help locating vin# on my 1957 cadillac eldorado biarritz project

[Guest stevemaman]

hello everyone, i am new to this forum.

i bought this project years ago and i need to register it at the dmv.

they are asking me for the vin# which i have no clue where to locate it.

can anyone help ?

[dan at larescorp]

I don't believe this car had a vin#. I think the closest thing you maybe able to find on it is a frame #. As to where that is located others might be able to help better.

[Guest stevemaman]

isnt the vin or chassis # supposed to be written on the plate ? the plate is in the pictures i posted...

[Restorer32]

Nice car well worth restoring.

[dan at larescorp]

isnt the vin or chassis # supposed to be written on the plate ? the plate is in the pictures i posted...

No. There are times where the frame # will match the engine #, but I honestly don't know enough about this particular car to tell you for sure. The plate your looking at is the body id tag.

I agree with Restorer, nice car!

[Guest stevemaman]

so the id tag doesnt carry the id of the car or vin # that should be on a title...? where can i find the vin then if no ton the id tag ?

[dan at larescorp]

The body ID tag shows you when / where it was built, and what options it came with. The number your looking for will be stamped into the frame. Probably under the driver side by the door. Others may be able to help you better with finding the stamp.

[nzcarnerd]

According to The Standard Catalog the engine and frame numbers should be the same. The serial number should be on the left door pillar (inside the car). The engine number should be on the front of the block. There should also be a frame number on the right side of the chassis just behind the engine mount.

[Bleach]

I think the frame number is the same as the vin number. It was for my 1951. The engine should also have to same number.

Here's a quick description of the locations I found on the HAMB:

The engine number is located on a flat machined surface of a boss, cast on the right front face of the block, also on the right-hand frame bar just behind the engine support bracket, and on a lubrication plate attached to the left front body pillar. The lubrication plate is located on the left door lock pillar.

[nzcarnerd]

Just found this one - http://forums.aaca.org/f151/1957-seville-294477.html

[Guest stevemaman]

anyone know the exact location of the vin # , since it is officially not on the plate ???

[dan at larescorp]

[Guest stevemaman]

many thanks, i have enough info and will go look at it monday !!!! many thanks...

[Restorer32]

If you decide to do a complete restoration of this car your chrome plater's children will be able to attend a better college.

[dan at larescorp]

If you decide to do a complete restoration of this car your chrome plater's children will be able to attend a better college.

It sounds like you might be speaking from experience?

[Bleach]

There isn't as much chrome on these Cadillacs as some of the regular models. These have a lot stainless which only need a good polishing.

[GARY F]

beautiful car when done

[TG57Roadmaster]

Ah, but what chrome there is costs plenty to do correctly. Those bumperettes are cast aluminum alloy,

and not easy to plate...

At least it's not a '58. Stainless, pot metal, cast aluminum!

And that's just at the rear.

It'll be fantastic when done. Glad you rescued it.

TG

Edited November 14, 2014 by TG57Roadmaster (see edit history)

[Restorer32]

We've done a '57 Biarritz as well as a '58 Brougham and a '59 Conv. Yes there is a lot of stainless on a '57 but it's flash chrome plated stainless so before you can polish it you have to have the chrome plating removed then reapplied after you polish if you want it to stay nice. You can't polish chrome, it's way too hard. Agreed the '58 would be more expensive to chrome, especially those cast aluminum bumper ends. I think of the 3 years the '57 is my favorite.

[bhambulldog]

According to The Standard Catalog the engine and frame numbers should be the same. The serial number should be on the left door pillar (inside the car). The engine number should be on the front of the block. There should also be a frame number on the right side of the chassis just behind the engine mount.

open the driver's door.

between the two door hinges, on the door jamb, see a stainless steel plate with serial number.