The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk California replacement Vin ends in 'Cal' ?

Hi all,
I Just acquired 3 1941, 1/2 ton project trucks. One pretty complete and 2 parts trucks. The vin on the pink slip of the complete truck ends with the letters 'cal'.
I am guessing this is a replacement vin assigned by the State of CA DMV.? Dont know for sure. Does anyone have a similar vin with this format,, ie: ending in 'cal'. There is no vin tag/plate on the vehicle. Since I have the pink slip, I was planning on restamping an original vin plate from the Filling Station. Also I was told to look on the frame rail under the drivers side seat for the original vin. If I find it, then what?
Comments? Info welcomed..
Thanks..
John

John,
It is more than likely that it has an assigned number by the DMV. Normally they install a replacement VIN plate on the body on the left door frame. They are real ugly and are installed with large rivets. I have also seen the metal stick on plates but they got away from using them years ago. Someone probably removed the plate at some point during it's life. It may cause you some problems if it does not have a VIN plate on it that they generated.
Fred

Thanks Fred.
Plan A:I plan on looking on the drivers frame rail for the original vin. If I find it, I am thinking about going to the DMV and asking them to reassign the original vin,,, if it's possible.
Plan B: I have a repro vin plate on the way from the Filling Station which I will have engraved with the vin from the Title.

We'll see how it goes.

Anyone know the 'exact' location of the vin stamping on the frame rail?
thanks again.

John - you won't find the vin on the frame on 40's trucks, they didn't start doing that until the mid/late 50's

Bill

Okie Dokie then,,
Guess it's Plan A then..
Thanks Bill :^)

John,
The replacement VIN may also have been added by the CHP. When I bought my truck, the [replacement] VIN on the certificate was not even close to the original VIN on the truck-it was matched to a decal that the CHP had applied. If this is the case, and you do find your actual VIN on the truck you can go to a CHP field site and tell them you want the two to match. They were actually very accommodating.

don't tell Calif DMV too much info
ALL of the archives on old vehicles ((and here i'm guessing (1970 back), certainly 1960 back)) are GONE. NADA, ZIP
because of a fire many years ago in Sacramento DMV archive office. they simply do NOT exsist any more.
so armed w/ that knowledge you could show an old door tag w/ what you want.

and i have i registered several old vehicles and none of my vehicles have a chp vin plate

The problem is that if it does not have current registration DMV will want to have an inspection done. I have had the local police do them for me. I'm sure that as long as it has a tag permanetly attached they would sign it off. The Filling Station tag might work in this instance. If the DMV or CHP inspected it they may be more critical.
Fred