curious about v.i.n. location on old cars

it seems to me they'd have a standard spot for the vin on all makes that came with a title. i know i've searched high and low on my old T body and cant find the slightest evidence of 1. anybody know how and where the vin/serial number should be on somethin from the 20s?

 

Some states would have used the ID number on the engine block, and others used the ID number which would be stamped on the frame, usually with a * symbol next to it. If your car has a different frame and engine, you most likely have no original ID number on it.

ID tags didn't become popular until the 40's and technically, a VIN didn't become a standardized thing until 1981.

 

My '22 Dodge had a factory number stamped on the firewall on the driver's side. It had the * symbol also. In Ca. if you can't find a factory number you will have to get a new VIN plate from the CHP.

 

1) There is no such thing as a VIN before 1981. The number is the serial number. There was no specific location until 1981. Most US manufacturers standardized the location in 1968 (on top of the dash), But there are exceptions (Corvettes on the windshield pillar).

2) Prior to 1926 all Ford Model T's were register by their engine block number. There is no plate, tag or stamping. The frames started being stamped in 1926. You can look on the internet for the year code for Model T blocks. If building a T bucket, you'll have to go with a state issued VIN. That or try to get the car titled with a body and block.

You could have a 1925 body, but if you have a 1916 block, the car would end up being titled as a 1916. Of course you'll get to deal with the DMV who know none of this.

 

No standard locations, however, for your "T" I would suspect the frame. Don't worry too much though, most states have a way to get it on the road without too much hassel. Either a rebuild title, or a new construction; and they will add their state ID tag to the car, and possibly stamp it into the new frame.

 

Technically 1968 is when they start calling it a VIN although it wasn't 100% standardized until 1981.

There were some attempts at standardization in the late 20s (the "FedCo" ID system) but they didn't take and carmakers did what they wanted for a long time. Even from year to year they could move around, or have the position change from build plant to build plant or even shift to shift in the same plant.

But then it's the same with the states registration policies - some using motor numbers, some using body serial numbers, some issuing titles, some only issuing registrations; some tax you once and only charge to register the car, some tax you annually for daring to own a car at all.

Best bet is to find someone else from your state who's done a T-bucket and see how they registered it, and go from there. Worst case the state might assign a VIN to the car.

 

Model T's were titled by the engine number, stamped on the side of the block. In 1926 and 1927 the motor number was stamped on the top of the right frame rail, roughly in line with the passenger side door. Early cars had a factory body number, typically stamped on a brass plate nailed to the dash, but this had no relationship to the motor number. Most of the body builders identified their bodies by stamping a build date and sequential number on the right floorboard riser, but this again had no relationship to the motor number.

Bottom line, the car was titled by the motor number, not any numbers associated with the body.