Through the years the registration has gotten mixed up on quite a few titles.

You are correct normally it is the frame number to identify the bikes. However, some states have different rules and will use the engine number.

From your description the engine and frame numbers are both 1946 so I would not worry about it.

Gary

Hi,

Historically, the earliest Indians had no frame number, so all Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) were the engine numbers.  Somewhere in the 1920s or 1930s Indian started using frame numbers also.  Today, based on hundreds of records that I am aware of, the engine remains the #1 way of registering or titling a vintage Indian (worldwide), though many bikes are registered/titled to the frame.  Some States in the United States (USA) do register/title to the frame number and some States require both engine and frame number.  In New York State, either number can be used, but the engine is the most popular as it is unquestionably the easiest number to find and see - especially by the 'authorities'.   When looking at a machine that has both engine and frame numbers, the serial number portion of the engine would match the serial number portion of the frame when the bike left the factory.  Starting around 1950 with the C-2000 machines, the engine and frame numbers matched in their entirety.  As an example; for 1946, a CDF1234 engine would have originally come with frame 3461234.  If the two serial numbers don't match, the frame or engine has been swapped at some point in the past.  It is also important, if not critical, that the numbers on both the engine and frame be checked for authenticity.  As the values of the vintage Indians has gone up, the temptation to restamp/modify/alter engine and/or frame numbers in order to create a 'matching number' machine has also increased.  A top dollar machine would have matching numbers and not only matching, but factory original authentic stampings and not some amateurish restamp.   Restamped engines and frames are out there.  I see them every day.  A machine with mismatched engine and frame numbers is worth thousands of dollars less than the same machine if it had authentic factory matching numbers.  If either the engine or frame numbers have been altered, the price/value drops even further.  How does one check for number authenticity?  One has to track down a person who has a photo library of hundreds of engine and frame numbers.  The numbers in question are checked against many examples of serial numbers that are in close proximity.  Close proximity is important as Indian did change styles of letters/digits at various times in their production history.   Based on the 'preponderance of evidence', a reasonable evaluation can be made as to the originality and authenticity of the numbers in question.   Anyone desiring a number evaluation can send photographs of them to me at baiste@sgu.edu and I will provide an evaluation.  There is no fee.  I mainly deal with 1940 and later Indians, but I do have a substantial number of engine number photographs from earlier Indians. 

Hi, thanks for the replies.  Seems better than I had imagined.  Steven, I will send you some pictures of the serial numbers.  I need to gather data to satisfy the UK authorities!

best

Nic