There is a truck for sale close to me that I am interested in. The listing is for a 1940 Chevrolet fire department truck, but I can't find the model in the data from GM's heritage site. The VIN plate lists it as model 1673. Since there was not a model 1673 in '40 I wonder if it might be GMC. I will need this sort of information to try and get a title. I will try and attach a photo of the VIN plate.
Thanks for any info on this truck you can offer. -Tom
Hy CdnBigBolt, Your serial number is that of a 1945 or 1955 (check for body style) Chevrolet 2 1/2 ton truck, a chassis with cab with a wheelbase of 159 1/4", as evidenced by the 1673 model number, hope that helps.
Thank you for your info! I am a bit unsure about if the cab has been changed. The serial if 1940 should have headlamps attached to the fenders. This one looks more like a '40 in that the headlights mount to the side of the rad shell.
I worry about being able to title it once complete.
Tom, please be more specific as to what you think the problem is. The truck has what looks like a very legit VIN plate with a serial number. So we assume the seller has no paper. Most of us don't know the title procedure in Canada. So I will advise USA. Of course, states differ here. They have different requirements in each state.
What I guess you are saying is that there must be a way in Canada to get a title constructed when none exists. We have that also. Anyway I assume all you need to know is what year it is because you already have everything else right there on that plate. Is the exact year important? The Canadian officials will go by whatever year you tell them, Right? Canadian 3B has already identified it as 45 or 55. integrated "Pot" headlights would be 45. A picture would show the big difference between 45 and 55. He knows that because the first letter of your serial is a "5". Followed by "1673". Probably not a 1940.
Next question: What do you mean when you say "I worry about being able to title it once complete." Once the sale is complete or once the truck is complete. Surely you don't mean the latter.
I see some "Maple Leaf" trucks as 2 1//2 T = series 1670. The internet indicates that 16 is the make and series code and 73 is the body style/configuration code. First number is the year. Last numbers called the "Vehicle Number".
Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it. - William Penn
This info about Canadian titles is my best info only, I get a good number of conflicting stories. Recent changes to the law up here just add to the confusion. My understanding is that there are two paths to title:
First is a bit underhanded... You purchase a title for some other truck and find a way to register the vehicle as that in the title. This is often done but could result in tears later. For example, The truck that is for sale has bullet headlights (the style for cars&trucks up to the war or there abouts). I would expect a 1945 truck to have the fender mount headlights. This sort of detail suggests that the truck may have been pieced together from parts or at least change of cowl. Should the title be questioned (by insurance in the event of an accident) it would be questioned if the truck was the vehicle they insured.
Second way is to get the owner to sign a legal document (affidavit) that states he is the legal owner of the truck. In the case you do all this and present the papers to the DMV, they do a search for the serial number. Should that serial number exist in their database, you are probably out of luck. As long as the truck isn't in their data, do all that and a bunch of bureaucratic nonsense including having the truck appraised by a licensed person and they will give you a title.
Once again I find myself wondering if a title would be possible. Once this virus stuff gets over with I will try to sort out all this. For now my thinking is to give this one a pass. Were a title that easy to get, all the sellers would have it done to increase the value.
Someone looking for a small business up here should start LostTitles.com
