[ford38v8]

Dave, That's a beauty! You do have a problem there, however. The car having been restored, it is certainly possible to be comprised of mix-and-match parts, but the title is a mystery that possibly happened in a similar manner as your convincing your insurance that it's vintage is 1946.
The seller would be the one to ask, as he'd likely have been through the same issue himself. If you could determine the original restorer, that's where the answer lies.
I'd compare the transmission number to the frame number and title first, for a possible easy answer. If the transmission is original to the car or to the title, and if the frame is original to the title. (The title must match the frame number, or you've got trouble.) If the title number does appear on one or the other, look closely comparing the two 6's and the single 0. This is speculation only, understand, but if the first 6 is actually a double-hit 0, that could solve the mystery. You can always ask the DMV to get involved, but that's like playing Russian Roulette.