titled as a 1965 and is not

I purchased an Econoline p/u off of ebay.
It was listed as a 1965 and the VIN# showed it was a 1965.
The title shows it as a 1965 w/matching #'s off of the VIN plate.
Problem being is it does not have the hump on the back of the cab at the bed.
I am being informed that it is not a 1965 w/o the hump.
Talked to a State of Florida VIN verification code officer.
He's more or less was telling me that with the title/vin plate matching, there is little I can do.
Has any fellow vintage-van members ran into this situation?
I am just sick over this.
Any input into my fiasco would be appreciated.
Thanks, Dennis Wagner

Could be a transitional year or someone did a good job of switching the VIN plate. I have seen where instead of switching the plate, they will switch the entire door post.

wont do anything but =aggravate urself! over that!! vin matches title - id forget about it!!  That unhappy over that -sell it =get another??

Kinda like arguing with god = on the state level!!

That's right!!! If you got it titled legally don't worry about it. If you have a DMV inspector come and find the VIN number on the frame and it doesn't match the plate he will take it away from you. Like Twin said... If the vin matches the title, leave well enough alone!!!

As for the hump... Ford is great at changing the design in mid-production. All car manufactures have done it. It's called Mid-Production Improvements

Where is the vin plate located on a truck? Is it not on the door?

isnt also the vin # stamped on the floor just aft of the rear doghouse ??

On the pick-up, the vin is stamped into the brace near the passenger side tail light. Scratch of the paint and you will see it.

You said "there is little I can do." What do you want to do? Do you want a refund? or do you just want to make sure there will be no problems down the road? Or like me, you just want it right?

As dan nachel said, check the brace behind the tail light. The real number should be stamped there. It is usually on the passenger side, so you have to remove the spare tire to see it, but it might be on the driver side. Might have to sand down the paint to see it.

Another place the VIN is located is on the floor under the lip of the doghouse. You have to remove the doghouse and scrape off the black goo to see it. Usually on the passenger side or near the front.

I've seen people trying to sell pickups with van VINs and vice versa. If I notice it, I'll make a note of it in the Econolines for Sale section here.

The VIN is on the brace by the taillight in the back on vans and pickups, normally the passenger side but can be drivers also. Its also stamped on the floor underneath the doghouse lip, under the tar seal. If the heater is on the floor and no floor hump for bellhousing then its a pre 65 vehicle. Also if the tranny hangs by one single bolt with a circular rubber insert it's a 61-64 model. 2 bolts would be 65-67 using a U channel type mount. Also on a 65-67 model, you can see the VIN stamped on the top of the floor hump at the base of the rear doghouse panel. It's visible with the doghouse installed.

Thanks for the responses.
Still a hard pill to swallow.
Thanks, Dennis Wagner

Where are You in South FL ? Check out Econo Fl on Facebook.

A 64 production vehicle may not have been sold/titled till 65.

I have a van that was built in October 62 for the 63 Model year. It was originally first titled in 64 ! I bought it from the 2nd owner who bought it from the Original Owner. Title is 64 and Vin matches, but kingpins and trans mount holes verify it's a 63 !

So if Yours has a numbers matching 65 title, it is very possible that it was 64 production !

Look at where the transmission mounts for a round 'donut' mount. If there are 2 holes in the part that is welded to the body, it is a unique 64 identifying mark !

Even more 'interesting'...... I recently bought a Panel (no side doors) that is titled as a 62.
That is not possible, since the first panel was for 64 model year. The 2 holes for the transmission mount and decode of Vin number confirms it is a 64..... How did it get titled back to 62 ??

I do not understand why this confusion is a "Hard pill to swallow"? I guess if you are one of those purests that need everything matching and stock but when it comes to value I think a fully stock model or aftermarket truck or van its really hard to get any kind of real cash out of these things. Hell out of all the cars I have had in my short life these vans and trucks have to be the most Bastarded out vehicles on the road but I luv them and I didn't buy mine as an investment I bought it because Iam an attention whore that likes classic cars and trucks. LOL

i agree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!now for some education on how titles work in every state!! When a new vehicle is built- there is whats called a "manufacturer's Statement of Origin" given by the MFG!!! That paper is "GOLD"!! Goes to the actual "Dealer" that sells that vehicle. On that paper is the actual year & serial number of that vehicle!! It cannot be altered!! The title in the original issuing state will then issue the new states title with that info on it!! It CANNOT be =ALTERED in any way!! That title =WILL always match the MSO!! No Typo's or mistakes at all!! Now - = if u r told its a 65 & title says it is a 1966 - its a 1966!! Thats just the way it is!! so if some seller tells a buyer its a 65 & title isn't the same its up to the buyer to verify that with the seller before the transaction is over!! States nor the federal govt will ever change the title issued -unless!! you have the origional MSO with serial # thats the only way!!

This is not complicated. The vehicle you own is the one named on the title. If the vehicle has a different VIN stamped in the frame, you don't own that vehicle. Some where, there is a title that matches the VIN on the vehicle and the person holding that title owns that vehicle.

I bought an Econoline that was built in November 1967 and was titled as a 1968 model. When I applied for a new title, the DMV looked up the VIN and said it was a 1967. Now it is titled as a 1967.

Mine was sold as a '61 (vin on door)... Door plate and body VIN didn't match, Body was '64...Doors were '61 and swapped out at some point. Paperwork for both, Alabama didn't require titles for old vehicles, Georgia doesn't either.

I got lucky, the Orig. VIN plate loose in with a bunch of papers...I had the Sherriff's Deputy come out verify it all and witness me remove the wrong one and a rivet the correct one.

AllGood / AllDone

Most have forgotten -all -us cars debuted=always (new models) in september =each Year!! some were typoed wrong due to the release @ dmv's yet when caught later were redone too!! Typically Bad typo-in states dmv registration people!!