Up until the middle 50's many vehicles were titled by the engine number. The plate in the door jamb was a chassis number and usually did not appear on the title. The 17 digit vin number did not become federal law until 1983. Before then, it wasn't even called a vin. I still have title to a 1950 GMC my father bought new and it was titled by motor number. I doubt there are any searchable data bases for older vehicles. None of these records were put on computer and even if the records exist, I doubt that any county clerk would be willing to dig through dusty old archives. And as far as states go, it wouldn't surprise me if these records haven't been destroyed