New member, and 57 VIN locations

[EB338]

Hi all,    I am new here, been reading for some time and just got signed up today.  Id like to start by thanking everyone for the help you all have unknowingly already provided me.

  I am currently looking at acquiring yet another 57 project car however it is missing its VIN tag.  The seller has a clear title but without a number on the car to tie back to I don't know how much good it will do me.  Where all else would I be able to find the VIN on the car?  Did they stamp it on the frame or anyplace else on the body?  If so, where?  Any and all detail would be greatly appreciated.

  Thanks
  Erich

[cool57]

Look on top of frame rail, passenger side near firewall. No guarantee but have seen some there.

[wolfpupsdad]

 in some states ifyour missing the vin tag on a vehical , andyou have a bill ofsale and the original title, andthe sellerstatesin the bill of sale the vin is/was missing , the state will issue a new vin tag. check out your locl DMV office

[57AGIN]

Erich:

You can go to John Gamble's 57Ford.com site and perhaps pick up some information about what your original VIN number may have looked like, especially if your 57 is fairly stock.  I believe the info from Cool 57 is accurate.  A CHP Officer once told me that this is where they look to see if the VIN numbers match when they are chasing down stolen 57's. 

Once you have tracked down your original VIN number, you can even have a new VIN tag made.  Take pictures of the VIN on the frame rail (if possible), photo copy the bill of sale and "clear title" info and contact Marti Autoworks, 12007 W. Peoria Ave., El Mirage, AZ 85335.  They have blank original VIN tags and are a Ford Motor Company authorized vendor.  I had my old VIN tag replaced as it had been painted over, sanded , etc. over the years and could only be read from the back side.  The cost in 2006 was $35.00 and even comes with the proper rivits to attach the new tag.

Welcome aboard and good luck.

Bob
57AGIN

[EB338]

Thank  you all for the replies. 
  Does Ford or anyone else have records that I can recover the rest of the data off the VIN tag if I can verify the actual VIN? 

  The car is disassembled and stripped of paint and interior so I dont know what the paint and trim codes were or anything else on the tag. 

  Thanks,
Erich

[JPotter57]

If you have the title, and the matching vin stamped on the top of the framerail on the passenger side, where the frame slopes down under the firewall, then you can get a plate made by Dearborn Classics.  The cost is between 30 and 40, or so.  That is what I would do.  You can add the other information based on what you know about the car, ie, color, trans, rear rear, trim, and so forth.  The information and codes for these items can be found here:
http://www.1957ford.com/asp/gallery.aspx?catmstrid=7&catdetid=29
Note that there are 5 or 6 pages of code information contained here.  Just select the items your car is equipped with, or in the instance of color and interior trim, change them to your preference.  Just make sure if you sell the car, that you dont try to pass it off as an original red with red and white interior car if it came with beige and white with beige interior....

[EB338]

Is there any database, or records available from Ford like the Marti or 999 reports the Mustang guys can get that will tell me all the original information based on the VIN? 

  The car is totally stripped down and disassembled.  All the parts to put it back are there but other than taking the sellers word I really have no way of knowing what the original colors or equipment were. 

Even if I painted and trimmed the car in different colors I would prefer the VIN tag read as original.  I am not opposed to the building of clone or "tribute cars" as long as the numbers tell the truth about what the car really was. 

[cool57]

You might consider contacting the International Ford Retractable Club.www.skyliner.org They are meticulous about history and originality. If there is a way to document the build of a 57-59 Ford they will know how to do the research. I have been a member for many years but am inactive. I stay in because I keep dreaming of getting another retract.

[EB338]

Will the entire VIN be stamped on the frame or just the last 6 digits?

[larryb346]

EB338
I too live in Missouri and want you to know, just in case your not aware, in Missouri, possession of a motor vehicle in which the vin number has been altered or removed is a felony. It is also a crime to buy or sell a vehicle in which the vin has been removed or altered.
Would be a good idea to pass on this one.
Larry

[Hoosier Hurricane]

You will have a letter, the number 7, two more letters, then the 6 digits of the serial number.  There will probably also be an asterisk before the first letter and after the last digit.

John

[57AGIN]

Erich:

When you do get your original VIN number located plus what ever additional information you are able to glean from the variety of sources mentioned or make up based on what you think the car probably came with, the two photos below show what Marti Autoworks was able to do for me.

Bob
57AGIN

[EB338]

Are the VIN numbers definitely present on all frames?  Are there any other locations?  The owner cant find it on the passenger side frame rail.   

[wolfpupsdad]

 on my 51 fordpick up , they were on the passager side  frame rail on the top of the rail just forward of the fire wall

[EB338]

Well, the good news is he found the VIN on the frame, just as described, right top of frame at firewall bracketed by two *.  Bad news is the frame VIN does not match his title VIN and even worse it is a 58 serial number on the frame.  He is still after the previous owner to come up with the VIN tag that was removed from the body during body work, but he has been after that for over two years already.  Real shame.  I hate to see a good body parted out, especially a retractable......

  Thanks for all your input guys but I guess Im going to have to let it go.