It's currently California titled/registered, and I can easily ask the dealer to confirm the serial plate for me (it's two hours away).
Feel free to ask them to confirm it before you go back, but 100% check it for yourself before you agree to anything. I have seen plenty of super-sketchy and/or straight up illegal old vehicles sold and certified by dealers both in and out of California.
All things considered, given your statement that you don't want a franken-truck, this is probably a hard pass.
