The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk This can't be the correct VIN plate, can it?

Photo says it all. Looks fabricated to me but I've never seen a real VIN plate in a 1950 3100, just the reproductions available in catalogs. '50 Vin plate
Thoughts?

Most of them look like this by now (see picture) I think you have the original plate that someone cleaned off and restamped with the additional numbers. The only number stamped on a 1950 Chevrolet plate is the serial number. The number at the bottom has the correct look and spacing of the originals (I have owned 11 1950 trucks).

http://community.webshots.com/photo/2061376250102454676qYjVOU

Homemade, hand stamped. First clue is the phillips head screws holding it on. Depending on the Law Enforcement agency stopping you the shown plate could get your truck impounded and you arrested.

Screwed on plates is correct for 1947-1950 trucks they do not attach with rivets until 1951 onward.
Ok in owning 25 trucks Chevrolet and GMC this is what I have come across:

Phillips screws 1949-50 only, it seems a unique screw always the same NF with a flat point 3-4 trucks my own included (purchased from original owner).
http://community.webshots.com/photo/2917615890102454676KACyfz

Clutch head type unique though becasue they have a head like a bolt 8-9 trucks 47-early 49 usually.
http://community.webshots.com/photo/2612842870102454676nYHeFa
http://community.webshots.com/photo/2493107830102454676JMVBEB

Rivets always on the 1951-55 1st Series 11-12 trucks. Notice the 53 plate with extra numbers.
http://community.webshots.com/photo/2074469990102454676dIwcIS
http://community.webshots.com/photo/2344936220102454676Nqmtbj

I am curious what others may have found.

Here is a reproduction 1950 door-post ID plate. The stamping would only been in the rectangular box at the bottom of the plate.

The plate in the first post is an after-market plate.

Jim Carter states that the 1950 (47-50) plates were originally screwed-on with clutch-head screws.

The data plate on my '38 is held on by clutch/hex head screws. I've never seen any like them before. I've not found any place to buy replacements. I told the body man when they were prepping for paint that if he lost them the paint job was free.

Data plate screw.

Good idea, Tiny. (nice photo)

What is on the title? Most 1950 models were titled by engine number. The tag you show was a common replacement for lost tags or when a service cab was installed. I would keep it for the nostalgia of it. If you don't like it, you can install a reproduction plate. Manufacturers did not use chassis or VIN numbers until 1954. The 17 digit VIN as we have it now did not become law until vehicles built after 1981. If you are concerned about the regulations in your state, get on the department of vehicles and titling in your state. I would not ask an enforcement officer, because they usually don't know. If you live in CT, they are one of the more difficult states.

The upper sets of lettering are all new, but the actual VIN numbers & letters at the base look original to me. Here's a photo of my VIN plate -- my 3100 was built in Oakland in 1950 too, and the spacing in the actual VIN numbers at the base looks identical.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/nuqOOOqPz8YzLoIjvuANXS5gUOnkvy4zzcbIWgQD__A?feat=directlink

It's almost as if they sanded off all the printed lettering off the original plate - maybe by mistake? - and then stamped in all that other information on there to try to keep the VIN plate looking legitimate to those who don't know better.

My 1950 Oakland truck has the same Phillips head screws
1950 Data plate plate
Data plate screw

X2 on what the guys stated above. Looks Like an original Data plate. Original screws. Added stamp numbers
My S/N only has 4 numbers at the end. Your truck is 6 months newer than mine.

Just what I said the plate is a sanded and restamped original those bottom numbers follow the correct format of and original plate.

Thanks for the education, guys.

The Oakland ID-stampers were apparently less careful than the more eastern-plant ID-stampers, in placing the sequence-code (serial number) nearer to the left part of the code.

Regarding the use of clutch-head vs phillips-head screws, many people have reported this happening on both Chevrolet and GMC ID plates.

Perhaps the Oakland ID stampers in '50 had amazing foresight and guessed that sixty years later a bunch of folks obsessed with old trucks would be trying to guess at whether a VIN tag was genuine based solely upon the spacing and grouping of the stamped letters, and decided to stamp in a manner characteristic of only that particular factory during that particular year. ??

That, or perhaps they were less careful.

Or, perhaps that plate was stamped on a Friday afternoon (after happy hour)?

http://s1212.photobucket.com/albums...n=view&current=1008100909b_00011.jpg
This is a picture of my 51 3600,the day I purchased,and ready to take home.Unfortunately,in haste that I got such a good deal,I overlooked the fact,it did not have an Vin plate(stupid). Fortunately,I have made the right move,and got hold the BMV,here in Ohio,and they are going to inspect the vehicle,and get the right Vin plate,on there.Hopefully they can find,the serial number on the frame,and they will get the Vin#plate on there for me.The tile checked out okay.I am not going to alter the plate,that is a felony,in the state of Ohio.Just thought would comment.

That,VIN plate would not pass in Ohio.At least you have a plate.Vendors have them,It would definitely look,better than,what you have on now.I am not being mean,it is just so obvious. And I am not even a patrolman. My truck didn't even have a plate on so now,I am having the BMV here in Ohio to inspect my truck,so I can get the plate back on there legally.I read up on the legally of altering a plate,and is a felony here in Ohio. They have already checked the title,and is okay. Hopefully they can find the serial number on the frame,so they match it with the title.Good Luck

There is no serial number on the frame of an AD truck. In most states the door plate wasn't used for registration.

Thanks,Cletis,I was going to get a serial number plate from,Jim Carters. I got concerned about putting a serial number plate back on there,and stamping the info on there myself.The guy at Jim Carters said the serial# was on the passenger side,on top of the frame where the cab is mounted in the engine area? And also some guys said the serial# was stamped above the rear axle on the frame of the passenger side? And serial# was stamped on the driver's side where the motor mount is located? I don't know myself. I contacted the BMV,because I want to be legal. I have to get my truck inspected according to them,and get a serial number plate,on there. My truck didn't even have one on it for some reason. I am in Ohio,may be that is why it is different. Thanks for your comment.

This is another example that an old vehical with the proper documentation (correct and verifiable) is definitely worth a little more "change". Sometimes the hassile and expense of setting things straight gets quite burdensome!!!!!!

I have several bare AD frames. I invite any of these "experts" to show me the numbers on them.

got my money with Cletis, never found one on my 52

Law enforcement here couldn't care less about 10+ yrs old vehicles-the DMV here will give you a plate w/a new number if neccessary. All states are different I imagine.

Update: truck passed VIN verification and registration without an issue ..... thanks for all the input!

Congrats
Just curious
What number did they verify? Door post. Or the former assigned number?

Thanks. Door post, I didn't even bring the assigned number into the equation since my state (CT) doesn't care about titles on pre-1981 vehicles.

Cletis: on GMC trucks (older model, as stated by parts manual, go figure what year that might be) the serial number of the frame is stamped on the front tip of the passenger side a little bit to the front of the radiator support. I'll take a picture tomorrow of my truck (FC 101 and the number). Just found about it a couple of days ago while removing 60 years of grudge of the frame. The caution plate (.not serial number) was located in the right side in the cowl and there was a cab or body number located on the cab floor of the right hand door lock post (discontinued according to the manual on May 1949). Later models have the caution plate with the serial number on the left hinge pilar. This is for GMC trucks

Chinito Quan,

To save Cletis from having to respond/clarify/re-state, there were no GM/Chevrolet codes stamped into the frame on AD (Chevrolet Advance-Design, AD, A-D, 1947-1955) trucks. The truck in question looks like it is a 1950 Chevrolet truck?

Earlier and later years are another matter. GMC is another matter.

It is, however, quite possible that some states put a code on the frame (like California) but it is not clear if CA A-D trucks with frame-codes had the code placed on the frame by CA-DMV when it was new or when it was re-titled in a later year.

Yes, I said AD. That does not include New Design GMCs.

What are New Design GMC's? Does the GMC's have the same denomination (Art Deco, AD, Task Force) as the Chevy's? Mine is a 49 GMC (if the denomination is the same it should be an AD, right?) and the serial number is in the frame. Check frame pics. I don't know about Chevy's.

GMC called the 47-54 "New Design", for Chevy those years are the Advance Design

Bill

Okeedokee. Understood.