1951 Allstate appraisal and help?

[allstate 1951]

Hello
  I have a 1951 Allstate. That I have restored and am looking for a rough appraisal of what I have here. This is 1 of 300 of the 1951. Have many more photos but just a taste. Any info would be great. Thank you

[Fid]

First of all it would have to be established as to which car you have as the first year for the Allstate was 1952. There were no 1951 Allstates.   The first Allstate cars were 1952 models and the earliest ones, just as the earliest '52 Henry Js, were made from left over '51 Henry Js but were all tagged and titled as 1952 models.  The tags on the car will be the key to identifying it.  Look at the serial number tag between the driver side door hinges;  if it begins with A230 the car was originally a 1952 Allstate with a four cylinder. If it begins with A240 it was originally a '52 Allstate with a six cylinder engine.  If the serial number begins with A330 it was originally a '53 Allstate four cylinder model whereas an A340 would be a '53 Allstate six cylinder model.  The data tag under on the firewall cowl will also list the model designation:
 
A230 - 1952 four cylinder
A240 - 1952 six cylinder
A330 - 1953 four cylinder
A340 - 1953 six cylinder

It will also have a body tag under the hood which will begin with
2304, 2404... etc.

The car pictured shows the early style with the tail lights mounted below instead of on the tail fin crowns meaning it is likely the very early '52 style - A rare car.
We really need to see pictures of the tags to get an idea. 
Any Allstate is rare to be sure but the tags are the key.

[allstate 1951]

the tags show it is a 240 car. my title shows 1951 . I do not e mail very good. call me 348-6525
thank you BEN

[Fid]

I recognize your phone number Ben! We've talked on the phone a few times, I'm Lowell down in Burnsville.  I still have your number in my phone.
You have a nice looking car and a rare one.

Unfortunately, you can't go by title as over the course of 60+ years many original titles had been lost so when a DMV has to issue a new one, they go by what someone tells them and not by any historical documents which they likely would not know where to look for.  Example, we had a nice '51 Frazer  standard that had been modified. When it was sold, the new owner had it registered in a new state which registers cars by engine number instead of by VIN.  This car had a small block Chevy V8 and when they issued the new owner a new title, they titled it as a 1951 Frazer Manhattan which it was not, it was standard.  There was also a case of a person registering a '52 Kaiser Virginian. He was told it was a '51 so the DMV issued a title for a '51 Kaiser Virginian - a car that was never manufactured.
The number 240 is a '52 six cylinder model. A desirable car to be sure.
The tag should list a "Type" on it somewhere.  A 240 will be a one of these:

Type 114X  - meaning it has front window vents, deck lid, chrome trim molding, front ashtray
Type 115 - all items in 114X, vacuum boosted fuel pump, second horn, horn ring front door arm rests
Type 116 - Same as 115 plus overdrive transmission.

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

In addition to getting a new title for a car (FID's email) several states (including Washington State, I found) Used the calendar year of sale to the car's original buyer rather than the model year.  As the participating test market Sears Auto Centers had their first Allstates before Christmas 1951, it could be possible (especially if the car has a very, very low serial number) for an Allstate to be legitimately sold in 1951 before the end of the year.