How to find NADA or KBB value on M37?

[w30bob]

Hi Guys,

I was talking to a buddy at work who just transferred a title and registered an old pickup in Maryland (where we live). He told me that without a notarized bill of sale, despite the purchase price being written on the title, the State makes you pay tax on the NADA book value of the vehicle. So I went looking online to try to find either the Kelly Blue Book or NADA value of a 1952 Dodge M37. Either I'm totally inept, or neither site goes back that far for used cars and doesn't list the M or PowerWagons as "classic cars".

So does anyone know how to find the book value (from any source I guess) for our M37s?

thanks,
bob

[Rick C]

I know in RI the Dept of Motor Vehicles has values for EVERYTHING

[w30bob]

Yeah, the situation I'm trying to avoid is me walking into the DMV with a title that says I paid $1500 for the truck and them pulling out a price guide saying it's worth $10,500......and expecting me to pay tax on that value. So I'd like to know what number they're going to pull up so I can prepare. The truck I bought is not driveable or currently running, and is partially disassembled. So I'm assuming if I bring pics of it in that condition they should cut me some slack. I'm just trying to see how much slack I need.

thanks,
bob

[pwrwagonfire]

I know I'm a different state but...in Massachusetts, I walked in to the RMV with a NH registration, and a bill of sale for $1800 and due to their being no book value (there was one for a civi PW, but the guy at the counter winked and said "this isnt a PW, its an M-37!"), they were nice enough to charge me sales tax on the purchase price.

[w30bob]

Hi pwrwagonfire,

I hear ya. Here in Maryland if you're transferring a MD title from a previous owner to yourself you don't need a bill of sale. The seller writes the purchase price on the back of the title he's signing over to you. Problem is Maryland now checks all purchase prices against book value to make sure we're not screwing the state out of taxes due. If in fact there is no listing in any of the price guides for an M37 I guess there's no problem. But if there is then I'll need to start dancing and singing.

regards,
bob

[PoW]

Part of the problem with military vehicles is they never came with what is called an MSO, or "Manufacturers' Statement of Origination.

Those were issued with every thing that went into the public automotive realm.

MV's were not sold to the public in the beginning.

They usually have no avenue when hitting that brick wall of 'no info'.

The S/N (VIN) is also a problem for the 'automated' MVD person, as it doesn't follow the pattern everything else does.

PoW

[RMS]

here in BC the insurance corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) bases the value of vehicles for tax or claim purposes on what similar condition vehicles sell for locally on the internet and in the paper. it may be beneficial to take hard copies of ads of m37s in similar condition so they don't ding you with the taxes a PW could have.