Hey All,
I just completed the purchase of a 1980 Flare Side. The truck is about 45 minutes away in winter storage until the end of April (so I can't easily check something on the vehicle itself). I did verify that the VIN number, on the tag visible thru the windshield, is the same as the VIN on the title. The VIN sticker in the door jamb is gone.

A VIN that starts off with F15GRG***** is an F-150, according to every VIN decoder I've seen. The truck is titled as an F-100 in Illinois. The truck was titled as an F-100 in Arizona as well.

I'm wondering if it's worth trying to explain to the IL DMV that the current title is incorrect and ask what needs to be done to fix the issue.

OR if I should just keep my mouth shut...

 

Master Parts Catalog:

F10 = '80-'83 F100, 2WD

F15 = F150 pickup, 4X2

(F14, 15, 17 & 18 = F150s, 4x2 & 4x4)

This is no F100 4x4 listed, but then your F15 is listed as 4X2.

Can you unwind this sale?

Something is very a little wrong with this truck and transaction.

EDIT see below

 

If the paper work match the VIN on the dash, you say no sticker on the door, what dose the frame VIN say?
If all 3 match I would not say a thing as they will only look to see if the paper work match the numbers on the truck and move on.
They would not know or even care the VIN may say it is a 250 as long as it all matches.

Now I just looked at (pictures) my late 80, making it a 81 F100 Flare Side and the sticker VIN is 1Fxxxx
My parts truck being a early 81 F100 Style Side sticker also starts with 1Fxxxx
I am to lazy to go look at the trucks or pull the titles for them but can tell you had no issues at all getting a plate for the flare side and no one even looked at the truck.
Dave ----

 

1980 is the last year of the 11 digit VIN and the VIN starts with the series code, such as F10 or F15.

1981 is the 17 digit VIN, and those start out with the manufacturer and country of origin info.

OP will be in a real pickle with this truck if the frame VIN is different, which it almost certain to be. If it's checked and is a stolen truck, there goes the money and the truck.

I would do anything legal I could to get out of this and maybe a couple things questionable.

At best, this is a field 4x4 conversion, not a factory job. It's been misrepresented and that alone is reason enough to unwind it.

Edit: Somehow got 4x4 on the brain. Not an issue here, but there is a question about F100 vs F150

 

I am not seeing why this post was started
Thing is we do not know what the VIN is of the truck other than the VIN in the windshield and the title are the same.
Then he said "A" F150 truck VIN is F15GRG showing it is a 150 truck. Is this the VIN of said truck or what he found by a decoder?
It cant be of the truck as he said the glass VIN and title match?
I dont follow what the issue is if the 2 VIN's he listed and said match is then?

If the VIN thru glass and title match and been OK in 2 states then so be it a F100.
Only fly in this would be if the frame VIN dose not match the glass VIN and title.

And even if all 3 match, I still dont see what the issue is if they all say it is a F100?
Did the seller say it was a F150 and that dose not match the title and glass VIN?
Then the sell did not tell the truth so what, if you think it was a good deal then go with it.
Dave ----

 

Where dose he say something is not right? Title and glass VIN match as a F100 who said the truck is a F150?
Dave ----

 

First off, sorry, I got off track with 4x4 on the brain, and that's not an issue.

His second paragraph:
"A VIN that starts off with F15GRG***** is an F-150, according to every VIN decoder I've seen. The truck is titled as an F-100 in Illinois. The truck was titled as an F-100 in Arizona as well."

That seems to imply that the VIN is F15xxx which would be an F150, NOT an F100.

So it may be that the people doing the paperwork had the then common misconception that all Ford pickups are F100s and just marked it so.

OP will have to check that frame VIN, especially if the truck has F100 badging that is original yet has the F15xx VIN.

Once that is confirmed he might be able to get the new title to read correctly as F150.

 

OP is in Illinois. Straight from the horse’s mouth, here are the requirements to bring a vehicle into the state:

https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/ve...ion/apply.html

I’m not seeing any mention that they will physically check the VIN. Sounds like they just want their money.

From my experience with bureaucracies, I would NOT try to correct the F100/F150 mismatch on the paperwork. On the slim chance they ask about it, I’d simply play dumb.

 

Yes "A VIN that starts off with F15GRG***** is an F-150, according to every VIN decoder I've seen. The truck is titled as an F-100 in Illinois. The truck was titled as an F-100 in Arizona as well."
But he did also say the title and the VIN thru the glass match as a F100
So tell me where did the "A VIN that starts off with F15GRG***** is an F-150, according to every VIN decoder I've seen." Come from????
To me he just got any old F150GRG VIN to say that's what the decoder says.
I am not seeing where he got that VIN off the truck as the title and VIN thru the glass match.

Also do you think 2 different states would make the same mistake on a truck that we dont know is a F150 from proof?
It is a F100 dont call it something it is not and just put it thru as is.
No need to rock the boat over nothing
Dave -----

 

See he did not say the F15xxx is from his truck and cant check the truck ATM.
I think he was looking at decoders and they all say F15 if for a 150 truck.
The seller might have told him it was a F150 but it really a F100 and why the title and the thru glass VIN match and both states plated it as a F100.

I think he was told the truck was a F150 and why he thinks the title is wrong, but it matches the dash VIN
Dave ----

 

He says the title and windshield vin match. He does not say what it is.

He implys the F15GRG xxx is his VIN. If he comes back he can clarify.

 

No he "implys" it is F100 as the title says it is from 2 states and matches the dash VIN.
He just points out the the decoder list F15xxx as a F150 truck. So where dd he come up with the 150 number and why?
Dave ----

 

OP will have to clarify once he gets the truck.

 

I think I got it.
The 2 titles match the dash VIN that may be F150 like the decoder said
BUT .....
The descriptions on the 2 titles say F100.
​​​He left out DESCRIPTIONS on the titles.

Now when he fills out the new paperwork if he has not already for plates he could put down in "model" F150 and i believe the new title will have the right F150 to match the VIN on the dash.
Dave ----

 

Hey Guys, sorry, I opted to stay off the computer on Christmas Day.

And, sorry for being vague in my original post. Let me copy and paste the OP with clarifications:

I just completed the purchase of a 1980 Flare Side. The truck is about 45 minutes away in winter storage until the end of April (so I can't easily check something on the vehicle itself). I did verify that the VIN number, on the tag visible thru the windshield, is the same as the VIN on the title. The VIN sticker in the door jamb is gone.

The truck's VIN starts off with F15GRG*****. That is an F-150, according to every VIN decoder I've seen. The truck in question is titled as an F-100 in Illinois. The truck in question was titled as an F-100 in Arizona as well.

I'm wondering if it's worth trying to explain to the IL DMV that the current title is incorrect, with respect to Model, and ask what needs to be done to fix the issue.

OR if I should just keep my mouth shut...

As mentioned in the OP, I'm about 45 minutes from where the truck's being stored. So, a quick check of the frame isn't happening (I wouldn't even know where to look on the frame). As @kr98664 (Karl) mentioned, Illinois does not inspect vehicles or require that the vehicle even be present to title/register it. They just want their money, especially for a 43 year old truck that isn't required to pass emissions and is eligible for Vintage plates.

I guess it is possible that the cab itself was swapped onto the frame, at some point. However, that must have been done very early in it's life as the paint is all faded and is very consistent in the way it's faded, across the entire truck. In other words, the hood, top of the cab and the tops of the bed all look the same with respect to the color of the faded red paint. Also, I know grifters come in various shapes and forms but the guy I bought it from just doesn't come off as a con man. I've been in communication with him the entire time, he still has the C6 that came with the truck (I have to go get it this week), I've met his wife and been in his house/garage. My sixth sense isn't going off, at all. I've been in situations where something "doesn't feel right". I'm not getting that from this person.

I think Karl's right, I'll just go apply for a title in my name and play dumb, if they ask about the Model. I went thru something similar, about a year ago, with an '85 Ranger. The DMV just processed the title and no questions were asked, no inspection required, vehicle not present.