The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 1941 VIN plate

I need a replacement VIN plate for my 1941 AK. When I look at Chev's of the 40's and Filling Station they show a plate that has model filled in as Master and the VIN # says car #. Also the weight box is filled in with a 0. Here in CA they require a vehicle weight on all trucks.
Is there a plate that I can buy and stamp the correct information for my truck available.

Ron,
This is a Very Slippery slope. Most won't comment on it. I can tell you to look up Ca. Vehicle code 10751.
"They" say if your V.I.N. is in need of replacement, ect , C.H.P. will issue the vehicle a "Blue" tag new V.I.N. .
Otherwise I have Personally seen vehicles including a 1951 truck ordered crushed .
Now if you are getting a plate and filling it out and putting it on your garage wall....That's different!
Todd

https://oldchevytrucks.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=Cowl+plate

By law The number plate on our trucks should be original to the vehicle and held on with the original clutch head screws. It should resemble the plate and screws in the above link though that plate looks different than on my 46. Even if the original is in very poor/aged/ragged condition it is better than using a reproduction. The numbers are stamped with 2 different stamp sizes.

Chuck

Below is Jim Carters thoughts on the subject

https://oldchevytrucks.com/blog/2010/02/screw-on-id-plates/

Do you have the original engine? The VIN number is the engine serial number, both must match. Take what you have along with pictures and paper work to your local office and ask them what to do. They are not going to like you walking in with a VIN tag if you tell them you took it off, might be a different story if it rotted off.

I had a problem registering my 37 truck after approximately 20 years. It was originally registered on the engine number and that engine had been replaced. That previous engine number did not match my Vin tag. I contacted a Vin verification company that’s contracted with California DMV and explain my situation to the gentleman. He came out to my house and looked at my truck and all my paperwork from when I purchased in 2001. He was able to get the VIN changed from the original registration to the Vin tag on the cowl of my truck. The gentleman I contacted is very knowledgeable and reasonable. He filled out the proper forms, I took them to my local DMV office and was in and out in approximately five minutes with the Vin change to the Vin tag on the cowl. My truck is now legally registered in California and insured and I’m very happy. I will send you a PM with his contact information.

I have a VIN from an out of state registration...but there is no VIN plate on the truck . I am looking for a plate would have come with the truck when built

So on my '36 that is in my name, I have the 2 original I.D. plates but they are in my toolbox. Do they make the correct screws for attaching them? or are rivets the proper way to reattach?

Heed Shaffer's warning, Ron. Talk to the people in charge at the registration office and follow their instructions to the letter. Don't attach anything you gin up yourself or your truck might also end up in the crusher.

If it were as easy as just buying a repop plate, punching some numbers on it, and bolting it to your door frame, collector car theft would be through the roof.

There was a recent high profile case of a man in Kansas who restored a '59 Corvette.

The VIN plate was removed and reattached with the wrong hardware. The state seized the car and it was sent to an impound lot to be crushed. The owner fought for 6 years to get his car back. Meanwhile it sat outside falling apart. The FBI sided with the owner , agreeing that the car was not stolen.

Under Kansas law, that didn't matter. Removal of the plate was explicitly prohibited by law.

Eventually the state passed a new law exempting restoration projects but it was too late for this guy. He spent $30k in legal fees trying to get his car back. The car suffered nearly $30k in damage sitting outside at the impound yard for 6 years.

ronsway - Bottom line that overrides every consideration for you and your truck at this stage, before trying to find and install a reproduction plate, is go visit your local California DMV. They are the only ones that can give you what California considers acceptable actions on how to get your trucks current "out of state registration" and truck with 'no VIN plate" resolved to the point California will issue you a new title/registration.

I don't know the ins and outs of CA DMV laws/regulations, but my experience in many other states with trying to transfer an out of state title and establish ownership/registration in a new state of a vehicle that has no existing identification plates has always involved an inspection of the vehicle and the existing documentation by LEOs. That's only after I've gotten directions from the DMV on if state laws even allow such a process.

You can easily find the basic legal guidelines and information on California DMV laws and regulation by simple web searches.

Lastly, Stovebolt does not condone or support any actions that circumvent or ignore the law.

FAST55 - In short, your best next step is to contact your local DMV and get their guidance on your specific circumstances.

It may end up like my truck with a new VIN number. It's no different than building a trailer out of steel stock you purchased, its inspected and a number is a signed to it. I had to take out a bond for three years to cover myself incase anyone came along to claim the truck as theirs, after that it was all mine. I needed a title, bill of sale or receipt for all major purchases, then each number was verified by the highway patrol and check to see if it was stolen, engine, trans, axle, brakes, and the new bed.

Go to your local office and find out what is needed, they have seen it all and should be able to help you, do nott try to fool them.

thanks.... I have a VIN that the DMV has accepted for now. What I am looking for is the actual plate to stamp it on. The ones I have found online appear to be for a car not a truck. Is there a difference? And if so where can I find a number plate for my truck?

Here you go. LINK It says the weight was stamped on the data plate, and "Car" is a generic term. I recall people referring to pickups as "cars" when I was a kid.