The Joys of vintage registration

[Kpar]

At the moment we are in the process of selling our 1930 A Ute and while collecting all my restoration I came across an issue while trying to register the ute after a full restoration.
A bit long winded but it brought back some interesting times.
I also posted this on our local car club back in 1999.
Enjoy
THE JOYS OF VEHICLE REGISTRATION

I’ve heard that some club members have had problems in the past while trying to conduct business through the Transport Department, well, I can now boast, I’ve been added to this ever growing list of disgruntled customers.

Just before Xmas 1999, Wife and I headed off in the “A” Model Ford armed with the RWC & TPI down to the local Transport Dept. to register the Ute. Well I can tell you I was, a little nervous, a little excited but most of all as proud as hell, that I had finally completed the Ford and had it ready for Rego. Following the events over next hour or so I almost took the vehicle home and locked it up in the shed forever.
Following is a brief description of events: -

• Arrive at Transport Dept.
• Approach Desk (after queuing) and request attendant to register vehicle
• “No problem Sir, just fill out these forms”
• Well, still very nervous so Wife fills out the forms and I sign
• Back to that ever persistent lineup and wait to be called
• Hand over forms & make small chat (this is great I’ll be driving around town soon)
• Lady pleasantly asks, “ You forgot to enter the Chassis Number Sir”
• Politely I answer “This Model didn’t have one”
• “But you can’t register it without a Number” she said
• “But they didn’t have a Number” I said
• “Just go and wait over there while I contact somebody about this”
• Wife and I waiting, Me, I’ve now lost some of my excitement & wished I still smoked
• After pleasant lady made several phone calls, calls us back
• “Sorry Sir we need a Chassis Number before we can register it”
• ^%T$#$#@)&* hell I told you lady there is no number on the chassis (wife now telling me to calm down)
• “There must be a number somewhere on it” She answers
• “Lady I built this vehicle from front to back there is NO number” (All of a sudden the Airconditioner was not working to well in that office)
• “Hang on a minute sir I’ll make a phone call” (Bloody Hell)
• After phone call, “The situation is this you need a chassis number to register the vehicle”
• “But it doesn’t---- Hang on a minute I’ll just slip home and stamp one on it”
• “Your not allowed to do that the number has to be allocated by the police”
• %$@&^ here we go again “Well can we phone and get a number”
• “No You will have to take the vehicle up to the police station for inspection before they can allocate a number” (Bloody Hell “Lets take the bloody Ford home and forget about it) “Now,Now” wife says, “Calm down, Calm down”
• “But lady the vehicle is not registered how do I get it up there” (I was just getting smart now)
• “You will have to get a permit or hire a trailer”
• “This is just Bull Shi (Dig in the ribs from wife)
• “Look sir are you sure there are no numbers on the chassis anywhere we could use?”
• Something clicks in my head “Hang on I do know of a number sort of attached to the chassis”
• “Well come on” she says, and grabs a torch “lets have a look”
• I show her the number “A30-=4576” or something like that.
• “That will do” she says
• I didn’t have the heart to tell her it was the “U” clamp that holds the steering column up under the fuel tank and that the number was a spare part listing.
• On our way back to the office “Will that number always be on that vehicle”
• “Yes lady that piece will only fit that particular vehicle” ( I had had enough)
• The kind lady finally gave the Ok and guess what, she handed us over to another attendant to punch in the details and take our money. Now I can finally jump into the Ute and go for a spin.
• But wait there’s more, the next attendant asks “What does the Ute weigh Sir?”
• “Hell I don’t know”
• Wife chips in “ It’s all steel no plastic or fiber glass in this one”
• “What does it weigh and how much will it carry”
• “Hell I still don’t know”
• “I tell you what Sir we’ll just pick one of these on the computer and enter it. Will that be Ok sir? ”
• You Bet
• We paid the money and I finally got to have a spin in my restored 1930 “A” Model Ford Pickup.

To all you restorers out there if you can’t find a Chassis Number, borrow some stamps and punch one on before trying for registration.

Keith & Lyn Parsloe

HAPPY MOTORING

[1ton]

On model A's, do the chassis numbers typically or ideally match the engine numbers?

[TerryH]

When they were first made, the number stamped on the left frame rail and the engine number were the same. Over the years, many engines have been replaced, usually with a different number, unless someone has re-stamped it to match.

[chrs1961815]

Many states like mine want to see the frame number which is completely irrational and idiotic considering that some cars don't have one; you would have to go thru the trouble of lifting the body off; and the number might be too worn to read. Another reason I registered in Wisconsin, that and it was cheaper.

[dave in australia]

I'm glad I live in Victoria where VicRoads actually know that most vintage cars don't have a chassis number and accept that. Even my insurance accepts that there is no chassis number. It also helps that I have some old rego papers to prove that there is no chassis number.

[mike657894]

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Great story! I find it hilarious that your registered number is a part casting number. That really got me rolling.