The Ford Barn

farmertom · 07-25-2021, 08:32 AM

hey barners, whats the best way to search the vin on my 37 fordor. i'm just curious of its history. thanks tom.

JSeery · 07-25-2021, 08:51 AM

Do you understand how the serial numbers were assigned to a vehicle? The engine/transmission assemble had a number assigned to the transmission. When the engines/transmission was installed in a vehicle, the number was then stamped into the frame.

VanPelt's site has some information: http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/f...ialnumbers.htm

Kube · 07-25-2021, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farmertom

hey barners, whats the best way to search the vin on my 37 fordor. i'm just curious of its history. thanks tom.

Tom, You are likely to find only an approximate build date for your car, nothing more. The serial number in those days indicated nothing of model, exact build date, assembly plant, color, options, etc.

blucar · 07-25-2021, 01:10 PM

Tom, do you know where the serial number/VIN is located on a '37 Ford.. It is stamped into the frame adjacent to the steering gear box. The number will be a star-180000 if it is a 85 HP V8.. If the transmission is original to the car the number stamped into the upper part of case near the inspection hole will be the same as the number stamped into the left frame rail..
Ford did not use motor numbers and for the most part body numbers, until 1949.

DavidG · 07-25-2021, 01:32 PM

A record exists of when your engine/transmission assembly was built, but not of when it was installed in a vehicle chassis. Depending on which assembly where your car was built and the proximity of the model year Job #1 date to when that occurred, the gap in time between engine/transmission manufacture and vehicle build could range from two weeks to two months.

If your car has any of its original glass, the dates on the trademark will at least give you a big clue as to when it wasn't built as it could have been built in the latest of those months' dates (if more than one date exists on your original glass), but not before. Even then. it is more likely to have been built in the month following the latest date on the glass.

farmertom · 07-25-2021, 04:50 PM

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hey barners, i was misunderstood i think. i'm just trying to find out the ownership history and maybe where it was 1st purchased. i do have the vin.

corvette8n · 07-26-2021, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farmertom

hey barners, i was misunderstood i think. i'm just trying to find out the ownership history and maybe where it was 1st purchased. i do have the vin.

Wouldn’t that depend on what records the DMV has/keeps, N.Y. dmv doesn’t have much, they have not digitized their old records.

V8COOPMAN · 07-26-2021, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farmertom

hey barners, i was misunderstood i think. i'm just trying to find out the ownership history and maybe where it was 1st purchased. i do have the vin.

Realistically, you might as well give-up on that idea, as NO ENTITY has made the effort to keep those records..........FACT! Just enjoy what ya got! DD

DavidG · 07-26-2021, 10:06 AM

DD is correct, no state DMV keeps readily-accessible ownership information predating the computer era by 40-50 years, let alone it being accumulated on a national basis.

V8COOPMAN · 07-26-2021, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidG

DD is correct, no state DMV keeps readily-accessible ownership information predating the computer era by 40-50 years, let alone it being accumulated on a national basis.

One more very important factor comes into play, especially these days. Due to "RIGHT TO PRIVACY" laws today, even IF that info did exist, these jurisdictions will not give-out that sort of info because the law forbids it, and for fear of litigation for doing so. DD

Als48 · 07-26-2021, 10:17 AM

Right, David G. That's what I found when I tried to research my VIN on my 48 Ford in Kentucky. No early records were kept even tho I found a name to look for. Still don't know anything about its early ownership except possibly that name.

Al Hook

farmertom · 07-26-2021, 10:35 AM

thanks barners for the feed back. what i do know about my '37 fordor deluxe is i believe i'm the 3rd owner the older gentleman before me had the car since 1956. tom.

JSeery · 07-26-2021, 02:23 PM

But, 37 to 56 is a long time to own a car, 19 years. A lot of folks changed cars every couple of years in that period of time, and I would think at least in 10 years. After the 50's it's a bit different because of the the antique factor.

07-25-2021, 08:51 AM	#2
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: vin search Do you understand how the serial numbers were assigned to a vehicle? The engine/transmission assemble had a number assigned to the transmission. When the engines/transmission was installed in a vehicle, the number was then stamped into the frame. VanPelt's site has some information: http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/f...ialnumbers.htm

07-25-2021, 01:10 PM	#4
blucar Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Ventura, CA Posts: 2,464	Re: vin search Tom, do you know where the serial number/VIN is located on a '37 Ford.. It is stamped into the frame adjacent to the steering gear box. The number will be a star-180000 if it is a 85 HP V8.. If the transmission is original to the car the number stamped into the upper part of case near the inspection hole will be the same as the number stamped into the left frame rail.. Ford did not use motor numbers and for the most part body numbers, until 1949. __________________ Bill.... 36 5 win cpe

07-25-2021, 01:32 PM	#5
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,094	Re: vin search A record exists of when your engine/transmission assembly was built, but not of when it was installed in a vehicle chassis. Depending on which assembly where your car was built and the proximity of the model year Job #1 date to when that occurred, the gap in time between engine/transmission manufacture and vehicle build could range from two weeks to two months. If your car has any of its original glass, the dates on the trademark will at least give you a big clue as to when it wasn't built as it could have been built in the latest of those months' dates (if more than one date exists on your original glass), but not before. Even then. it is more likely to have been built in the month following the latest date on the glass.

07-25-2021, 04:50 PM	#6
farmertom Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: iowa Posts: 133	Re: vin search Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) hey barners, i was misunderstood i think. i'm just trying to find out the ownership history and maybe where it was 1st purchased. i do have the vin.

07-26-2021, 10:06 AM	#9
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,094	Re: vin search DD is correct, no state DMV keeps readily-accessible ownership information predating the computer era by 40-50 years, let alone it being accumulated on a national basis.

07-25-2021, 08:32 AM	#1
farmertom Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: iowa Posts: 133	vin search hey barners, whats the best way to search the vin on my 37 fordor. i'm just curious of its history. thanks tom.

07-26-2021, 10:17 AM	#11
Als48 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Paducah Ky Posts: 279	Re: vin search Right, David G. That's what I found when I tried to research my VIN on my 48 Ford in Kentucky. No early records were kept even tho I found a name to look for. Still don't know anything about its early ownership except possibly that name. Al Hook

07-26-2021, 10:35 AM	#12
farmertom Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: iowa Posts: 133	Re: vin search thanks barners for the feed back. what i do know about my '37 fordor deluxe is i believe i'm the 3rd owner the older gentleman before me had the car since 1956. tom.

07-26-2021, 02:23 PM	#13
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: vin search But, 37 to 56 is a long time to own a car, 19 years. A lot of folks changed cars every couple of years in that period of time, and I would think at least in 10 years. After the 50's it's a bit different because of the the antique factor.