I'm also having a problem PROVING the year of my truck. I got the VIN off the frame, and posted it to the "2009 vin info" thread mentioned above. CARNAC did a great job getting the info, "1952 M35". I'm guessing that it is a REO based on the year.
I applied for and received the SF97.
I got all my paperwork together and went to the DMV for a VIN verification, Title, and Registration.
DMV said that the SF97 wasn't good enough to prove year, and said I need to go to the CHP for varification.
Went to the CHP, they inspected the truck and said that I needed official paperwork stating the date, SF97 was not good enough.
The truck was rebuilt and upgraded into a M35A2 in 1990, and they changed the data plate, so there is no date on the data plate.
I scraped the rust protection off the drivers side frame and some on the passengers side frame looking for the frame tempering date. My 67 Kaiser Jeep M35A2 has a date, but I could not find one on the 52 REO. I'm guessing that they didn't temper the frames in 1952.
CHP said manufacturers production records or DRMO letterhead. REO is out of business, and from what I've been told DRMO isn't too helpful with these issues.
I'd like to restore this truck for parade duty only, but I need to get a Title and Registration first. Any suggestions on how to prove the date?