55.2-59 Need VIN help

[cigar-]

I have an opportunity on a 1957 GMC C30 truck. Of course it has no title! The seller has very little to offer me so I am starting with the VIN situation.

He has sent me a photo of a plaque that contains a serial number and weight information. See photo attached/enclosed. My internet search tells me the VIN is located in three places on the frame. "IF" that's the truth, we know where to look.

What I need to know is how many characters are in the VIN for a 1957 truck? Is there a standard prefix? Like do all VINs begin with a series of numbers and letters? example 1S23Bxxxxxxxxx

[dsraven]

the gm heritage center would be a great place to contact. they can send out a package with all the options it came with once they id where to look for a vin
this site may have the info on where to look. pick a year and check the manual index. likely all the same model of truck, say task force (55.2 to 59), would have the vin in the same place. driver's door pillar usually with a tag that is simply rivetted onto the metal.

https://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.co...esto/index.htm

this is the page for a 59

https://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.co...to/59tsn02.htm

[cigar-]

Thank you for the reply. Nice source for information. But.....they have assembled nothing for 1957 trucks at all so I cannot get any help there. I will hope and continue.

Maybe this cool old truck I found is not worth the work. I hate to see it get crushed!

[dsraven]

the serial number on the door tag is the vin. they didn't have 17 digit vins back in the day.

this may help

https://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/series.htm

or this

https://talk.classicparts.com/thread...n-frame.13769/

[dsraven]

and another

https://www.oldgmctrucks.com/page0290.html

what does your truck look like, good shape, not so good?
you coiuld check with the local authorities to see what can be done if there is no title. I'm from Canada so not sure how the different staes handle it.

[franken]

The Nevada DMV website should have the info on getting a title. Nothing related to other states that the comments will have mean anything in your state.

[gmc jr van]

They did not stamp the “VIN” on the frame until 1967.
The 1957 300 series had no prefix and 9 characters are in the “VIN” unless they built over 10 thousand trucks (303 C T 10000) at Oakland. The truck is the sixty first 300 model built at Oakland California for 1957.

It should have a Parts ID Plate on the glove compartment door.

[cigar-]

https://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/series.htm - didn't help as it's for Chevy trucks and not GMC

https://talk.classicparts.com/thread...n-frame.13769/ - helped a LOT! confirmed that the VIN system back then was not as it is now (as many digits). The serial number tells me its what should have been used as it describes the truck I am looking at.

https://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.co...esto/index.htm - does not have any 1957 truck information....no help


https://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.co...to/59tsn02.htm - again....it's for Chevy trucks not GMC. The coding system doesn't match up. The Chevy models are 4 digit while the GMC are one letter and two numbers. The one I am looking at is a C30.

Thank you all for your help. It is of great value for me to decide on this project.

[mr48chev]

Read what GMC jr van wrote ten times and forget what the internet BS artists say. They always claim that there are serial numbers aka vin on 49/59 Frames especially GMC but I have never seen one.

Print that photo and take it to the Nevada dmv and ask what it takes to get a title in Nevada. If there is an old license plate on the truck get a photo of that

If you do buy it do not under any circumstances remove that door post tag for any reason. That original tag with original rivets with original paint around it means that that part of the truck was never molested and starts are getting real hardcore about not approving one that obviously has that the tag removed even to repaint the truck. Also only that stamped serial number means any thing to the DMV on the tag although other info verify the info on the tag.

If you do buy it I suggest printing out or getting the Nevada bill of sale form and going to a Notary to have the signatures notarized. Or at least use that form. https://dmv.nv.gov/pdfforms/vp104.pdf

Engine serial numbers never match door post numbers on older rigs. They tell you that the engine was built for that year and size of truck but never match on Chevy or GMC trucks.
If you do an engine swap, transmission swap or rear end swap before having it inspected get bills of sale or receipts for those parts that show you obtained them legally and in good faith.

Some interesting reading here. https://dmv.nv.gov/pdfforms/vp022.pdf

[cigar-]

mr48chev.....

Valuable information you gave. I have tinkered with old cars for a while and always make sure my butt is covered. NO shady Bill of Sale.....funny signatures, etc.

I have called the Nevada DMV about a bond title and the agent told me it's not worth it. I am wondering how and why she said that!

The tag on the truck will not be removed. I have a 54 5 window that was redone and the original tag remained!

We will see how this goes as I inch forward.