VIN 1.heicVIN 1.heicI recently purchased a 1931 Pontiac 401 Sedan and I'm having trouble transferring the title. The old title lists the VIN as 5132. My local Ohio BMV said this number comes up as being savaged in 2 separate states so they can not transfer the title. I did some research and found the VIN should be a six digit number between 649001 and 729000. The number could be located on the driver's side front frame under the left front fender. Here's my issue. The 5132 number is on a stamp attached to the firewall, and is labeled body no.. But under the front left fender is another small stamp with the number 674569 on it. When the title support team in Ohio runs that number they can not find any vehicle in the US with that VIN. Can anyone offer any suggestions?

Edited November 1, 2025Nov 1 by Crafty

2 hours ago, Crafty said:

VIN 1.heicVIN 1.heicI recently purchased a 1931 Pontiac 401 Sedan and I'm having trouble transferring the title. The old title lists the VIN as 5132. My local Ohio BMV said this number comes up as being savaged in 2 separate states so they can not transfer the title. I did some research and found the VIN should be a six digit number between 649001 and 729000. The number could be located on the driver's side front frame under the left front fender. Here's my issue. The 5132 number is on a stamp attached to the firewall, and is labeled body no.. But under the front left fender is another small stamp with the number 674569 on it. When the title support team in Ohio runs that number they can not find any vehicle in the US with that VIN. Can anyone offer any suggestions?

Fellow Buckeye, you need to tell the bmv that they need to look at this old car vin website or something similar. Ohio is really bad at anything out of the mainstream. Took me a year to get them to recognize my F.1 Gtx Grand Prix as a collector car for their special plates. Below is a link to your vin & it's information. Good luck!

https://classicdecoder.com/preview?vin=674569&type=vhr&wpPage=vin-decoder-pontiac

Welcome to FP! I also have a ‘31 Pontiac. Sorry to hear about your experience, someone in the past surely didn’t know the difference between a body number and a VIN. Don’t know if it could help, but the same VIN on the tag riveted to the left frame rail is also stamped onto the top of the right front frame rail under the fender. Hopefully you can get this resolved.

We would all love to see pics and more information about your ‘31.

Here are a few pictures off the dealers ad for the '31 Pontiac.

Paging Cowboydanny, you seeing this?

Justa shorted out my keyboard drooling.

Well, now I'm even more confused. I ran both VIN's on Beenverified and 674569 came back blank. No vehicles with that VIN.

The 5132 came back as an invalid VIN number. So I tried Classicdecoder.com. The 5132 came back as an invalid VIN number.

674569 came back as: Your report for 1941 Pontiac Luxe Torpedo, VIN: 674569 is ready! I didn't feel it necessary to pay

the fee to get a title for a 1941 vehicle. Now what???

Sounds like a trip to the Sec of State and or the dealer that's selling you false info, to clunk heads. Seems this is a prob with the dealer #1.

Edited November 3, 2025Nov 3 by JUSTA6

2 hours ago, JUSTA6 said:

Sounds like a trip to the Sec of State and or the dealer that's selling you false info, to clunk heads. Seems this is a prob with the dealer #1.

I am of the same mind as JustA here Doug, head straight back to the dealer who sold you the car and make it his problem.

Unfortunately, I live in Ohio and the dealer is in Mn. We bought this car off the internet "as is" on Oct. 10.

Their name can be seen in the previous photos.

Here is their ad:

1931 Pontiac 401 Sedan. Suicide 4 Door Street Rod. Excellent Show Car. Fully restored and updated. 350ci V8 engine. Automatic transmission. New updated Gauges . Tilt Steering Wheel. Great Blue Exterior and Grey Interior. Radial Tires with Custom Rims. Side spare. Underneath is restored as well. Front Disc Brakes. Coil Over Front Suspension.

You've seen the ad photos, brace yourself, here are the actual photos of the vehicle sitting in my garage leaking fuel from the carb and fuel pump.

Per our phone call, there is supposed to be heat in the car, and there isn't any climate control of any kind.

So this is their example of an "Excellent Show Car".

11 hours ago, Crafty said:

Well, now I'm even more confused. I ran both VIN's on Beenverified and 674569 came back blank. No vehicles with that VIN.

The 5132 came back as an invalid VIN number. So I tried Classicdecoder.com. The 5132 came back as an invalid VIN number.

674569 came back as: Your report for 1941 Pontiac Luxe Torpedo, VIN: 674569 is ready! I didn't feel it necessary to pay

the fee to get a title for a 1941 vehicle. Now what???

I don't know did you click on my link? If not here is what it shows.

I clicked on it, showed the same thing on my screen.

Edited November 4, 2025Nov 4 by Wrongway

so the vin belongs to another car ! a 41 ponti !!

Here in nz dealers have to ensure the vehicals thay are selling are road worthy and legal or you can get your money back

12 hours ago, Crafty said:

That's the first thing I did. I emailed Terry with a list of issues I had with the car, including the carb and fuel pump leaking fuel so bad the vehicle was unsafe to drive. this was his response: "Hi Doug.  You bought the car as is.   Give ma call if you would like to have resell the car for you.  That’s all we can do for you at this time. Terry."

Then he sent this as another option "Also have another option we can sell the car for you at the Auction in Dallas in 3 weeks.   Let me know"

My local BMV keeps insisting that 5132 is the VIN because that's what is on the title, but they can't transfer the title to my name.

So I have filed a complaint with the Minnesota Attorney General's Office and the Minnesota BBB. Now I'm waiting for any response from them.

One thing is for sure, don't jump to any conclusions just yet. Searching the internet can prove to be misinformation. I have also found the same 674569 number for a 1931 Pontiac. One thing I have found is that number is definitely a 1931 vin. All Pontiac from at least the 1920s to 1934 were 6 digits like yours. See the attachments.

I haven’t jumped to any conclusion. I am completely lost on this issue. The first thread you shared is the same one I sent to my local BMV and they still keep telling me the VIN for my car is 5132, because that’s what’s on the old title. But they won’t transfer the title to my name and it’s been 2 weeks and running. I also sent them a link stating the VIN and Body numbers on a 1931 Pontiac are two completely different numbers and have nothing to do with each other.

Last Indian, where did you find the page listing a '31 Pontiac for VIN 674569?

11 hours ago, Crafty said:

Last Indian, where did you find the page listing a '31 Pontiac for VIN 674569?

https://instantvinreports.com/classic-pontiac-vin-decoder

https://forums.aaca.org/topic/147325-vin-id-for-pontiac/

Crafty, the problem is this the vin for the car you have is the 674569. Or at least that Vin # is definitely for a 31 Pontiac. But when you put it into any of the vin decoders they don't really work to find the actual car. You have to pick what car you want it for. So you can get it to be for a "31" or a "41" crazy I know. Your best bet I would think would be to get a hold of the Standard catalog of American car 1805 -1942 that is mentioned in the second link which is to the AACA forum. This might be your best hope to show the Ohio bmv that there was a mistake on the title you have from Minnesota.

You might find this book at a library.

Edited November 6, 2025Nov 6 by Last Indian