Title needed for my 54

[ClassicDreamer]

I bought a 54 3100 recently from a guy who bought it from a guy and...... you know the rest.
Needless to say, I need to find a way to get the title for the truck. I do not have any of the paperwork from the original owner. No bill of sale, no title, I have no idea where the truck was last registered.
I found a couple title places out there, but they say they need info from the original owners. True?
What do you guys do in this situation. Oh yeah, I live in NY if that makes a diff.
Thanks!
andrew

[truckdude239]

contact your local dmv and ask them what to do

[ClassicDreamer]

just spend the last 20 minutes on the ohone with automated crap with these people. Try again now.

[samdjr74]

If you have the VIN number there's a couple companies who can create a new title for you. It costs about $350 or so but from what I hear it works. I almost went that route once but I found the title. Anyway you sell them the car then they sell it back to you except this time they give you a title to go along with it.

[ClassicDreamer]

interesting. I didnt know thats how it works. Do you have any of the companies names?
On the phone with NYS dmv now.
I do have the vin number.

[clinebarger]

The vin is not on the truck, it whould be on the original engine block. GM didnt put VINs on the vehicles till 56 or 57 forget which one. If it doesnt have the original engine thats a whole nother can of worms.

[50adrod]

Originally Posted by clinebarger

The vin is not on the truck, it whould be on the original engine block. GM didnt put VINs on the vehicles till 56 or 57 forget which one. If it doesnt have the original engine thats a whole nother can of worms.

my 50 has the vin on the drivers door hinge post

[samdjr74]

Originally Posted by ClassicDreamer

interesting. I didnt know thats how it works. Do you have any of the companies names?
On the phone with NYS dmv now.
I do have the vin number.

Here's a couple, I was looking at the second one

http://www.getnewtitle.com/
http://www.titlerecovery.com/

[ClassicDreamer]

great! Thank you very much!

[The Big Green]

Here we just call a State Trooper and they come out and run the vin, when that comes back not stolen they write a paper and you take the paper to the DMV. It's a simple proscess.

[ClassicDreamer]

well the dmv was kind of useless. They told me there is not much that can be done without a transferrable registration. They told me I need to search more to try and find the last known owner. I am not sure if that was even in the state of NY.

[71swb4x4]

There are states that don't require titles on vehicles that old. Tell the DMV the truck came from one of those states and see what they say. If I remember correctly South Carolina doesn't issue title for vehicle older than 1981. Thus if you bought a vehicle from someone in SC you would not get a title. You would want that seller to sign a bill of sale that has the vehicle info and purchase price. You could try this route and see what happens.

[Coronas56]

I have a 55 1st series title..............., looks like a post card

[ClassicDreamer]

ny doesnt issue a title just a transferrable reggie. but in order to register a ny car you need a transferrable reg or a title for the vehicle.
my truck has a vin plate on the inside of the door as well. As for the rest of the info. The body is on a 85 s10 chassis and getting a 2000 up 4.3 motor. Should be interesting. But ny for what I know needs a title on the body.

[hotrod 80]

Not trying to highjack , but mine is the other way around . Mine is titled by the motor # and that has been replaced . I now have to take it to be inspected by the DPS before i can get tags for it . I'll assume they build a state vin # for it . They might just write down the body seriel #'s and use that . Or I guess i could get a bonded title on the body seriel # ?

[Dan Bowles]

It depends on the state. Some states titled the vehicle by the Motor ID stamped on the engine, others titled it by the VIN which is on the driver's side A pillar just above the bottom door hinge on the AD Chevy/ND GMC trucks. Some states also titled them as the year SOLD rather than the year MANUFACTURED. I've seen 53s registered as 54s because they weren't sold until after the new year.

You'll need to go through your state to determine what you need, there are different rules for different states. Before you get too excited and drop a ton of coin on that truck, get your title sorted out. A local guy in Michigan bought a '56 Buick and did a ton of work. He never did anything with the title and it turned out the previous owner had left it at an interior shop for years and the shop sold it to a guy who sold it to him. NONE did any title work or any title leins and you guessed it, the "rightful" owner according to the state of Michigan called it stolen and they guy lost the car back to him.

You may be better off buying another parts truck with a title! If you don't have a VIN tag on the cab, you'll have even more fun. I just sold a rotted cab to a guy because he ran his title through the laundry and didn't have a VIN plate on the truck. I just saw he had a '54 Chevy truck for sale with a good title...and I know where my rotted cab ended up sans VIN plate.

[hlozano54]

Originally Posted by Dan Bowles

It depends on the state. Some states titled the vehicle by the Motor ID stamped on the engine, others titled it by the VIN which is on the driver's side A pillar just above the bottom door hinge on the AD Chevy/ND GMC trucks. Some states also titled them as the year SOLD rather than the year MANUFACTURED. I've seen 53s registered as 54s because they weren't sold until after the new year.

You'll need to go through your state to determine what you need, there are different rules for different states. Before you get too excited and drop a ton of coin on that truck, get your title sorted out. A local guy in Michigan bought a '56 Buick and did a ton of work. He never did anything with the title and it turned out the previous owner had left it at an interior shop for years and the shop sold it to a guy who sold it to him. NONE did any title work or any title leins and you guessed it, the "rightful" owner according to the state of Michigan called it stolen and they guy lost the car back to him.

You may be better off buying another parts truck with a title! If you don't have a VIN tag on the cab, you'll have even more fun. I just sold a rotted cab to a guy because he ran his title through the laundry and didn't have a VIN plate on the truck. I just saw he had a '54 Chevy truck for sale with a good title...and I know where my rotted cab ended up sans VIN plate.

Posted via Mobile Device

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by ClassicDreamer

ny doesnt issue a title just a transferrable reggie. but in order to register a ny car you need a transferrable reg or a title for the vehicle.
my truck has a vin plate on the inside of the door as well. As for the rest of the info. The body is on a 85 s10 chassis and getting a 2000 up 4.3 motor. Should be interesting. But ny for what I know needs a title on the body.

It sounds like you bought into the full can of worms on that one.

An internet search will tell you that guys are having a lot of problems with titles that come from these "title makers" for a lack of a better name. The dmv's in some states automatically red flag them now as they know that the titles are usually pretty shaky at best.

If the truck came with a plate no matter how expired it was I'd figure out a way to track the plate. Check all the cubby holes and hiding spots and even under and behind the seat for an old registration slip. I was cleaning out the glove box of an S-10 blazer a guy gave me because it didn't have a title and I only wanted the rear end and right there in the middle of a bunch of papers and trash in the glove box was the title.

Who's to say that you didn't build the truck out of a bunch of pieces you picked up over the past couple of years? Bill of sale for the cab, one for the bed and one for an S-10 with no engine or trans. along with the actual receipts you have for any major part you bought for it. Then it is time to go get it inspected as an assembled truck. I'd still go the bonded title if it were me though. Three years goes by pretty fast and the only hassle you might have is if someone actually shows up with a real registration/title that matches the number plate on the door post as the stock engine is long gone.

I have in the past bought some pretty rough hulks of AD trucks because they did have clear titles and matching number plates. it took five truck loads to get one of them home a few pieces at a time as it was taken apart about as far as you could take one apart. Some guy had taken it apart years before when he was going to restore it and found out that it was so rotted out he wasn't able to repair it.

[Dan Bowles]

GMC



Chevrolet



New blanks at American Classic Truck Parts. Stock ones look like this with your VIN stamped on it. Held on by screws on the early ones, rivets later.

[ClassicDreamer]

Dan, you hit the nail on th head. This is the exact route I just took. New title and vin plate

[Dan Bowles]

Easiest way to go about it. Glad you got it worked out.

I've seen "new" tags stamped with the Engine VIN that is on the paperwork in cases like in Hot Rod 80's case. That way the truck is stamped to match the paperwork. I've heard of some states allowing an inspection and I've heard of other guys just not bothering and registering them anyway. I guess it depends on the state and if you have an inspection in your area or not.

In Michigan, I don't have an inspection but I can also apply for a Certificate of Ownership document that states I own it, I bought it for X, and they run it through the NCIC system and then I pay my taxes and title fees on it and have the title in a week or so. If there is a problem with the NCIC, then I'VE got problems but I know that in 45 minutes to an hour!

[tiddlar]

I had the same issue kinda, I had a title to my 5 window but turns out it was to the engine. the cab has the vin plate. I basically had a title and the vin matched notching, the motor didnt come with the cab. went to dmv had it inspected. paid 300 dollar bond for it and got a temp title. in 3 years they will send me a legit title.

[tiltonb]

Neither of my trucks came with a title. I called the State Patrol and they inspected it. Now I have to take the paperwork and apply for a Colorado Title.

[63 & 64 Bowties]

Originally Posted by tiltonb

Neither of my trucks came with a title. I called the State Patrol and they inspected it. Now I have to take the paperwork and apply for a Colorado Title.

You've picked a 4 year old thread to make your first post on, but good luck and let us know how it works out.

[Root2812]

Originally Posted by 63 & 64 Bowties

You've picked a 4 year old thread to make your first post on, but good luck and let us know how it works out.

Yay search function! There is a lot of great info in old threads. Its refreshing to see a new guy search and dig up an old thread instead of posting a question that's been covered numerous times.