Classic/Antique Car Repair: finding the Vin number., 6 digits, cylinder car

Question
QUESTION: I just purchased a 1947 Oldsmobile and not sure of the location of the Vin number of the car. I looked on the drivers side door; on the engine; and on the firewall. The engine had the casting numbers, and the firewall just had the Style;Body number;Trim and Pain numbers. I'm lost for the location. Most likely staring me in the face and just don't see it. I would appreciate you help. Thank you Rich Hinkle

ANSWER: I'll quote from the book - it says the VIN is on the "upper left front face of the dash".  This is true for all 41-48 Oldsmobiles.   I admit that doesn't make me confident that I could find it either - surely it is not where it would be staring you in the face as you drive it.   Look around the left end of the dash to see if you can spot it.  It may be visible only with the door open - I don't think it would be visible through the windshield, but I could be wrong about that too.

It should start with the model number (66 or 76 if a 6 cylinder car, 68, 78 or 98 if an eight cylinder car).  Those two digits may or may not be followed by one or two letters signifying which plant built the car (there were 7 plants) or if there is no number there it was built in Lansing.  Following that there will be 4, 5 or even 6 digits, which are the sequence number of that car.   When/if you find it, please post a follow up back to me as to where it was, and I will add a comment to my book for future reference.  If you cannot find it, tell me that also, I have a friend with a 42 Olds, and I can ask him where the VIN is - it should be the same as yours.

If all else fails, at least in California, if you make an appointment with the Highway Patrol, they will verify the VIN for you - they have books showing in great detail where the VIN is, and how it should be attached to the body.  Probably other states have the same service.

Sorry I don't have better reference material here.

Dick

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dick;I appreciate your response. I Think that I found the 1947 Olds vin number. It is above the car information plate on the firewall. Above the information plate there is a separate number plate that has looks like the vin number. Thank you for your help. We always learn something new each day.


Answer
OK, thanks for letting me know. It is odd that both books I looked it up on said the same thing about it being on the dash - and it turns out to be on the firewall.   So much for reference books!  Maybe they think "front face of the dash" is the firewall - I guess in a way they are right.

Dick