Be aware in California trucks and some cars were resisted using the engine number, in which case if you swapped out a rebuilt engine you lost your S/N. And in other cases Ca used the vehicle Model and serial numbers stamped on the door plate and the frame.

I do not know about Chevys, but GMCs have the S/N stamped on the frame just in front of the passenger side front spring mount.

I do not know when this practice was started. But all my 3 GMCs and 1 Chevy have the S/N on the frame.

California was not consistent about how they registered this old trucks, it depended on the dealer and/or sales person and which DMV one went too.

It was a grab bag.

2 of my GMCs used the engine numbers and with no engines they were tough to get registered, the other one used the Door tag ID Model and S/N.

All are now registered using the Serial Plate I.D. Model and S/N.

What you might call the VIN...Vehicle Identification Number.


Dance like no one is watching,
Sing like no one is listening,
Love like you've never been hurt.

1948 GMC FC101 1/2t Pickup w/270 and SM420
1948 GMC FC253 1t Factory 80"x9' Flatbed Dually
1948 Chevy COE 2 Ton 8'x15' Flatbed
1950 GMC 354-24 2 Ton 8'X12' Flatbed w/Dump Hoist
1953 GMC 454-30 3 Ton 8'x14' Flatbed w/Dump Hoist
1953 GMC 454-30 3 Ton Cab and Chassis
1942 Clarkator 6 MILL-44 Heavy Aircraft Tug
1942 Ford (9N) Moto Tug with 1/2 yard Loader
1947 Oliver OC3 HG-42 Tract-Crawler Bull Dozier w/6' Blade