1957 VIN Location

[wlricha]

I am looking to purchase a 1957 which the seller tells me that he can not find the VIN number for this car. I always assumed that it was up on the dash like modern cars. Can someone tell me where we should be looking for this VIN?

If we can not find it and you can assume that the engine is the original, can we find out the VIN by using the engine s/n? Any ideas how I could do this?

Thanks
Lee

 

[John Mcgraw]

The vin on 57 cars was screwed to the drivers side door jamb at the front edge of the door. The engines did not carry the VIN # until the 1960 model year. The re is a VIN # stamped into the top of the frame rail on the drivers side about even with the drivers seat. It is not easy to see, but with a scotchbrite pad and a mirror you can usually see it if the frame is not too badly rusted.
I would not even consider buying any car that did not have a VIN until I could find the alternate VIN # and match it to the title. There are places which can make you a new VIN tag after a police officer has verified the alternate VIN ad you can prove ownership.
Regards, John McGraw

 

[wlricha]

Could you please calrify. Will I see it from looking at the side of the frame or from the top of the frame with the body removed?

Thanks for the help.

 

[John Mcgraw]

It is on the top of the frame and can be seen with the body off.
You can sometimes see it by scrubbing the top of the frame with a scotch brite pad and putting an inspection mirror between the frame and body. With the aid of a strong flashlight you can often read the #'s.

 

[Verle]

I was able to see the VIN on my 57 frame by inserting a wedge between the frame and floorboard about the front edge of the drivers seat. I then used a scotch bright pad to scrub the frame, blew the dust off and with drop light and mirror read the correct VIN (backwards in the mirror).

Verle