QuestionAttempting to begin restoration. Need help locating VIN for 1950 Buick Deluxe in order to obtain proper documentation. There is a small plate on the firewall but it does not look like the VIN information. Also I have been told the VIN's were not instituded until the mid 50's?
AnswerIn 1950, the Buick VIN plate was on the driver's door pillar, and it is also stamped on the left frame rail near the master cylinder. The plate you found on the firewall is probalby the body plate. All cars had VINS, as far back as I know. The big change came in 1968, when they were required to be visible through the windshield, and again in 1980 or so, when they were expanded to 17 characters, with a stated meaning to each position.
The 1950 Buick VIN will start with a single digit indicating which plant it was made in, (1 for Flint MI, 2 for Southgate CA, 3 for Linden NJ, 4 for Kansas City, 5 for Wilmington DE, 6 for Atlanta GA, or 7 for Framingham MA), then a 7 digit number starting with 53.
The engine number will start with a single digit indicating which series it is (4 for 40, 5 for 50, or 7 for 70), then a 7 digit number starting with 5. The engine number is on the right side of the engine near the front, for a series 40 and 50, and near the rear of the engine on the series 70. I don't know what you mean by "Deluxe" - that is not a series name. If that is the badge on the car, what you have is a "Special" which is the series 40. DeLuxe was their name for the cheapest Special (sorry about that!) - I had one in 1951 - a great car, by the way. Came without even a clock, but it sure drove nice - a 2 door post sedan, plain as the nose on my face, with dog dish hubcaps and NO accessories, but still a real Buick engine, so it went down the road just fine!
Dick
