1932 Registration Info-Frame number queation

[qmdv]

I have an original 32 frame with numbers starting with AB. I think four banger pickup. It has a roadster body on it. The car is assembled and I just got the
VIN verification done yesterday. I have no title for this car. Went to California DMV to get it titled this morning. They will issue a new title showing it as a 1932 Ford Roadster if I fill out a statement of facts explaining how I got this car legally.

Also they want to see some publication or copy of one that explains the serial number range for a 32 Ford. Van Pelts has a list of serial number ranges but they all start with 18-XXXXXXXX. Mine is ABxxxxxxx. So what pub can I go to to present to DMV

[DavidG]

According to the Rouge Engine Plant log, the last '32 four-cylinder engine produced with the 'AB' prefix was 5062386. Commencing with 5062387, the 'A' was dropped from the prefix. As you may know, to avoid confusion with the production V8 engine number sequence, which began with 18-1, the '32 four-cylinder number sequence was always seven digits beginning with '5', with the first being AB-5000001.


The above applies to engines manufactured in the U.S.; a different pattern of engine numbers was used for fours and V8s manufactured in Canada. Fours produced in England were assigned blocks of numbers from the series used in the U.S.

[Flathead Fever]

Your doing better than me. I've had my '34 pickup (no paperwork) to the CA DMV three times and I've made no progress. I get a different story each time go down there.

My neighbor moved to Idaho. He stopped at their DMV, got his cars registered, new Idaho plates and a drivers license and was out the door in 20-minutes. My friend had a real '37 Harley Bobber. He spent over a year here in CA trying to get it registered. He had to go to the CHP for a VIN verification because there are so many stolen Harleys DMV will not do the VIN verification. The guy said he would issue him a tag saying it was a 2014 Motorcycle. The guy refused to use the '37 serial number. My friend moved to Washington and he is now driving his '37 Harley with its '37 Washington license plate all over the place. Its pretty bad when you can't operate a DMV where people "try" to hand you registration money for their legal car projects that never get driven. I hate this State!!!!!!!!! It use to be such a great place to live.

[deuce lover]

Here is a book on EBAY that might help.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1932-1938-T...0wTa:rk:5:pf:0

[qmdv]

Originally Posted by deuce lover

Here is a book on EBAY that might help.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1932-1938-T...0wTa:rk:5:pf:0

Is that second pic a copy out of the book

[DavidG]

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I'm not sure that the DeAngelis/Francis book page will be helpful as they labeled it all with a B prefix and you have AB prefix for your engine number. The information that I provided you is from page 2-3 of Volume I of the Early Ford V8 Club's 2-volume book, The 1932 Ford Book, A Production Chronicle and Restoration Guide. It is available on the Club's website and I believe that special holiday pricing is still in effect. The book is also available on Amazon. Having that would save you having to explain why your prefix is AB rather than simply B.


As a side note, all of that early '32 four cylinder engine production stretching back into 1931 ended up being an enormous storage problem for Ford as the decision was made not to build any four-cylinder-powered vehicles until a production version of the V8 engine became available. That did not occur until early March, 1932 and no four-cylinder-powered cars were produced until April, 1932, and only a few commercial fours in March. That meant that Ford had built up an inventory of over 40,000 four-cylinder engine/transmission assemblies before any were installed in vehicles in quantity.

[deuce lover]

Originally Posted by qmdv

Is that second pic a copy out of the book

Yes but might not help after David pointed out the AB issue.

[qmdv]

Originally Posted by deuce lover

Here is a book on EBAY that might help.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1932-1938-T...0wTa:rk:5:pf:0

Bought the book and took it to CAL DMV with copies of appropriate pages. This satisfied them but then they wanted a bill of sale from seller. I explained that I was sure he was dead as he was my dads friend and all his friends are dead. They said to send a certified letter to last address and when it comes back do not open it and that would be proof of due diligence. Went in today with returned letter and received a new registration with it stating 1932 Ford.

I feel great. Oh and I got the vin verification from a private guy in Chico, CA. CHP was being a pain.

[deuce lover]

Great news !

[qmdv]

i am now an expert. Knowing what i know now I could get it done with more ease. if you are in a registration dead end in CAL pm me

[cas3]

that was the smoothest cal title ap i ever saw, you should go to the casino tonight and see if you're still lucky

[qmdv]

We all know each state is different. Also each DMV office is different. A perfect example of this is when I dissolved a C type corporation I wanted to put a pretty new car and a pickup in my personal name. Yreka office wanted copies of the 1953 articles of incorporation and pertinent board of directors meetings. Also they wanted me to pay 8.25% use tax to the state. Went to Mt Shasta and they just treated it as a gift. Easy peasy.

[31Abone]

My 32 PU serial starts with ABxxxxx.. 4 banger type motor