A question about trailering a pick up truck

Thanks, everyone, for the replies and the concern! Good news is, It's Home! I ended up trailering it back night before last. A friend of a friend had a trailer and truck, so we went up and safely brought it home. The advice of the license dept. was correct, in Missouri anyway. I'm transferring the plates to the '51, so I can legally drive the "new" truck for 30 days on the plates to get the thing licensed. I called Illinois and was told to get a temp drive away tag for $10, but a bill of sale won't get it, only a title. Since there is no way to produce a title until the lost title comes in, which the PO was told would be 4-6 weeks, that isn't possible. When I ran the Missouri license idea by the IL Sec. of State title office, the weren't' sure what to say. They couldn't give me a sure reply, since I had to get it home before bad weather sets in, and Missouri laws and Illinois laws are at odds. So, after checking with about 6 transport companies, (one in particular was very pushy and arrogant, and still won't stop hassling me about how wrong every other towing company is), a good friend who is working overtime and can't help, referred me to a friend of his, and we drove the 180 miles to Decatur and pulled it home, so all is well. I will get a picture of the "old boy" and put it on here today. Thanks so very much to ALL of you, and I can't even begin to tell each of you how much I appreciate your replies. Especially the ones who were infuriated with what I'd been told, because it made me feel as though you all really cared and were worried about my welfare. I love this forum! Thanks you all!