[Tony Smith]

Is it the spotty Joker in the local VINning agency (VTNZ?) asking because he has never seen one before, or has this come back from NZTA?

99TF is a correct engine number prefix for US-made 1939 pattern Mercury Truck engine for a RHD vehicle, and US Mercurys retained this prefix up to 1945. There is much evidence in the Australian registration records held by the Aust War Memorial of 99TF engines being supplied and fitted in CKD packs of F15 and F15A trucks, alongside the more common Canadian made C99A engines with 2G, 3G, 4G, etc prefixes. As we know, Ford often did not have a separate Chassis number as such, but used the engine number as the vehicle identifier. The problem for you is that despite being a correct and proper number for your truck, that "Chassis" number, by rights should belong to an American Mercury civilian truck, not a Canadian Military truck.

Does your vehicle still have the stamped zinc plate on the side of the instrument panel with these details, or have you sourced them from the engine/gearbox/chassis? If it still retains the zinc plate and the numbers match the engine fitted, then you should be good to go for vehicle ID, as compliance plates were never fitted prior to 1970 for Aust/NZ vehicles.

If you're still having trouble, when(if) 44 South gets re-absorbed into NZMVCC, talk to them about the problem, as the same issues over vehicle identity will apply to virtually any WW2 era vehicle being put on the road in NZ for the first time and someone must have jumped through the hoops already. Failing that, ask someone with another already-registered F30 to accompany you back to the agent with their registration papers!