1965 VIN - How to prove - DMV issue!!!

[MotoX109]

Hi - I have a 1965 Honda CB77, a couple 1965 CA77's, and 1 1965 CA160. All of these bikes are projects over the next year, some wayyy more than the other! Anyways I went to register one of my CA77's at DMV in NY. Since the bike did not have a title in 1965, I had to apply for a new transferable registration. At DMV they put it through as a 1965 on my word, but they said when they included the prefix CA78 (before the numbers), they could not find any matches in the system. However, when they put in just the 7 numbers after the prefix (CA78), they had a few other hits in NY.

So......2 questions.

1) Is there any literature, other than a copy of forum posts, to show that 1965 was the first year of the 7 digit VINS? Also, any proof to show at what numbers the 1966 started?

2) Is it a problem if my transferable registration only shows the 7 numbers after CA-78, instead of including them? The manager at DMV said he would put it through with the CA-78 prefix if I brought in proof that the VIN should include this.

Thanks so much for the help....I will have pics of everything once my garage is organized :-/

[conbs]

RE Q #2: Honda made CA77 bikes until mid 1963 (April?). Everything after that is a CA78. 305 Dreams are often generically referred to as CA77's and that adds a level of confusion. The difference between the models is frame parts. Early vs late tank/chrome cover/rubber knee pads/badges and luggage supports (aluminum brackets on each side of the rear fender) and handle bars/controls. There are a few more. You can go by the "year" of the bike production, but sometimes bikes were produced in one year and sold one or two or even more years later. Often the "year" on the title is just the year it was sold not the year it was produced. Last year of production for CA78 was 1967, but Honda shows sales figures into 1970.

If I understand correctly, you are basically starting from scratch. First have the DMV do a 50-state search of your CA78 frame number to make sure there are no title issues. The number on your frame is what you should title or register or whatever they do in NY. If you register it as a CA77, your title will not match your CA78 frame number and that could cause problems later. Make sure everything matches at the beginning and there should never be any problems. Take a picture of your frame number and that should be proof enough for DMV. They may want a copy of your bill of sale from the purchase, too.

RE Q #1: The Honda literature is really bad for CA77/78. The majority of 305 Dreams produced were CA78's but most parts manuals almost always refer to CA77 - even when there are 7 digits in the sequence number. Even the Honda sales figures refer to CA77 for sales into 1970. The below is probably the best documentation you can provide DMV. Click on it to increase size and print it out to show DMV. Hope this helps.

[MotoX109]

Thanks so much for the help. After they did the search, they came up with the frame listed only with the 7 digit number. I have registered the model as a CA77, with the VIN listing as only the 7 digit sequence (leaving out the CA-78 portion). As long as that goes through there will be a transferable registration issued.

The attached document will be a big help for any earlier model dreams. Unfortunately the DMV was asking how to prove mine was a 1965, so that may be difficult from this doc.

Thanks again for the help!!!