Hi,

I bought a FORD-T Roadster 1919 from the USA and exported it to switzerland.

It has a strange VIN number on the title:
213048NEBR
On the engine, there is no number.

Can anybody explain this number ?

Thanks a lot.
Willi

Most old cars that are running today has been abandoned for long periods when there weren't much interest in them. This car may have been forgotten from before the war until say, the 60's and by then maybe the previous owner was dead and the heirs that sold the project couldn't find any title so the restorer had to apply for a new title - and that procedure varies between states. NEBR in the VIN number points to Nebraska and maybe a previous owner in Nebraska needed a title but couldn't find any number on the engine, so the state issued a new number for the car.

Hopefully you can find this new VIN somewhere on the car, stamped in the frame or on a tag somewhere on the body.
If it's not there, then you may have to stamp it yourself to satisfy your government..

The lack of an engine number indicates a replacement block. They were available from Ford up into the 40's. When a block was replaced at a Ford dealer's shop, they were supposed to stamp the old block's number into the new block - but that wasn't always done. (Only complete replacement engines came numbered from Ford)

I'll take a guess and say it was a number given to the car at some point in time by the Nebraska Motor Vehicles Department - for a long time cars over 15 years did not require titles, and in some states this is still true, but most have reversed this so they were assured a $40.00 Title Fee for every car sale. Also, it seems 10 digits is the minimum for a VIN to be recognized in the computers.

This is pure speculation though...

Seems that may be correct, a special VIN plate issued by state of Nebraska. Below is portion of Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) law for the state. You should look carefully on the body cowl or the frame somewhere if a state VIN plate is affixed, usually permanent with pop rivets. The law states a title is only issued if the replacement VIN plate has been properly affixed to the vehicle. The state law there mentioned Fords before 1939 can have the motor number used as a VIN, unless damaged, missing. In your case no block number so that Nebraska issued title infers a state VIN plate should be on your Ford T!

•If a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) plate is required, you must complete an Assigned ID Number Application * and send it to the Driver and Vehicle Records Division of the Department of Motor Vehicles along with a fee of $20.00 and the Sheriff's Inspection form. After it is manufactured, the VIN plate will be mailed to you along with an affidavit you must sign verifying that you received the VIN plate and that you affixed it to the vehicle in the proper place. This affidavit must accompany your Application for Bonded Certificate of Title.