Titling a 30s Ford Truck in Michigan with zero paperwork

I'm trying to help out a buddy who is building a ground up mid 30s Ford Pickup and only started with a Cab. Now the cab has no VIN on it anywhere that we can find and ***les are pretty costly at the moment but if he has to buy one he will, however I have read some interested ***ling stories about Michigan that may help him out.

Since he was just given the cab, it was sitting on a farm for decades there was no paperwork at all, no bill of sale, no ***le, no reg. What all does he need to do to get a ***le? Is buying one the only option?

 

I guess this will be new territory then, we will follow up with the sec of state today.

 

IMHO, the pain & suffering that he will face @ the SoS, will make the cost of a ***le look cheap.

In MI, this is much like getting an approval to put a Salvage ***le vehicle back on the road:

The SoS will treat this as an "***embled" ***le & will issue him one of their own VIN #s. There will be a required Police inspection for vehicle safety. They may reject you if the lights, signals, brakes are not up to par. You also need to know that not all PDs do this inspection & if they do, it's only on certain days, during certain hours, etc.
The PO will want to review the paperwork (reciepts) for ALL major components (eng, trans, body parts) to ensure no stolen parts were used in the making of this rod.

The SoS may even ask you to bring the rod to Lansing for the inspection.

I have done a few Salvage ***les on occasion & I find it is such a pain in the ***, that I won't do it again.

Buy the friggin ***le, it's a lot easier & faster...

 

If he had a VIN # and a Bill of Sale, then the ***le would be a breeze.
(2 quick trips to the SoS)

 

yep!!!!!!!!! i'ld look that ****er over really good for some numbers..it is easy if ya can find something on it...i found the vin numbers for my 38 topolino stamped in it...found under the hood louvers stamped into the body....took 2 trips spaced 1 hour apart and i was ***led...or check for numbers on the frame if he's using an original....

 

Hell, why not use the engine number of whatever motor is going in the truck?

Tell 'em you got it from Texas or something.

 

Guys make this so hard it's unbelievable.

Option #1. Go to the Sec of State office, apply for a "Lost ***le". It's a simple form, they'll check the vin #'s you give to make sure it's not reported as stolen somewhere, wait a week, and you get a spanky new ***le. I'm certainly NOT recommending you do this if it really is stolen...

Option #2. ***le it as ANYTHING. If you've got a ***le for whatever the engine/trans came from, fine, it's a 68' Chev Biscayne, or whatever, and have "modified" on the ***le where it says body style.

 

Option #1 is the best way for MI. I've done it so many times I almost feel guilty of something. 2 Sportsters, a Model A, a Camaro racecar project...

If you go to one of the SoS 'Super Center' type offices you get the ***le on the spot. $15

 

I just went to the SOS in Lansing with a registration of automobile from vermont dated 1936. The card has a serial number on it. They claim at the SOS this number is not a VIN number. Now what? I have no VIN number to give them. What should I do?

 

Because the nitwit drones at the DMV, MVD, SoS or whatever your state calls it don't realize that a VIN and a serial number are not the same thing. Old cars do not have VINs as defined by law. VINs came into use in the 70s, mandated by Federal law. Tell the "public servant" at the window to check the laws and statutes. Old cars have serial numbers, not VINs. Often the serial number can be deciphered to determine factory location, model, etc. and in the case of even older cars, it is just a number indicating how many were built before your car.

 

Thanks for the quick reply I will give them a call.