OK, client has a 32 frame he wants me to use for a build, but wants to make sure it's got a serial number before we start so he doesn't have any trouble with the local constabulary when he goes to register it. Looked in the usual place, and came up with the following stamped into the frame: DRF 78182. Does that sound right? Any help would be appreciated, Ford Gurus!
Not original. If that was at the frame right near the cowl; there was 2 more places it was on 32's Look at the top of frame under the door area, plus somewhere near the rear crossmember. EDIT; you should use ****** when posting in public instead of the numbers.
I thought about that, but guess I trusted the HAMB members. See if I do that dumb **** again! Thanks for the heads up, F&J. What format will it be, all numbers, and if so, how many?
if it was a V8 from the factory, it would start with a star, then 18, then a dash-, then the number, followed by another star. I have no clue what the 4 cyl number started with, but I think I read here that it is different.
My '32 roadster that I purchased in 1970 had a California ***le as a 1948 Fords roadster with a "DRF" vin number. I was told that it was a Calif DMV ***igned vin number from 1948. The car had been a hot rod in Fresno forever when I bought it. Never had any trouble with it when I registered it.
My state does issue new numbers, but always on a foil tag with the State Of Ct logo, and the number starts with CT- ****** . I doubt any other state would stamp a number on a frame without more info along side of it. EDIT>>I just read turdytoos reply on your letters... here is a strange thought about the number it has now. Let's say someone bought a bare original frame with no ***le. Then let's say he was afraid to register it with that real number, in case the old ***le went with the body long ago and it now being used. He might just drop the 18, and make up his own letters so that the DMV would not have any records of that number??? I'd be looking real close for the other 2 numbers. Even a partial number in each place, might give enough of the whole number it had. But, it would be nice to find a way to "run" that number through legal channels first....in case it is already in use. Way too many old papers (reg and ***les) are sold for 32's.
I'm having that problem right now with my '29 PU. Went to register it at the DMV, with the ***le in my hand, signed by the previous owner, and was told the ***le had been surrendered in Nevada. Told her-"I have the ***le right here in my hand, how could I have surrendered it ANYWHERE?" Was told to go outside and play hide-and-go-**** myself. LOVE my tax dollars at work!
My 32 Ford five window had a number stamped on the frame on the top of the frame..behind the door area...just ahead of where the frame starts to go up over the rear. I bought the car in the early 80's. The number matched the number on the ***le. the number was a a six digit number wi.th no letters. Quite tall numbers if i remember right
Mine is a B-motor car and starts with AB. The number was stamped into the frame on the drivers side around the area of the firewall foot and rear piece of the fender covers the frame.
The prefix for the 4 cylinder was AB for the first 62386 units and then just B for the balance (trucks were ABB and then just BB). The serial numbers started with 5000001. A star preceded and followed the number (except in the two hidden locations on the frame under the body where the star was omitted). Charlie Stephens
Pretty much-sounds like somebody did a search, and then took a duplicate ***le and turned it in in another state to register the car....
Surrendered could mean s****ped at a licensed junkyard. It could then have been rebuilt without having to change the number, if this all happened many decades ago, especially in another state.
For what it is worth, the latest Hod Rod Magazine has an article on 32 frames. It covers numbers & etc and something I didn't know, there were 12 versions of the 32 frame.
I have a Model A with a DRF number. I built the car in '63 and it was a CA DMV ***igned number. Back then, if I recall correctly, they gave me the number and told me to stamp it on the frame, then have a CHP officer verify it. You might see if DMV still has it in their system, and then you might still be able to use it.
Thanks for that link NITROFC, there are a few of those rides on my bucket list if you know what I mean, Happy Thanksgiving!!
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