Gettin a title, Is matching title to vehicle important?

Im trying to get a title for my t-bucket, ive heard of people using titles that dont necessairly match the vehicle they have. Would it be possible to use a 1927 chevy title for a 23 ford.
Does your title match your vehicle. Does it matter that much.

 

i've done it but i sold it w/out a title.......to keep from getting caught.

 

Your title matching your vehicle has a lot to do with staying out of jail.

Granted there are vehicles out there that resemble each other enough that they can pass, and others that are so modified that they don't resemble the original much anyway, but just once in a blue moon you'll get stopped by a cop that knows. Then you're screwed.

 

What do you really think?

 

Depends on if you want 3 hots and a cot (Jail)

 

If it's old enough, or fiberglass with no id tag on body, you can call it what u want to and title it... but if it has a Ford ID tag, it'd better be a ford title.

You can even get ID tags printed and stamped - rivet them to your firewall... any make any model, if ya try hard enough. Lots of people build cars from scratch and get them legal somehow.

 

Im just wondering, wanting to get a title for my t-bucket and having trouble finding something. Thinking of turning to a title service but those seem shady. Any help is appreciated.

 

There will be some good swapmeets coming up in the next couple of months, there is Detroit Fairgrounds, and another in Troy put on by a Model A club. I would almost guarantee that somebody there has something. I will let you know when they are coming up, and I will put the word out for you locally. -Joe

BTW- to clarify a little, Eddie is building a t-bucket kit, and the car is a fresh build, untitled.

 

In Missouri, the title better match the vehicle or no license. We have to have all vehicles inspected to get our tags. The only way that it may fly here is to get historical plates (no inspection required) and even then if you get caught your pretty much fried.

If the title doesn't match the car..........same as no title.

If you are considering buying a car that doesn't have a title, I'd think twice. You will go through more crap to get a title sometimes than it's worth.

As far as title services go, the title services here in Missouri are for expediting the title for you. The information better still be in line though. Nothing shady about them, they are there for your convenience. Instead of waiting two weeks to two months for your title to arrive, you can use a title service and get your title within a week, if you have all your ducks in a row.

 

This is not my information...somebody posted it on here or somewheres else but I'd say the hell with it and just use the chevy title on a ford. If a cop knows what kind of old car you have chances are he's not gonna care. And fuck it, if you go to jail you'll have a good story.


""I often see questions on obtaining titles for old cars/bodies in Michigan.
I have often needed titles for old cars and the procedure is very simple. There is the quick and easy way, that I personally have had no problems with, and there is the official state mandated way. The biggest secret is that the state "purges" its title records as early as three-four years. If the vehicle isn't re registered every year.
If the vehicle has not been registered recently (say last five years), is over 6-10= years old with a declared value of less than $2500. No known leins or claims.
Go to Sec of State and ask for form TR-54 (green sheet). Take the vehicle to your local police dept. Have the inspecting officer fill out just the top section (verification of vin no.). Then, if the vehicle is pre 1984, have the vehicle weighed at a scale (Grain elevators, steel suppliers, scrap yards, etc). Take this receipt along with the TR-54 back to Sec of State. Fill out application for title. Tell them you are the owner, title was destroyed. Pay the fee's. About a week later a title will come in the mail. If you have to drive the car right away get a 30-60 day temp permit. At the time of application.
Now if you want to do it the states way, follow these instructions.
http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,1607,...25476--,00.html or
http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,1607,...76317--,00.html or http://www.michigan.gov/documents/B...03__83315_7.pdf""

 

How bout something to go on here. You got any paperwork? any #'s on the car or frame ? Any history at all? Unless you stole it a title can be had (or someone else stole it)

 

I appreicate the suggestions.
As JDUBBYA said, and i should have, this is a kit car. Which is probably going to make things more difficult.

The only paperwork i have are recepts and an MSO from the frame manufacturer.

 

take said chevy tittle and stamp the numbers into your frame. register it as a chevy and make sure if the body had ford script on the tail gate you sand it off.

 

I posted this at another site last month.


People who live in Michigan. You should never have to resort to buying Alabama, outstate or title service paper.

The secret in Michigan is the Secretary Of State doesn't want to be bothered with old cars. But they are willing to take your money! Anything over twenty years old, or built before 84, or less value than $2000.00 STATED value. Is not usually challanged.

The Sec of State "Purges" its system of all unregistered vehicles as early as three-four years. I have had it happen to several of my old specialty vehicles that I use only a few times over a period of time.


I will post the Official way to get your car titled. Also the way I have titled vehicles and never had a problem. Basically like titling a trailer.

My way= Go to Sec of State. Get a TR-54(green sheet). Take vehicle to local police dept. and have officer inspect the vin no. (on "T" buckets/type, I have had number plates made and affixed to the frame, ahead of the firewall.) Have officer fill out ONLY the top portion (vin inspection).

Take vehicle to a public scale (scrap yard, grain elevator, cement plant,etc.). Get a receipt with the weight.

Take this paper work to Sec of State, fill out statement of value ( less than $2000.00 if required, some look at the year and don't ask) and apply for new title. When asked if it is your car, say yes, The title was destroyed.. A new title will arrive in about two weeks.

States way http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,1607,7-127-10401_1585-25476--,00.html or http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,1607,7-127-1585_1587_1588-76317--,00.html

 

WOOPS! I see No Money Sunny found and posted my orig in Hotrodders.com as I was posting this.

 

That way seems to be the best. I have a number stamped on the frame, a tp23t with 4 numbers after it, Could i use this as a vin or do i need to make one up? Its a manufactured frame.

 

interesting what other people think about this...

http://www.jockeyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=24626


again my thoughts are is it techinically illegal? yes....is it wrong? no.

 

All the Secretary of State cares about is the paper and if it has some numbers on it! And of course the Fees!!. The only real prob I have had was to explain to the woman behind the counter that old cars don't have all the numbers and letters in the vin. Like the late stuff. One Older Broad with a chip on her shoulder wasn't going to issue. So I went 12 miles north and got it done at another Sec of State office..

 

I think I'd try to use the numbers on the frame as the VIN numbers, they match the numbers on the Manufacturers MSO anyway. I never liked changing VIN numbers. There's a reason it's against the law, you can probably ask Rocky why.

 

Hey BOBCRMAN sorry to steal your thunder, but I have that post saved on my desktop for when I get a car goin' THANKS!

 

Hey BOBCRMAN I forgot to ask if you have to go to MICHIGAN STATE POLICE or if you can use any old city/county cop for that form?

 

I built a Glass body 34 speedstar for my brother 2 years ago,bought a 34 title (out of New York) stamped the VIN number from the title into the frame rail and transfered ownership just like any other used car purchased. Done deal,I know of several times this has been done in IL.with no problems DMV here did ask why it had been years since car was last registered I told them it was bought as a Basket case and restored ground up. they had no more questions. But I would suggest getting a title that closely matches the car.

 

My Brothers T-bucket was titled as a 1969 Chevy.... Insurance guy told him he will need to let him have a look a the car before he would insure it. Chances are your car is going to be titled as a new car...

 

I have a title i had planned to use in the future. Maybe you can talk me out of it! $$$$$$$$uuuuuuuummmmmmmmmmm$$$$$$$$$

 

I just use the local Holly PD. All the Sec of State wants to see is officers name-badge no. Stated year of vehicle, vin no. (top part of TR-54 only) Also remember to tell them you have owned for many years. In my case I have. Also stated value (less than $2000.00). Weight on pre 1984 vehicles.

I originally found this information (from a state cop) when I had to replace more than a two dozen titles (most in orig owners name) that were destroyed by a mentally ill uncle I was taking care of.

 

So there it is, you have an M.S.O. and a vin #, it's already on the frame! USE WHAT YOU HAVE.

 

If i used the mso i have to title it as a 2005 vehicle. I dont really want to do that. Im just worried that showing a police officer a practicly new vehicle with some numbers stamped on it an old car isnt going to work. Unless he doesnt need to know any of that info.. Is he just there to check the number and say ok, its not stolen. Or is he going to run the number to see what its from. What exactly is he checking my vin for.

 

When they do it here it shows if it's hot or not, also shows a history of reg. owners ( maybe last reg. owner, I forget). Call the D.M.V. and ask how to reg. a home built, it's not like they keep track of who calls.

 

Michigan does not keep record of past owners if vehicle has not been registered for 3-5 years (unless on stolen "Hot sheet"). All these records are "purged" from computer system.

The officer is only there to check no.s. He does no other checking. You will not have to title as a new car. My titles done this way were for example. A 1929 model "A" coupe. (tube chassis SBC). A 23 glass "T" (old Bird Engineering body, tube chassis.) 1929 Studebaker "Vicky" (tube chassis, BBC). A 28 Essex coupe (tube chassis, SBC). 1936 Hudson Terraplane (orig frame. SBC). 1940 Studebaker (orig frame, SBC). 1950 Studebaker pickup. (S-10 chassis SBC). A 1957 Ford Anglia ( tube frame, BBBuick) and some of the newer stuff 1977 Ford Stake truck. 1985 Ford 16' box van.

All were retitled as stated year. EXCEPT the 85 van, THEY made a mistake and it came back as 84.

Speaking of mistakes. IF they do make a mistake it just about takes an act of God to get it corrected. Example. My ex had a Jeep Cherokee with about 140,000 miles on it. She sold it to her brother. She also bought a Buick LeSabre with about 7000 miles on it. Went to Sec of State and had both paper works done at same time. Titles came back Jeep 7000 miles and Buick 140,000 miles. Talk about a pain in the ass to get corrected!!! You get to pay for their mistake..

 

That doesn't work in all states, here in Idaho, basically if you don't have a title, you can't sell a vehicle. so you go to try and jump all the hoops to title a car you bought and their first question is why did so and so sell you a vehicle without a title? didn't they know thats illegal?

So I asked our local state title investigator a bunch of questions the last go round for future reference here's her answers.

#1. What if I buy a car with no title?

Your out of luck, the seller could not legally sell you a car with no title.

#2. What if it came off an older persons farm who knows they own the car but have no papers? (I was looking for a loophole here we have miles and miles of farmlands)

Your out of luck, the seller could not legally sell you a car with no title EVEN if they DID legitimatly know it was thiers, they still have to show proof. A picture is not good enough, I tried this as well, like what if I could get a picture from her showing the car and her in it? Doesn't show VIN, doesn't help.

#3. what if I bought a piece here and there and built the car from parts?

Wherever the frame came from, that's what the title should be attached to. No title, no new title/plates....period.


and on and on...I had her so worked up by the end of our meeting I didn't want to push it any further incase I ever have to use her again for a legit title issue hahaha. Needless to say, her final conclusion is you didn't get a title when you bought it don't come whining to me.

Funny thing is, you look at the state laws and we have a provision for a bonded title, yet the 3 state title investigators I have talked to refuse to issue them even if your willing to bond a title....Rediculous, the law is there but but all of them refuse to utilize it for what it was intended...to protect claims against a reititled vehicle. Basically, you purchase a bond for 1.5 times the vehicles value, (you usually pay a bond company 10% of that amount) then, the state issues a "conditional" title with the bond attached for 3 years, if no claim in the 3 years, you own it free and clear....How many cars that we hotrodders drag out of fields are EVER going to have a claim? I'll bet 0%...EVER

In my opnion, if its bonded to protect future owners, who gives a crap...the cars been sittin in a field for 40 or 50 years....NO ONER CARES!!


oh...except the DMV.

Sorry for the long rant, but I bought my truck at auction, they never produced a title and it turned into this HUGE pissing contest between auction company, estate, DMV, and me....heheh

I won and got my title ~grin~

Scot