Title research

[wkuehnis]

I have a Ford Model A title from Virgina from 1979.
Here are some data from the Virgina title:
Title number: 19242515
Vehicule identification number: A1811054
Prior title: 13485160
There is also a number on the side of the title: A5805465
Question: where can I find out more about my car? Maybe prior owners and first registration.

Thanks a lot for any help.

Willi

[ronn]

You wont find out much.
The A 18 is most likely the ID number, that should be found on your engine and chassis.
But the A58 could also exist due to an engine change.
The other numbers dont mean much. You cant walk into a dmv and find previous owners.
Doesnt work that way. Also most states dont have records that go beyond 10 yrs as far as a databank is concerned. They are not interested in storing millions of pieces of info.

[brokenspoke]

Model A's were assigned a serial number that was stamped on the engine when assembled, when the engine was mated with the frame, the engine number was stamped on the frame.

[Jeff/Illinois]

Illinois USED to be great at helping you out with title searches. They would make copies of everything they had and send you for four bucks. But some politician 'decided' probably about 20-25 years ago, that somebody's privacy was being invaded.

Oh noooooo

So they cut that cord you can't get squat out of Illinois anymore.

[ModelA29]

Originally Posted by wkuehnis

Vehicule identification number: A1811054
There is also a number on the side of the title: A5805465

A1811054 - engine passed QC June 1929
A5805465 - unknown, records indicate only 4686814 made

[Gene F]

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Originally Posted by Jeff/Illinois

Illinois USED to be great at helping you out with title searches. They would make copies of everything they had and send you for four bucks. But some politician 'decided' probably about 20-25 years ago, that somebody's privacy was being invaded.

Oh noooooo

So they cut that cord you can't get squat out of Illinois anymore.

You are right. It's a car, not a bank account.

In my state a few years back I stumbled on to a web-portal where you could search the serial number to at least see if a car had been junked. It was free and open to all. However, I don't recall how to get back to it.

I have heard that if you hire an attorney they can send a letter with what you have, and get some basic info for you. I don't know how accurate that is, or if they send it to DMV, or the county courthouse. Always seems attorneys get special privledges.

[Gene F]

Originally Posted by wkuehnis

I have a Ford Model A title from Virgina from 1979.
Here are some data from the Virgina title:
Title number: 19242515
Vehicule identification number: A1811054
Prior title: 13485160
There is also a number on the side of the title: A5805465
Question: where can I find out more about my car? Maybe prior owners and first registration.

Thanks a lot for any help.

Willi

Do you have this car, or just a title?

[ronn]

A5805465 - unknown, records indicate only 4686814 made

many more engines built then 4686814
they were used for replacement, compressors, and a host of other purposes

[ModelA29]

Originally Posted by ronn

A5805465 - unknown, records indicate only 4686814 made

many more engines built then 4686814
they were used for replacement, compressors, and a host of other purposes

I just went to the end of Pluck's research - http://www.plucks329s.org/pdf/studie...n%20Charts.pdf


His total for end of November 1931 1s - 4830806

His total produced summary is - 4686814
It also shows
Omitted engines 0143992
Industrial engines 0002760
A-6005’S ENGINE ASSEMBLIES 0000792



Records show 4,320,446 cars so with the differing engine totals there were between 366,368 and 510,360 more engines than cars.

[ronn]

funny modelA29, Ive read somewhere that over 5 million engines were built. wouldnt be able to find that info, as its only by memory, which isnt always so great lately.....
could swear the number of cars over 4.8 million?

Honey, did you see my car keys?

[ronn]

ok, wiki sites 4,858,644

so I have no idea which is correct, but half a million cars is a big discrepancy!

[Bob C]

Vince's site shows Model A engines built and numbered into the early 1940's. https://www.fordgarage.com/pages/ABenginenumbers.htm

[ModelA29]

Originally Posted by ronn

so I have no idea which is correct, but half a million cars is a big discrepancy!

Canada and England made engines and stamped them differently. If I remember Canadian engines were the same specs as US and in England they had a smaller displacement. Germany built B engines and the Ruskies used the design longer than anybody.


Foreign production could easily account for 1/2 million cars.

[rackops]

For a more modern car, it's possible to get a reasonable history (depending on how much information was input) by getting a CARFAX or something similar on it. I bought their unlimited VIN look up a while back and ran all of my old VINs, just to see where the cars ended up. Rather interesting, actually.

As far as the antique cars, it's not nearly as easy. Unless the paperwork was kept with the car, you're pretty much out of luck. I've tried researching one of my cars and I had some hits from the internet. However, what I really wanted to know was the first owner. The local paper for where it was sold actually listed serial numbers (engine numbers) and buyers, but alas...I could never find the one I own.

I'm a historian (have published a few books, in fact) so I enjoy learning the history of my cars. Sometimes, however, the story just ends without satisfaction.

[mcflash]

Good luck.