Help!!!!

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Dec 2, 2003 | 07:10 AM

Drive it like its stolen

Thread Starter

Junior User

Joined: Dec 2003

Posts: 90

Likes: 0

From: Idaho

Help!!!!

I just bought a 1979 Ford Bronco the day before Thanksgiving. When I went to register it, there was no vin number. The state of Utah had just finished give a new title and plates to the guy in September, he got it off the original owner, and he said the original vin was a sticker on the driver side door post and it wasn't there when he got the truck. How do I get a vin OR what do I do? Time is of the essence.

Dec 2, 2003 | 08:39 AM

bronco351

Posting Guru

Joined: Sep 2002

Posts: 1,154

Likes: 0

Well, there should be a Vin Plate on top of tha dash on the drivers side. You should be able to see it when you look from the outside of the truck.

Also another place to look would be in the glove compartment. You have to look really hard as it is painted black. These are the only places I can think of that you could find the vin.

If you cant find it you coudl try getting a serial number off the engine or frame then contact Ford and ask them if they can tell you your Vin.

Hope this helps!!

Dec 2, 2003 | 05:49 PM

Drive it like its stolen

Thread Starter

Junior User

Joined: Dec 2003

Posts: 90

Likes: 0

From: Idaho

Solution found!!

We've figured out a solution!! My vehicle has none of the above for vin numbers so the state of Idaho is sending a guy down to check the vin on the title from Utah, which shows good on the state troopers there, he'll do a vin check and if it comes back clean he'll issue a "new" vin for the Bronco, a new title and we'll install a new vin plate. Thanks for the reply Bronco351

Dec 2, 2003 | 09:23 PM

kevinswart

Junior User

Joined: Aug 2003

Posts: 72

Likes: 0

From: Buffalo Ny

My 79 has it on the plate between the defrost and windshield on the drivers side. Also on the door sticker drivers door frame. And what I can't unsderstand is why it's not on the title for the one you bought? I've lived in Va, NY, NC, Ia and all have it on the title

Dec 2, 2003 | 11:15 PM

Drive it like its stolen

Thread Starter

Junior User

Joined: Dec 2003

Posts: 90

Likes: 0

From: Idaho

Not too sure where my vin numbers for the truck have gone. There isn't one by the defrost on the drivers side dash OR bythe drivers door and there is no glove box... BUT the title DID have vin numbers on it. It was just trying to match vin numbers from the title to the truck that became a problem. I think the "kid" I bought" it from may have taken them off to do a little painting and miss placed them. He tried to do a restoration of the truck but it became a little much for him I think. I'll find out tomorrow if it'll all work out. After all the calls today and the title check with Utah I think I'll be fine. Idaho said as long as it doesn't show stolen they'll issue a new title in my name for the truck and put a new vin plate on the rig. Serves me right for not doing a little more homework. I thought I had covered all the angles but this one caught me off guard. I was worried about a "clean" title and didn't think to look for vin numbers on the truck. Oh well live and learn. For someone as old as I am I sure hate to still have to say that!

Thanks for the reply.

Dec 3, 2003 | 01:11 AM

rlh

Posting Guru

Joined: Sep 2003

Posts: 2,259

Likes: 0

From: Florida Hill Country

Drive it Like It's stolen, Take 3 steps towards the door and be ready run like hell if it comes back that it is stolen!

Just kidding, good luck.

Dec 3, 2003 | 02:00 AM

85 bronco xlt

New User

Joined: Nov 2003

Posts: 18

Likes: 0

I had a buddy who bought a truck awhile back. He drove it a few years and sold it.
Oneday a cop come by and starts asking about the truck.
Seems someone had glued new vin #'s over the old ones. They had poped off or been noticed when the truck was in a wreck.
The truck was stolen a few owners before my friend.

Nothing ever came of it on my friends end of it but I'm sure they followed the title trail.

Trending Topics

Anyone have their DPF professionally cleaned?

19

519
vintage pics of days gone by

17.7k

1.7M
2026 f250 - alignment and sloppy handling

13

397
Time for new brakes!

22

467
DEF consumption

29

14.2k

Dec 4, 2003 | 06:25 PM

Drive it like its stolen

Thread Starter

Junior User

Joined: Dec 2003

Posts: 90

Likes: 0

From: Idaho

I'm supposed to DRIVE likes it's stolen!

What can I say.

So now the Utah Highway Patrol is involved as well as the State of Idaho and they "THINK" I may have touched on a chop shop. Yeah right. I think I found a stupid kid who found a stupid buyer!!

The truck came from impoundment to the kid and he used it in his shop class. I do think he did some, as the guy from Idaho put it, "Felony stupid stuff" such as removing the vin number off the door post and dash to paint them and then forgot where he put them or just plain figured an old truck like this one didn't need them, who knows what kids think. Oh well. When the police interviewed him last night they got the feeling he's ok. They're still looking into it and it looks like it'll all work out but what a hassle. They ARE wondering how the kid got a "clean" title with out any vins so they are going to hunt that dog pretty hard. As for me I have a 30 day temp and I'm just waiting for them to give me a green light either to keep the Bronco or to get my money back. I've been assured either way I'll be in the clear. It's just the migraine in the middle that sucks.

Thanks for the help everyone!