Projects 1941 Ford Pickup, getting a title with the correct info?

I should be able to pick up my 1941 Ford pickup sheet metal soon now that the field work is nearly done (the owner wanted to wait).
I was told right up front that there is no title with the truck and I wasn't concerned.
The issue that dawned on me the other day is that I really have no number to use when attempting to get a title since the frame for this pickup is gone. The only frame I have found that wasn't big money or very very far away is a '35.

These two things have got me wondering, is it going to be possible to get a title that says this is a 1941 Ford pickup? Or are they going to want me to title it as "special construction" or some other garbage?

I am in Iowa, FYI. I appreciate any words of wisdom you guys can offer.

 

Ask the Iowa DMV those questions. No other answers will be correct. Remember the answers will change according to how you phrase the question. A local hot rod shop will probably be able to tell you the proper way to do it.

 

I was just hoping someone in the area had dealt with this recently and could at least prepare me for what I was getting into. The DMV/Courthouse here in Polk County has become completely useless. I have considered licensing everything at my Mom's address just to avoid this courthouse. It would actually be less hassle to drive 180 miles round trip to go and do my business at that courthouse. I wouldn't be quite so angry if it weren't for the specific reason (which never, ever should have been allowed to begin with) that has spurred the awful changes in Polk County. But, I digress.

 

In my State no title means your screwed! HRP

 

Look for an old parts truck for sale and buy it for the title and resell the parts truck. Also, you might want to take the VIN number you have and ask the DMV if they have a record on file. It may have been junked at some time in the past to avoid tax bills. Then ask what you can do to contact that person (who may be dead) or if you can get it "un-junked". I would do that on an independent trip to the DMV rather than when you are actually trying to license the vehicle. That way you are less likely to get in a bind as you are just "inquiring" about what can be done.

 

Go to a friendly small county courthouse and ask the ladies in the treasurer’s office, at a time when they are not busy. Try 10:30. Tell them you are thinking of buying this truck, and ask what process you could use. There might be a process similar to bonding a title. I’ve never done it without a frame or transmission that has a serial number stamped in it.

I was told you can do all your registration stuff at any courthouse that borders your home county. I haven’t tried that yet though.

 

Ekemneirbo. Re read the article. He says he has no frame. That is where the numbers are.

 

Does he perchance have a transmission?

 

I thought Iowa had adopted the SEMA model for titling street rods the year after I titled my '36 as reconstructed. I don't know the details, but supposedly you can title them easier as the actual year and make of the vehicle. My '36 is a 2009 Reconstructed vehicle, with the model being 1936 Ford pickup.

Gary

 

I don’t want any other year or special designation on my titles except the original year. I’ll jump through all the hoops to get the car titled as it originally was.

 

My experience from a couple of years ago may help.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/getting-a-title-for-a-kit-car-in-iowa.1301636/

 

No drivetrain either.

 

100%

 

It seems that without a frame stamped serial number or drivetrain (engine and/or trans serial number), that what you are buying is just some old sheetmetal. There can't be a title to something like sheetmetal without any serial number. The idea to buy a 41 parts truck hopefully with a title and then swap your better sheetmetal onto it, seems the way to go. Use the parts truck frame or drivetrain serial number that should match the title of the parts truck. Even if you have drivetrain serial number, there are processes which allow for swapping out to newer drivetrain if you have the original numbered part. All of this requires talking to your Iowa motor vehicle dept. Or go the special construction route, which you need to talk to your state Iowa motor vehicle dept to determine what that requires.

 

Find a 41 transmission. A big truck trans should be free. A passenger/pickup case should be close to free, as most get their guts stolen for use in 39 transmissions. I’ll look in my pile.

Then just do a bonded title with the number on the trans.

 

"Ask the local DMV as no other answers will be correct" then "try a local hot rod shop, they probably know" ... Well which is it? Their "local hot rod shop" ain't the DMV so therefore isn't their answer automatically incorrect?

If you are willing to accept a local hot rod shops answer, why isn't it possible someone on this site might have the correct answer?

Now, where the heck did I set down my Super Strength Midol pills?

 

I know a lot on here are against assigned VINs, but I'd rather have a legitimate assigned title tha a 'made up" one.

Gary

 

What's so bad about a state-assigned VIN number? I've had one on my "Tub" for the last 60 years.

 

First you are stuck with what applies to Iowa and no other state.
Second, what does apply to every state on a vehcicle like this is that every state wants full documentation that all major parts = engine, frame, body and maybe trans and rear axle were obtained legally. I've known clowns who didn't keep receipts or bills of sale for the parts they bought because they didn't want their wives to know what they spent on the car. Trust me, they know anyhow.

The application for a bonded title is pretty simple if you had a vin [Iowa DOT] 411008. Application for Registration and Bonded Certificate of Title for a Vehicle
Ford Barn 41 Ford pickup vin info. 1941 VIN Location - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums

The simple but not easy solution would be to hunt down the front part of a 41 Ford frame or left frame rail with a good serial number stamped in it. It doesn't matter car or pickup as long as the serial number starts with 18 and has a number within the range. Then make sure that you have a nice looking bill of sale from the seller stating 1941 Ford pickup as is where is no title. The 41 car frame is wider and has a two inch longer wheelbase than 35/4o and 41 pickup though. According to this Technical - 41 Ford Car vs 41 Ford Truck Chassis | The H.A.M.B.

 

my 31 pontiac was built in 1985 so it had an iowa title as a 1985 assembled vehicle with an assigned vin, IA51xxx. previous owner had title transferred to a nebraska title with no issues but I wanted to use a 1931 yom plate. nebr dmv said no, yom plate has to match the titled year.