TheSamba.com :: View topic - Old title with engine number instead of VIN

Thu Dec 10, 2020 6:27 pm

I have a title for my split from 1967, which was the last time it was titled. It says 1950 sedan, but the number matches the engine exactly.

Has anyone else seen this before? Any recourse outside of seeking a new title through a company?

Thu Dec 10, 2020 6:30 pm

Hi. Have a 1955 convertible titled as the engines. Researched years ago, seemed to be a thing. I found records of East coast cars having same thing. I’ll prob just leave mine.

Fri Dec 11, 2020 6:57 am

50Splitman wrote: I have a title for my split from 1967, which was the last time it was titled. It says 1950 sedan, but the number matches the engine exactly.

Has anyone else seen this before? Any recourse outside of seeking a new title through a company?

This was common in Oregon in the '50s. There, if you take your car to the dmv, they will easily fix it for you. I would assume other states have similar processes to fix these problems. Its not like the first time they have seen it. I would get it fixed because if you ever go to sell the car, it becomes an issue that could cost you money or lose you a sale.

Fri Dec 11, 2020 7:06 am

I've had Oklahoma and Texas cars with the same issue.

Fri Dec 11, 2020 8:53 am

CA too.
I had a Bus where the original engine was gone too, making it a bigger issue.

It was corrected at the DMV with a "2nd level" inspection

Fri Dec 11, 2020 9:54 am

I had a 71 bus that was registered as a 1965. VIN matched the 1965 1500sp that was in it. Super shady but I bought it and sold it that way, I mentioned when I registered it but no one at the NY DMV seamed to think it was strange. They said it was probably on a 1965 frame and that those old Volkswagens had the bodies swapped all the time. I didn't bother correcting them. No titles for vehicles that old in NY anyway.

Fri Dec 11, 2020 5:51 pm

I've fixed this problem before, in Oregon. Do all the paperwork for a new title, write a narrative that explains the difference in number of digits between an engine number vs chassis number. print off supporting documents from thesamba showing build dates and etc. Basically, provide enough info to prove that this is the same car described on your title using logical conclusions.

Most importantly...the shortcut, documentation wise, is to get a birth certificate for your car from the Wolfsburg museum. Since you have the engine number, they will verify on one official document that your chassis number left the factory with the engine number on your previous title. very hard for a bureaucrat to find fault with that.

Fri Dec 11, 2020 7:08 pm

Thanks for all the feedback, this really helps.

For those who have found solutions - did you need the previous owner to help? My title was signed 20 years ago by the previous owner, who unfortunately has passed since then.

if I bring the title to the DMV, sign it and have proof of the motor number, such as a picture of my engine number and the letter from Wolfsburg that states my 50 has the original engine, plus my birth certificate showing the correct VIN, would that suffice?

I have a Maryland title, but need to title it in Virginia.

Sat Dec 12, 2020 11:10 am

50Splitman wrote: Thanks for all the feedback, this really helps.

For those who have found solutions - did you need the previous owner to help? My title was signed 20 years ago by the previous owner, who unfortunately has passed since then.

if I bring the title to the DMV, sign it and have proof of the motor number, such as a picture of my engine number and the letter from Wolfsburg that states my 50 has the original engine, plus my birth certificate showing the correct VIN, would that suffice?

I have a Maryland title, but need to title it in Virginia.

i'd think any "official" VW documentation would be very helpful - I once bought a (obvious) 1950 11G, but the title read 1952 - I did what another suggested, by getting a BC and a letter from VW in Germany, stating my bug was in fact a 1950 and not a 1952 - the NJ motor vehicle agency accepted that and changed the title to reflect, the correct date - z

Sat Dec 12, 2020 4:47 pm

My 54 hadn't been registered in over 20 years. The motor was long gone and the pink slip had the motor number for the registration. The California DMV was aware how older cars used the engine number. I provided the DMV clerk with the pan ID and she changed the number as well as registered the car in my name.
It was simple.

Sat Dec 12, 2020 5:12 pm

rlmartinez wrote: My 54 hadn't been registered in over 20 years. The motor was long gone and the pink slip had the motor number for the registration. The California DMV was aware how older cars used the engine number. I provided the DMV clerk with the pan ID and she changed the number as well as registered the car in my name.
It was simple.

I think they were overly-fair with you and you are extremely fortunate - that is not the usual outcome, but happy for you - z

Sat Dec 12, 2020 6:12 pm

50Splitman wrote: Thanks for all the feedback, this really helps.

For those who have found solutions - did you need the previous owner to help? My title was signed 20 years ago by the previous owner, who unfortunately has passed since then.

if I bring the title to the DMV, sign it and have proof of the motor number, such as a picture of my engine number and the letter from Wolfsburg that states my 50 has the original engine, plus my birth certificate showing the correct VIN, would that suffice?

I have a Maryland title, but need to title it in Virginia.

I would say that documentation would suffice but hard to know what is required in your state. It may depend on the person you get as well and whether they actually want to help.

In my experience, the DMV people (and most service people) are generally lazy and sick of a-holes so if you are nice and don't argue with them or give them an attitude, it's a change from the normal visitor and they will help you out.

Sun Dec 13, 2020 7:38 am

I bought a car titled to engine number with engine long gone also. First I did a recon run in person down to DMV. Then came back with car, they verified chassis VIN and ran the plates to see if it ever was reported stolen.
Went home with new title based on correct chassis VIN. That was 25 years ago, might be different now...

Since so much time elapsed since the car was titled that might raise some questions. (assuming it hasn't been registered consistantly since then)
Since you've got the engine that should help, and if you have the plates on the title that will help. Yes, be nice at the DMV, it goes a long way...

Wed Dec 16, 2020 2:14 pm

50Splitman wrote: I have a Maryland title, but need to title it in Virginia.
There's the rub. There are 50 states and 50 sets of rules, so what applies to one doesn't apply to the others. All the suggestions have been great so far, especially getting the birth certificate from Volkswagen. (You'll want that at any rate), but you still need to research the specific rules in Virginia.