Hot Rods How do I make my Model A Roadster legal?

I have many parts I want to assemble into a Model A Roadster hot rod. I don't have a title in hand. I know Washington State has a means for issuing a VIN based on inspection that requires documentation of all the major parts. I don't have any documentation as parts were acquired at swap meets and/or inherited. This project started with my dad's buddies and me sitting at a picnic table at a rod run in Leavenworth, WA when I was around 10 (1983?) while my dad was using the restroom. By the time my dad came back, I had traded his dune buggy to Jim for a 1930 roadster body and some other parts. Another of Dad's friends dropped off a 1968 Cougar for us to pull the engine (351w), transmission, and rear end. The Cougar is long gone. The drive train is in my shop.

The Major Components:
-1930 Model A body (just the basic body, missing floor). My dad's best friend "sold" it to me in 1983? I believe he bought it at a swap meet in California a few years before that.
-1932 Frame - Original, but rough. Z-ed on both ends and no K-member. Dad bought at a swap meet (Portland?) in the 80's.
-Engines - Flathead, SBF, 427 FE. All inherited from Dad. No documentation.
-Transmission - Several on hand. Mostly inherited from Dad. Might buy a 5 speed for highway cruising.
-Front Axle - Cool old dropped and filled axle. Dad bought at a swap meet in the 80's.
-Rear Axle - 8" & 9" pulled from other cars many years ago.

I would likely buy a new 32 frame from Gary at Blackboard Hot Rods. Even if I went with his full roller package, I would be short documentation for body, engine, and transmission.

With no documentation, do I have an option other than selling my parts and buying a different car with title?

If I buy another model A roadster and swap on my nice body, am I within the law?
If I buy another model A roaster and swap in a 32 frame, am I within the law?

 

No offense intended, but time passes by fast.
You didn't say your age but you've had the pieces for decades and nothing was done when you were younger and more able bodied?

If you can afford it, get a legal hotrod that you don't have to rebuild the whole car, and sell your parts.

Too many garage find videos on YouTube showing projects that never got worked on or finished, and the owner passed away, never having a drivable hotrod in his entire life.

Buying one is never going to be exactly what you had envisioned, but you can still make it your own without ripping one all apart.

 

Yes, time passes. Got the major parts when I was 10 and didn't have a clue. Now I am 51. Kids are raised and I have time, space, and tools for this kind of project. Title issue has been brewing in the back of my mind for a couple of decades.

 

I would go online to your states DMV first and see what you can find. Then go to your DMV or if possible a “contract” office if your state uses one and without saying your name ask what they would need from you to register or get an ownership certificate or what ever you call them in Wa. A vehicle that old usually used a frame # and if your original 32 still has it see it it’s a clear #.
With a little “work” I’m sure you could get that number to the correct place on your “replacement”

 

Have you checked the frame for its original number? Should be of top of left rail at cowl, then again near B pillar, then again halfway up the rear kick before the rear axle. Maybe your state has a bonded title process like we do here in Iowa.

 

Are any of the doners still available to give you a receipt for the parts? A handwritten receipt id documentation. Even if it was free or low priced.

 

Friends can give you bills of sale

 

Thirty years later and you still don't know what you're doing.
Are you wanting to build a 30 or 32 roadster? Lots of work to get 30 fenders on a 32 frame and look good. Lots of 32 frames with model A bodies without fenders and a pinched frame. Almost all rodders can spot a 32 frame from a block away and if it's a cop checking your registration, you might be in trouble. Pretty easy to check the front frame number on a 32 without fenders.
If you were to buy a body-frame project from someone with a good title, make sure that the bill of sale is at least written for $5,000.00 regardless of what you paid.
The State of Washington will look up the value in the old car book to get a value and there is a minimum price for all old car models. My last Model A was valued at $11,000 and I was told that if it wasn't valued at least $3,700, they would not title it and it would be a parts car only.
If I were you, I would go to the Portland Swap meet or try and find someone with a fire destroyed model A in California and buy what's left and the title.

 

Check with nearby states. Often other states will have a simpler titling process and generally all you need is a PO box in the state with a piece of mail

 

Contact a "vehicle registration service" in your area to find out how to make your project legal : THEY DO THIS FOR A LIVING & WILL KNOW HOW TO DO THIS LEGALLY!!! It won't be that expensive(probably a couple of hundred dollars : cheap enough for the peace of mind of being "legal" !!)

 

I heard about a guy in Kansas that built a coupe from parts. Alot of the parts were horsetraded and gifts. He made up some bills of sale for the major components (engine, body, frame) and had the car inspected/assigned a vin by the mobile dmv guy.

 

I’ve not looked into it myself but I believe you can register homemade cars in Washington. Maybe go that route, may be the same process as registering a kit car?

 

AND...if you pay taxes on a "parts car" in this state, you get to have it inspected before they license and title it for the road. I always pay the lowest price in their little book, regardless of how much I paid for the vehicle if I plan to rebuild it.

 

You don't know even which engine, you have been worried but haven't sat down and done anything but ask strangers for decades? Better get a move on!
Use whatever search engine you like. Maybe try a couple. Type in
Washington state titling a car built from parts or something similar. Read what comes up, especially if it's directly from the state and not some guy trying to sell you paper. Do read the title agency's websites, though. They offer the service and can help for a fee, but reading is free.
Maybe even create a bookmarks folder for the ones that sound like you can do it.
EXAMPLE
https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.12.691

 

All the info on how to properly title a car in Washington state is available on State DOL websites. We do not have "registration businesses" that will do the process for you. Anyone NOT from Washington that is commenting, really has no idea what they're talking about. Because each state has a different title process... on top of that, the DMV are privately owned business here and a lot of the workers have no clue what they are doing. I suggest you find the head honcho that really knows what they're doing. I have one lady I will only deal with exclusively, because she knows what she's doing. And I still have to hand hold on the occasional title process.

Down to business

The short of it is. In Washington WITHOUT a notorized bill of sale for each individual major part. You will not be issued a state number vin until after completion of the bonded title process. Which will take 3 years.

You will be required to have the car inspected by state patrol and the major id numbers on the car and parts identified and run against the database to check if stolen.

Further into it. It's likely that if you do go through with a state inspection. Your car will be titled as "2025 street rod" or "assembled vehicle". Due to the 30 body and the 32 frame. As it really isn't either of those cars any more.

State patrol inspections can be a real pita, or a breeze. A LOT of it has to do with who your inspection officer is and how he's feeling that day.

During the inspection, the car will need all major components installed in order to pass. It's not a safety inspection. But they do need to see a complete car. That's means windshield, lights, seats, full body, drive train, etc. This can be nerve racking as you essentially need to build the whole car before you get paper work for it.

Generally the process is pretty easy, if you have your ducks in a row. If you don't, you may be making several trips to see them. The officers I've dealt with have always been very informative of what I needed to do to proceed.

Good luck!