Jerzjer Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 I live in California and just purchased the Chrysler Imperial 77 from out of state. California requires a VIN verification before you can register the car. From what I have read there are three VIN’s on this car. One is on the plaque on the dash, one is on a plate on the firewall in the engine compartment, and one is on the frame passenger side by the front spring mount. I do not see one on the dash plaque or the plate on the firewall. I also can not find the one on the frame. Can anyone give me any information on the location of the VIN on this car? I could also use some information on where I can get miscellaneous parts for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1939_Buick Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 (edited) What number is on the out of state title? Frame or engine serial number? VIN's did not start until mid1950's and were not standardised, as we know them today, until mid 1980's Edited January 20, 2019 by 1939_Buick (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C Carl Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 Hi Jerzjer, and thank you for giving me the opportunity to welcome you to AACA ! Please post a picture of the dash plaque. The Chrysler guys will be along to help you decode it. You will come to find out how much we all here love pictures. Kinda like the lone cowboy at the cantina. Rides up, hitches hoss to post, walks up to the bar and orders drinks for all (perhaps reminiscent of Him and His Uncle, if that makes any sense to you whatsoever). Being one of your new forum friends, I submit that it is analogous to buying a round, if you were to post a couple pictures of your '29 Imperial along with the plaque shot. Sure don't have to be shy here amongst the greatest bunch of "old carsters" anywhere. To paraphrase Arlo Guthrie, you can find anything you want at Ali...... Oops, I mean AACA forums. Forgive me, I have been writing for hours, and am getting ringy, and downright silly. By way of apology here are my two oldest. 1924 and 1927 Cadillacs. Original and unrestored. I have to search long and hard to find pictures new to the group. They are patient, but the same old same old could be pushing it. Please stay with us ! - Carl 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maok Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 Look up Fedco system here or on Google. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 This is the sort of plaque that might be on the dash. It is called FEDCO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzcarnerd Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 Just out of curiosity, is it an Imperial or is it a 77? They are two quite different animals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerzjer Posted January 20, 2019 Author Share Posted January 20, 2019 The person I purchased it from referred to it as an Imperial 77. It has a 77 on the cross bar between the head lights. The title just says Chrysler sedan. I can’t find the number on the frame or as you can see from the photos there is no number on the dash plaque or the tag on the firewall. I do know the one on the title is not the one on the engine. I’ve included some pictures of the car from all angles if anyone can tell me if it is an Imperial or a 77 that would be appreciated. Thank you for welcoming me to the club. I am looking forward to talking ang getting information from all. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 (edited) this is the serial number of your car: C135CW, using the Chrysler FEDCO system. #313531. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 W P C H R Y S L E D Edited January 21, 2019 by Spinneyhill (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerzjer Posted January 20, 2019 Author Share Posted January 20, 2019 Thank you for the information. I don’t know what the hte serial number is. I see the C1and the CW but I don’t see a 35. Can you tell me where I find the 35 so I can tell the CHP where to look for it. I put a picture of the title with the VIN number. I deleted the previous owners name because I did not know if he would want it out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 (edited) Sorry, I got it wrong. It is 0 to 9 and W to D. So C135CW would be #413541. I don't know how to read a US title. Might you be looking for a tag attached to the car saying R-257-382, attached by the Boise motor vehicle reg. people? Edited January 20, 2019 by Spinneyhill (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerzjer Posted January 21, 2019 Author Share Posted January 21, 2019 Thank you so much for the info.l will continue to look for the one on the frame until my 30 days is up. At least I have something to tell CHP if I can’t find it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C Carl Posted January 21, 2019 Share Posted January 21, 2019 Big fine car. Very solid looking. How is the upholstery ? Presently running ? What miscellaneous parts are you looking for ? Thanks for the pictures. Makes it real ! I am sure we all like your new toy, and that most of us envy your palm trees ! - Carl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted January 21, 2019 Share Posted January 21, 2019 (edited) Here are the production numbers. It was made in the US and is a "77", model code W. Yours appears to be number 13418 out of 18526 made in 1929 to 30. https://www.allpar.com/old/model-guide/ This might be helpful too. Note the engine numbers. Edited January 21, 2019 by Spinneyhill (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzcarnerd Posted January 21, 2019 Share Posted January 21, 2019 Re the 77 vs Imperial thing. I see that car is a 77 which uses the largest version of the basic seven main bearing six first seen in the 1924 Chrysler. The Imperial was a bigger car. There were two different versions of the 77 sedan; the Crown and the Royal, although I don't know the difference. There are several 77 roadsters in NZ. I don't know of any sedans but I am sure they are out there. This coupe was imported from the US about ten years ago. That one has chassis C114HW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted January 21, 2019 Share Posted January 21, 2019 (edited) Here is a FEDCO number chart which shows the month and year your car was built....first column. Edited January 21, 2019 by keiser31 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted January 21, 2019 Share Posted January 21, 2019 Look on the outside of the frame near the rear spring on the driver's side for the stamped number. It should be over or near the rear spring's front mount. VERY hard to spot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted January 21, 2019 Share Posted January 21, 2019 1 hour ago, nzcarnerd said: Re the 77 vs Imperial thing. I see that car is a 77 which uses the largest version of the basic seven main bearing six first seen in the 1924 Chrysler. The Imperial was a bigger car. There were two different versions of the 77 sedan; the Crown and the Royal, although I don't know the difference. There are several 77 roadsters in NZ. I don't know of any sedans but I am sure they are out there. This coupe was imported from the US about ten years ago. That one has chassis C114HW. The Crown had the parking lamps mounted high on the corners of the windshield. The Royal had the cowl mounted parking lamps The car in question has both....mmmm....confusing. The book I have says that only a very few of the last run of the Royal 77 has the vertical hood louvers. All of the other Royal 77s had the penon style hood louvers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerzjer Posted January 21, 2019 Author Share Posted January 21, 2019 I can’t believe the information I have received on just a few letters and numbers and how quickly I got it. I am having so much fun with this car. Yes it runs very well and I am amazed at the attention it gets. The interior needs to be completely done. The person I bought it from removed all of the panels and the headliner. Left the seats and windows in it so I can drive it. The good thing was he labeled every panel and I could see the wood to make sure it was all in good shape. He also put new wiring and tires on it. I don’t know if there is more information to be learned with the engine number but here it is. (W16912 ) Not sure if it is the original engine for the car. Yes it is beautiful here in Carlsbad CA. And it’s perfect for the classic car lover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mercer09 Posted January 21, 2019 Share Posted January 21, 2019 because the engine may have been replaced and there may be no body number........... you may want to buy a repro chrysler tag and stamp it to match your title- then mount on your cowl or someplace easy to find, for chips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
28 Chrysler Posted January 21, 2019 Share Posted January 21, 2019 The title has the ID number starting with the letter "R" . Engine numbers for the model 75 would start with an "R", so the car may have had the engine swaped. Check the engine number stamped on the block on the upper left side Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted January 21, 2019 Share Posted January 21, 2019 So you have engine W16912. They started W1001, so you have the 15911st engine in that series. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerzjer Posted January 22, 2019 Author Share Posted January 22, 2019 Can you tell me if the engine is the right one for this car? Where can I get one of the repro chrysler tag? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 (edited) Only that it is in the correct series. The only way to know if it is the "original" that came in the car from the factory would be if you had the build sheet. Repro chrysler tag: which one? The one you show in the picture, which is screwed to the firewall? There are a number of makers. eBay even. Ask the www! Edited January 22, 2019 by Spinneyhill (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hwellens Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 Can you show a picture of the engine. It would be easy to tell the difference between a 75 and 77 engine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzcarnerd Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 5 hours ago, hwellens said: Can you show a picture of the engine. It would be easy to tell the difference between a 75 and 77 engine. He quoted a W engine code, which I guess is right. A 75 would have an R code? Maybe a wheelbase measurement is required? 121" for the 75 and 124 for the 77? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 3 minutes ago, nzcarnerd said: He quoted a W engine code, which I guess is right. A 75 would have an R code? Maybe a wheelbase measurement is required? 121" for the 75 and 124 for the 77? The car is definitely a 1930 Model 77. It does have a 1930 bumper on the front and a 1929 bumper with the grooves on the rear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hwellens Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 The kick panels above the running boards are missing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 9 minutes ago, hwellens said: The kick panels above the running boards are missing. I see them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hwellens Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 15 minutes ago, keiser31 said: I see them. You have good eyes. They show better on the 77 below: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 Some of those 77s had the perimeter trim around the splash apron and some did not, I believe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerzjer Posted January 23, 2019 Author Share Posted January 23, 2019 I think it looks better without but I do have some small dents where they would have been. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerzjer Posted January 23, 2019 Author Share Posted January 23, 2019 Mine has vents on the sides of the hood. The one in the picture looks like it is solid with some trim pieces. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 (edited) 8 minutes ago, Jerzjer said: Mine has vents on the sides of the hood. The one in the picture looks like it is solid with some trim pieces. Yes, the very early cars had the penon louvers and the later models have the vertical louvers like yours. Those "trim pieces" are actually louvers of a different shape. Edited January 23, 2019 by keiser31 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerzjer Posted January 23, 2019 Author Share Posted January 23, 2019 Thank you for that information. It is so interesting learning all these little things. Do you know a resource I can use to find all this information. Web site, book, articles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viv w Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 R 257 382 could be a frame/chassis number, but it could also be a body number. Check for this number on the front door hinge pillars, or the cowl, and also if there are any wood uprights inside the cowl under the dash and just above the toeboard. My 27 has an aluminum body serial tag on one of these wooden pieces, maybe yours has the same thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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