I just bought a 1955 F100. It is a California truck. I found a California plate on the drivers side door post but have not found an original Ford VIN number. Where should I look?

 

Welcome to FTE

The "Rating Plate" that has the VIN on it, is either installed (riveted on) on the inside of the glove box door or on the left windshield post (aka A Pillar, aka door hinge post).

What does this CA plate on the door have on it? That's not something Ford did.

It's either a dealer add on, or could be something the CA DMV or CHP did if the truck was a theft recovery or had a salvage title at one time.

Compare any VIN you find with what is on the registration.

 

Welcome Roy!!!!!

There's all kinds of blank plates out there for sale. If it's on the door jamb, it sound like something a Chevy person would do to post a number for a CHP vin check. Time was you could get a VIN check in Calif. from any peace officer and use any metal tag. Now they are getting pissy...It has to be stamped on the frame, and checked by a CHP or DMV officer.

But here's the good news. If you can't find the VIN on the frame, they will assign you a new one and have you get it stamped on the frame and then check it!!!!! Might be good news for some Folks!

J!

PS Hey Bill, Do the F-100 have the serial numbers stamped in the top right frame rail like the Bonus Builts? I thought I heard they did....Can you confirm?

Julie

 

Some VIN's are stamped on the top left (drivers side) of the frame rail adjacent to the steering gearbox, some are stamped on the top right (passenger side) of the frame rail in front of the cab, and some are stamped on the crossmember underneath the harmonic balancer.

 

Julie, in CA any peace officer can do a VIN check ( I have been doing them for more than fifteen years) but it does not involve issuing a number and the VIN does not have to be stamped into the frame. If a vehicle is new construction (i.e. home built) or when no other VIN can be located, it can be issued a CA VIN by the CA Highway Patrol(CHP) only. This is a small decal affixed by the CHP and that sounds like what Ron has.

Ron, look on top of the frame rails about mid engine compartment. That is wear my VIN is located on my '55. Sorry I don't recall which side.

Good Luck

 

Ron,
Like Bill mentioned, the serial number should be stamped on the top of one of the frame rails or on the crossmember under the radiator. If yours is a 55 then it should have the data plate screwed to the inside of the glovebox door. 53-55 had the plates there and in 56 they moved them to the "A" pillar between the door hinges. I've owned 5 of these trucks and all have had the data plate installed with screws.
It's my general rule not to disagree with Bill but I've not seen a 53-56 dataplate installed with rivets.
Good Luck!

 

You all got me interested now. What is this VIN check? I'm curious because I have an old 75 pontiac that I wan't to find some history on. and my mom has the VIN to an old pontiac she sold in 77 that I would like to locat to see if we can't buy it, or at least know if ti still exists. Is this possible here in CA? Is this what you're all talking about? ooooooo, I may be on to something!!!!

 

Rivets were used for decades on cars/truck to attach the Warranty Plates till Ford began using the Certification Labels (to list all the info) that glued on the B Pillar beginning in the 1980's.

The rivets were a special type, not available at that time anywhere but from Ford Motor Company. Getting replacement rivets was possible, but the necessary paperwork was a PITA.

Using screws would enable the plates to be swapped around, and who would do that? Car thieves!

While I have owned 3 '56 F100's, that was 35 + years ago, so I don't recall what Ford used to attach Rating Plates on A Pillars.
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You can call the CA DMV's 800 number, ask them to run the VIN.

If the car has been registered within the past 7 years, they will tell you, but usually will not give you the name of the registered owner.

To get that, being friends with a police officer comes in handy.

I located (and bought back) two former cars that way back in the 1980's thanks to a pal (and fellow collector) at the SMPD.

 

We are talking apples and oranges here - perhaps I wasn't clear. And perhaps any peace officer can do a vin check. But there are circumstances that the CA DMV will only accept a check by the DMV or CHP. I'm my case - No previous title or registration for example. I had the LA Mesa Police fill out the Serial/VIN Number verification form for me to take to the DMV and the the DMV would not accept it - said it had to be CHP. I have no expalnation why, just know that that's what I was told from "the horses mouth."

Also, I did have a home built boat trailor (that has been in existance and registered in Ca since 1949) and when I went to get th etitle changed into MY name, the DMV told me I HAD to have the serial number checked by a CHP or DMV Officer ONLY, and if no number was present, then he would assign one, and I would have to have it PERMINENTLY AFFIXED to the frame. Riveted tags, I was told were not acceptable. So, not knowing any other method, I assumed that meant stamped or welded on.

Unfortunately, Law enforcement, DMV and the Courts don't seem to communicate very much so, you get stuck pleasing the particular agency (if not the particular person you are dealing with) that you are trying to get to do the job for you.