This is a State specific question. Did you answer if you had gone to DMV or not?
For something this old they should just push it through with little concern. In my State they would just need the bill of sale with sellers signature (eh hmm, my forgery of it) on a scrap of paper to issue plates.
My state does not require titles for something this old.
This is a trailer or motor vehicle?
I had a vehicle I got from a friend from out of state. I went to get plates and they said I just need to get a bill of sale from him since there was no title. I went out, found some paper, wrote up one, signed it for him, came back in and said, "I found it". She knew what I just did and kind of laughed it off because what are they going to do? I went out with plates and paperwork. Done.
The success also depends on the person behind the DMV counter. They know tricks to push things through sometimes, and sometimes the worker be dont care.