MTFCA Forum

I think this is about as far as I've ever seen a vehicle taken and
still called a "Model T".


https://barnfinds.com/what-the-1926-hen ... er+(Daily)

What irks me, is that they were able to get a title for it! My 23, that's a different story..

"Just because you can doesn't mean you should."

A friend had (built) a fiberglass T-bucket on a tubular frame with a Chevy V8. The only Model T part in it was the steering wheel. It was titled as a
'23 T. Apparently there is or was a business in a southern state that would buy old junk cars, remove the VIN plate and retitle the vehicle after having the VIN inspected. He would then resell the legal title and VIN plate to anyone who wanted it. Technically it was legal.

Somebody had a good buddy at the DMV that let it go on the title as a 1926 Model T. This is totally and completely absurd.

At least a 23 "T" bucket somewhat looks like a Model T, well the body anyway!

Ridiculous.

John Codman wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 15, 2021 1:23 pm

A friend had (built) a fiberglass T-bucket on a tubular frame with a Chevy V8. The only Model T part in it was the steering wheel. It was titled as a
'23 T. Apparently there is or was a business in a southern state that would buy old junk cars, remove the VIN plate and retitle the vehicle after having the VIN inspected. He would then resell the legal title and VIN plate to anyone who wanted it. Technically it was legal.

Model T's don't have a VIN Plate.

Chris Haynes wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 15, 2021 10:05 pm

John Codman wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 15, 2021 1:23 pm

A friend had (built) a fiberglass T-bucket on a tubular frame with a Chevy V8. The only Model T part in it was the steering wheel. It was titled as a
'23 T. Apparently there is or was a business in a southern state that would buy old junk cars, remove the VIN plate and retitle the vehicle after having the VIN inspected. He would then resell the legal title and VIN plate to anyone who wanted it. Technically it was legal.

Model T's don't have a VIN Plate.

Some do if retitled and new number issued by the state.

I usually tend not to doubt the integrity of the CHP when they do a vehicle inspection prior to issuing or verifying a vehicle... but in this case I'll make an exception. Then again, if it's not a highway vehicle, someone can "call" it whatever they want, just like my 6 CI briggs powered Learjet 75 Liberty tote goat...

California doesn't play with Vehicle titles, however, and this seems a little like "Here's my build paperwork for my, ahem, ahem, 1926 Model T Ford, ahem, um, officer Xyzyxx, here's some pictures of it (shows prints off fleabay of someone's actual '26 T), I'd bring it in but I can't get a trailer yet, you know how impoverished we are out in the hills, so you can just give me the replacement VIN sticker and I'll put it on the car, and for helping me out, I'd like you to have this envelope, nothing really, just some portraits of a guy named Ben."

There is no getting round the CHP. They actually know what they are looking at. When I took my '21 in for verification the CHiP had everything you could possibly want to know about model T numbers downloaded into his phone. He even went so far as to look at my floorboard mount to see if it was forged or stamped.

It all boils down to who you talk to at any DMV.

Having that "THING" titled as a '26 T is probably a crime. It really perturbs those of us who have so much difficulty titling a REAL Model T, or other early car. I once had to be an "Expert witness" for a guy who bought a real Model A from out of state and when he went to title it, the DMV officer ( a known south end of a north-facing horse) started scraping away at the engine block number (actually mutilating it) and claimed it was modified and threatened to confiscate the car. The judge was a bit upset with the whole thing and ruled in our favor, but the guy still had to go through weeks of bureaucracy to get the title fixed--because the officer would not accept the judge's instructions!!! The car had a valid title from the previous owner, but it was from another state.
And then we see this thing with a "genuine" title????

John kuehn wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 17, 2021 2:37 pm

It all boils down to who you talk to at any DMV.

In CA for new titles they always refer you to the CHP for serial number verification. It isn't a real big deal just a pain in the butt if you have a vehicle that isn't running.

Thirty to forty or more years ago, Califunny would title an old car running or not. Somewhat over twenty years ago, they changed the rules and will only title a car IF it is running and road-worthy. Personally, I would prefer to have a good title before I spend the time and money to restore the car. Sometimes, I have gotten a car barely together enough to get the title before I finish it. I know there are some solid reasons for this, but if they would put half as much effort into enforcing laws on the bad guys as they do hassling decent and mostly honest people? Everybody would be better off!

Years ago, one of the 4X4 magazines did a story on an F250 Ford. The guy lifted it way up and put big tires on it, and then he rolled it over and crushed it. He got a deal on a Dodge truck and swapped the cab and box onto the F250 chassis. Later he blew the engine and swapped in a big block Chevy. Then he decided to go full blown monster truck, scrapped the Ford chassis and built a custom monster chassis with 5-ton military axles. There were no Ford F250 parts left, but it was still titled as an F250 Ford!