Early Buick Serial Numbers

[Guest DLinscott]

Hi all, I'm brand new to the forum, so please bare with me.

I have several early titles to Buick cars, that have serial numbers and engine numbers with dates of issue, but no year of manufacture.

They range from engine #171325 with serial #173140 to engine #1485643 with serial #1440261.

Is there some place handy with this information??

Thanks Doug

[jscheib]

Yoiu will likely find Dave Corbin, in Texas, on this forum and he has records of all the numbers.

If you list all the serial numbers and matching engine numbers, he should be able to tell you the date of manufacture. It looks like you ahve two he can work with for now.

He does respond on this forum, so I am sure you will hear from him,

John

[Guest DLinscott]

Thanks John, will look forward to hearing from Dave.

Here is a complete list of the Buick titles

YEAR MAKE STYLE ENGINE # SERIAL # ISSUE DATE

BUICK SEDAN 1485463 1440261 JUNE 4 1930

BUICK ROADSTER 630796 648485 APR 4 1931

BUICK ROADSTER 1023423 1002267 AUG 12 1925

BUICK ROADSTER 362174 JUL 6 1927

BUICK TOURING 468623 466934 SEPT 26 1925

BUICK TOURING 570945 58458 AUG 12 1925

BUICK TOURING 195580 200274 JULY 8 1925

BUICK TOURING 984409 930590 OCT 30 1926

BUICK TOURING 933916 878545 DEC 24 1927

BUICK TOURING 171325 173140 OCT 18 1926

BUICK TOURING 373470 388931 SEPT 17 1926

BUICK TOURING 469629 JUNE 24 1927

BUICK TOURING 883822 840417 MAY 27 1929

Thanks again for the help

Doug

[jscheib]

Doug,

I must confess, that is a rather interesting collection, and it would be interesting to learn the history, but I would not blame you for not sharing where these were discovered.

They miht also be of considerable value if these are cars that still exist today, and I am sure the owners of these cars would love to have the original documents.

John

[Guest DLinscott]

John

These are all Oregon titles, they are in what I call large format, being that they are 8.5 x 11 in size. Most Oregon titles are 5 x 7 or so. I have over a hundred of these in various manufacturers, but none have a car date. When I get a little more info they will be available for sale. They came from a car wrecking yard from way back, from The Dalles, Oregon. Very suitable for framing at the least.

Doug

[Guest DaveCorbin]

Dear Doug:

In response to your list, here is what was in the Buick factory numbers:

(all by engine number)

1485463 1926 model 47

630796 1920 K44

1023423 1923 model 39

362174 1918 E44

468623 1918 E45

570945 1920 K45

195580 1916 D45

984409 1923 model 55

933916 1923 model 45

171325 1916 D45

373470 1918 E35

469629 1918 E45 or E49

883822 1922 model 46

I hope this answers your questions about these early Buick titles. I got the model numbers from using the frame numbers you gave. In all cases, the frame numbers would have had the engine number you gave as the original engine.

Regards, Dave Corbin

[jscheib]

Doug,

I t seems that if these were with a salvage yard, the actual cars they were recording are long ago into the scrap pile and perhaps 2 or 3 times over. So there would be no cars today matching those numbers. However, for anyone owning the same model but different numbers today, these might have some interest.

I guess I was always under the impression that once a car was scrapped and not resold, even in major components, the salvage yard turned that document back to the state. But likely in the 1920s and 30s, records might have been a little "loose".

John

[Guest DLinscott]

Dave Corbin, you are the man!!!! Thank you very much. With what little info I had found, I was at least 2 years off, this is perfect.

John, looose very much describes what went on, I added another O. Even up in the 70s, when my family was in the salvage business, I'd guess less than 50% of the paper work was taken care of in the manor prescribed.

Now to find someone who is as good as Dave with Chevrolets.

Doug

[Guest pmunk]

We Have a old buick maybe a 1927 we are looking for ID plates and a title does anyone have a idea where i can find these i would appreciate any information you can give me. My email is

kathymunk@yahoo.com.

[Guest pmunk]

John

These are all Oregon titles, they are in what I call large format, being that they are 8.5 x 11 in size. Most Oregon titles are 5 x 7 or so. I have over a hundred of these in various manufacturers, but none have a car date. When I get a little more info they will be available for sale. They came from a car wrecking yard from way back, from The Dalles, Oregon. Very suitable for framing at the least.

Doug

hello pete munk here we will be going to arizona the 14 of oct would like to meet you and see your collection of titles still looking for buick title. pete

my email kathymunk@yahoo.com please contact us thanks

Edited October 3, 2009 by pmunk
spelling (see edit history)

[Guest pmunk]

pete munk here would like to stop and see you in oct when we go to yuma still looking for buick title please contact me kathymunk@yahoo.com

[edu429boss]

Dear Doug:

In response to your list, here is what was in the Buick factory numbers:

(all by engine number)

1485463 1926 model 47

630796 1920 K44

1023423 1923 model 39

362174 1918 E44

468623 1918 E45

570945 1920 K45

195580 1916 D45

984409 1923 model 55

933916 1923 model 45

171325 1916 D45

373470 1918 E35

469629 1918 E45 or E49

883822 1922 model 46

I hope this answers your questions about these early Buick titles. I got the model numbers from using the frame numbers you gave. In all cases, the frame numbers would have had the engine number you gave as the original engine.

Regards, Dave Corbin

Hello everyone... i'm new here, so i need a help to identify my 1933 convertible coupe buick.

the number in the engine is 2830538 (only this 7 numbers). i think the serial number of the car is the same but don't really know. i'm from brazil, so if i had anything wrong, sorry. but if anyone help me with these i will bee very thankful.

thanks

Eduardo

Regards

[Guest DLinscott]

Eduardo

If Dave Corbin does not show up hear in a couple of days,

I would click on his name and send him an email or a private message.

He does seem to be the man with all the Buick numbers.

Good luck with your search.

Doug

[edu429boss]

Eduardo

If Dave Corbin does not show up hear in a couple of days,

I would click on his name and send him an email or a private message.

He does seem to be the man with all the Buick numbers.

Good luck with your search.

Doug

hi Doug, thanks a lot... i was seen Dave is the man about buick's!

thanks

Eduardo

[Guest DaveCorbin]

Dear Eduardo:

I checked the engine number of 2,830,538 that you give. It is indeed for a 1933 Buick, probably built in about February or March of 1933. If the car came from the United States, some states used the engine number for what we call today the VIN (vehicle identification number) and it may appear on the paperwork you have.

There are some other numbers that are useful and give information about the car, One of these is called the "Frame Number". It's found on a small metal plate about 2 cm wide and 10 cm long, attached to the car frame. It will have a 7 digit number on it, probably between about 2,674,000 and 2,684,000. This number WILL be different from the engine number, as Buick also made engines for other uses than just Buick cars.

Also, you should find the "Body Data Plate' affixed to the firewall of the car. It will have numbers that refer to "paint code" and "trim code". These numbers will tell us what color the car was originally and what upholstery was in it.

We on the forum will be glad to help you. If you're a new Buick owner, permit me to welcome you to the wonderful (and sometimes strange) world of Buick.

For your information, the Buick Club of America does have members in Brazil and I can put you in touch with them.

Regards, Dave Corbin

[Guest user151]

Rather than start a new thread, I learned much from this one and will post here...

First, I am new here, and a long time (50 year) car nut. Have owned many antiques, a few customs, and a couple hot rods. Had a 1920s Buick opera coupe back in the 1960s....

Anyway, re this thread, I just obtained an original Buick frame tag -- I removed it from a partially buried frame in the Southwest. No other parts of the vehicle were around (vehicle frames were used here to shore up hillsides years ago...).

The tag is 3/4 x 3-9/16 inches, and reads: [script Buick logo] 1274xxx

From the earlier posts I guess this is from a late 1920s Buick. Hoping someone can tell me the year and model.

Thanks !!

[Guest DaveCorbin]

1925 model 45 touring car.

Regards, Dave Corbin

[Guest user151]

Thanks Dave. Wasn't sure the model could be told from the frame # alone, guess they had separate series of numbers or a special digit for the various models?

Also the frame this tag cam off of was so deep (high) I thought it might be a truck frame (I am used to Model A Fords) -- guess the Buicks were solidly built !!

[Guest DaveCorbin]

Dear 151:

Buicks are indeed solidly built!

Buick assigned frame numbers in blocks up until 1932, so it's possible to know the year and model from the frame number alone.

Regards, Dave Corbin

[edu429boss]

Hello Dave Corbin, how are you?

Two years later and i still have the same doubt about my 1933 Buick, remember me? in this same forum i asked about the engine and model, but i never sent you the plate information of my Buick. Sorry about that, but i had some problems and i just came back now. So in my 1933 Buick have a plate that says MOD 86C, JOB Nº 33018, BODY Nº 57, TRIM Nº 181, PAINT Nº 325. This plate doesn't tell the MO, DAY or YEAR.

This Buick looks like a Roadster, convertible, don't have door windows, have fender wheels, have six air outlets in the hood, while most have five. if you want i can send you pictures of it.

TKS

Eduardo

Edited February 14, 2013 by edu429boss (see edit history)

[jscheib]

Eduardo.

There is some sad news to pass to you in that Dave passed away earlier this year, but I think we can somehow help you with some information. Pictures would help with the six hood doors, expecially. The Model 66C is a 2 door convertible coupe,meaning it had roll up windows in the doors. So, perhaps yours became a custom body (a number where built in England, and elsewhere). Do you mean there is no door glass now or was there no evidence of any ever existing?

You should be able to post digital photos on here, I think by going to thread tools.

John

[jvelde]

Eduardo, I am sorry to report that Dave Corbin passed away a couple of months ago in Ft. Worth, Texas. I do not have the information you are looking for, but there are others on this Forum who will be able to answer your questions. You might want to start a new Thread so it it will catch their attention.

Good Luck with your Buick, and we always like to see pictures, so please post some.

[edu429boss]

sorry about Dave, so sad, at this time he would be so much helpfull.

I found the plate in the frame that he told, the number is 2677174, i think my car is a 86C because he have an 130 inch wheel base, 6 hood doors, the door glasses never existed, have 2 fender wire wheel, rumble seat.

[Morgan Wright]

On 8/15/2009 at 6:17 PM, DaveCorbin said:

Dear Doug:

In response to your list, here is what was in the Buick factory numbers:

(all by engine number)

1485463 1926 model 47

630796 1920 K44

1023423 1923 model 39

362174 1918 E44

468623 1918 E45

570945 1920 K45

195580 1916 D45

984409 1923 model 55

933916 1923 model 45

171325 1916 D45

373470 1918 E35

469629 1918 E45 or E49

883822 1922 model 46

I hope this answers your questions about these early Buick titles. I got the model numbers from using the frame numbers you gave. In all cases, the frame numbers would have had the engine number you gave as the original engine.

Regards, Dave Corbin

My engine 403921 is from my 1918 E49 it's a straight 6. Your 1918 cars are 469629 and 468623 and 362174 for E49, E45, and E44 those are all 6 cylinder

 

I note you have a 1918 E35  but those a 4 cylinder engines.

[swin10]

I just purchased a 1927 Buick Brougham with the serial number of 1830668 and an engine number of 1886650. Does these numbers tell anything about the engine or vehicle? This is my first vintage car and know nothing about locating information. 

Thanks, Don

[Paul S Searcy]

I have a different problem. I somehow lost my ignition key for my 1923 Buick 6 cyl Roadster Convertible. Unable to find out the correct numbers to get a new key made. Is it possibly a Groove 1, Basco Briggs and Stratton, 1098 M, B1?

 

[Larry Schramm]

38 minutes ago, Paul S Searcy said:

I have a different problem. I somehow lost my ignition key for my 1923 Buick 6 cyl Roadster Convertible. Unable to find out the correct numbers to get a new key made. Is it possibly a Groove 1, Basco Briggs and Stratton, 1098 M, B1?

 

 

You will need to take the lock cylinder to a lock smith to get a new key made.  The engine number in those years no not match the chassis number which would not match the body job number.  Once in a while the engine & chassis might match, but that would be a very rare case.