA model range. See link below.
https://www.wokr.org/gallery/wh96ahis.htm

 

This was from my Willys-Overland knight registry (wokr) roster ?

I used to be a member, maybe they updated the numbers ?

 

A lot of this old car stuff is a little bit hit-and-miss from one source to another.
Interpretation can vary, but at least we can get real close.
1929 and 1930 Whippets are essentially the same, just some cosmetic changes.

 

Wow! Now we are getting somewhere! Could you post a pic of the whole page with that info on it, in case the DMV needs some more proof?

I guess it's even more fitting that I'd use the small Whippet grille on this car.

Thanks!

 

Is Iowa gonna title it as a Whippet ?

 

If I have an actual frame with number, I would think they will. Worth a try.

 

Here’s some pics of my frame. Sorry you’ll have to turn your head on it’s side. Hopefully in a few weeks I can pile together a “car” to take pics for the title bonding process.

 

I took the liberty of rotating them for you-

 

Here we go! Sending in the application for a bonded title today.

 

Love it!

 

Say what?

 

The Iowa Department of Title Entanglement has told me they are about five months behind on bonded title processing. In the mean time I have been stewing the body parts in a tank of molasses.











These pics are after we pulled them from the tank but before we power washed the goo off. They are spic and span now.

 

Do you still have this title??

 

There has been some body reassembly done on the “1930 Whippet” since last seen, but it slowed a bit after that. Hopefully I’ll get back to it this winter.

 

all you lack is finishing up...