Title/VIN question for the Wisconsinites or anyone really

[JATO]

Out of curiosity I was looking over the title for two of my motorcycles, the two titled and licensed in Wisconsin.  They are my 1978 Suzuki GS1000 and my 1968 350 GTR.  What I found odd about both of them is they were originally titled using the engine number as the VIN.  Is this a primarily Wisconsin thing, is it more prevalent than that, or are my bikes just odd-balls and the dealer that sold them new used the easiest number they could read?

[reed]

JATO,
In Virginia they only title on the frame numbers it seems like every State is different...
Thanks.
Steve.

[Mountaineer]

Wisconsin used the stamped engine #s as ID until the mfgrs stopped stamping engine#s and started using a permanent sticker on the chassis.  In those "old days" the frames were a part#, In the old auto industry they would have the same # on the motor, chassis, and firewall.  With the motorcycles it was bad if you blew a motor.  You had to make sure a replacement motor came with a clear title, or you had to salvage the left hand engine case to keep your ID#.  I use to see some really bad "grind down and re-punch" jobs on engine cases.
Coop

[scrambler]

Very common in WI until the late 70's.

[old smokey]

My GTR has the frame number as the VIN on the title. I bought it in Indiana in 1980 so it's only an assumption it was originally sold and titled in that state.