it's rare to see a VIN on the dashboard of any old car, I've only seen them on Chryslers and a Stutz

D61Y isn't easy to read, but this dual system makes it easy to read DDD Six One YYY. Very clever

see http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-old-fashioned-vin-plates-in-1920s.html 

a new Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) law came into effect last week the helps restorers of pre 1981 cars

Removing the VIN during a restoration project and putting it back once the work is done is no longer illegal

https://carbuzz.com/news/theres-a-new-vin-law-that-car-restorers-are-going-to-love

The old fashioned VIN plates in the 1920s were quite different than you're used to

https://libwww.freelibrary.org/digital/item/55510

It's been a while since I've found one at a car show...

this one from 2012 is the first one I recall finding
https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-runner-ups-from-2012-archives-also.html

https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2015/04/1929-chrysler-model-75.html  here's one from 2015 on a 1929 Chrysler, it's similar but interestingly different

https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2017/06/1928-chrysler-model-77-one-with-cool.html

1930 Stutz https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/mo10/auction/lots/r186-1930-stutz-model-m-supercharged-coupe

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2263958580723053&set=pcb.3662685597358674

here's a cleaner image

https://forums.aaca.org/topic/341211-period-images-to-relieve-some-of-the-stress/page/391/

1928 Chrysler model 72, one with the cool serial number on the dash

see another example, a 1929 Model 75 http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2015/04/1929-chrysler-model-75.html

but a much better example is

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2012/04/very-early-20s-chrysler-with-strange.html

Like I ... oh. Wait. Who made that error? Huh. Must have been me with a long day and many hours on the road back and forth from San Diego to San Marino.

Allright, you guys were right, and I was the fat fingered typist that didn't read the sign very well.