I have an original title dated 1959 for a 1957 oldsmobile. The vin is on the door pillar and says it's an 88. The problem is that the title has A361 648 in section labeled Mfg. No or serial number. Could this be an engine or chassis number, and if so, where are they to be found on the car? Special car, a two door sedan, 3 speed manual with J2 option. Any help will be appreciated.

 

The number A361648 is an engine production number .
It is on top of the block on the left deck surface just below the cylinder head .
It is a stamped number on the machined surface of the block .

.It could be possible that some states were still using engine numbers as VIN 's in 1959 .
See this thread on the H.A.M.B. ;
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...#post-12906466

J-2 , 3 speed ? Sounds like that car was either purchased for racing or haulin' moonshine .

 

It was very common to use the engine number on the title in the 1950s. My 1952 Chevy truck is the same. The whole concept of a "VIN" didn't actually get standardized until the mid-1960s. Prior to that, automakers used vehicle serial numbers of their own creation. Frequently the serial number tag was screwed to an easily removable part of the vehicle. My 1956 F100 had the serial number tag screwed to the glovebox door!

 

Joe is right, I used to have Model A fords and the motor number was the id number on the title. How many cars that old still have the original engine? Trying to get an antique registered with the wrong engine number would be a nightmare.

 

Guys, thanks for the information. I found the numbers between 5 and 7 cylinders and they match my title. I guess my vin is information and sequence number and nothing to do with my title. If this was an out of state car, and an IDOD was required, there would have to be a lot of explaining to anyone younger than 60.