VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1946-1948 Serial number 48 Areo Sedan

Hi Guys I have a 1948 Fleetline Areo sedan 2 door. The serial number on the right hand door frame is 1FK-C 14341. I have an old registration that came with the car that has a VIN number FAA179412. Is that a good number, if so where would it be located? If the number on the door jam is correct does anyone know what the letters mean?

Thanks,

The FAA number is an engine number.That is a correct number for a 1948 engine.Prior to 1954 many states used the engine number for registration.The number is stamped into the block on a ledge just behind the distributor.

The 1FK-C indicates that the car was assembeled in Flint, Mi, the FK thats its a 1948 Fleetmaster or Fleetline and the C that it was made in the third month.The 14341 is a production sequence number for that plant.

Hi Tom,

This site has info for the serial numbers: Model Identification Charts, Serial... Codes for U.S. Built 1942 - 1954 Models

1FK-C 14341 is the actual serial number which is located on a plate under floor mat forward of Passenger side of front seat.

The FAA 179412 number is the engine serial number which is located just behind the distributor. This number was used for registration in many states starting during the depression to slow down automobile theft. Back then, a car was often stolen for the engine.

Here is a breakdown of numbers:
1FK-C 14341
1 = assembled in Flint, Michigan
F = 1948 year
K = Fleetline / Fleetmaster models
C = assembled in March
14341 is the sequence number of assembly

FAA 179412

F = 1948 year of assembly
A = Passenger Car w/216ci Engine
A = manufactured in Flint, Michigan
179412 is sequence number of assembly

There is more info on the cowl plate which is located on the Passenger Side Upper Firewall in the engine compartment.

Hope this helps and good luck with your 48.

Hi Guys, I knew that number was familar it is the engine number. It seems funny that they used the engine number for the VIN, but thats New York.

Thanks alot,

The engine number was used because it was stamped in.It is easy to remove the serial number plate and alter it.The only problem was when the engine was replaced.Usually the state had a form or certificate to take care of that problem.

When the engine was changed some states required a "Bill of Sale" that listed the new engine number and the title was changed/noted based on that paper work.

Concerning the location of the '48 serial
tag.. My cabriolet has the tag on the lower
passenger side door front post. It's between
the door check and the lower door hinge. 3FKD...
St. Louis, Fleetmaster series, fourth month...
There are no rivit holes in the floor pan in
front of the seat near the sill moulding, so I
assume the door post was the original location
of the serial tag. It certainly looks original
and the car was super original in 1970 when I
bought it.

Thats the correct location for 1941-48 (right door post)Was on floor in 1940 and in 1936 and before.1937-39 was on right siide of cowl under hood.

Found this info on serial number location in the 1942 - 1947 Chevrolet Shop Manual on page 3.

Same info for 1941 in the 1941 Chevrolet Shop Manual for Passenger Cars and Trucks on page 3


Car Serial Number-Located under the floor mat on the right side.

Now my questions are:

Did Chevrolet place the serial number on the door post of certain models prior to 1949?

What year did Chevrolet start putting the serial number on the door post?

The '42, '42 - 46, 42 - 47, and 42 - 48 shop manuals are all the same. Word for word, number
for number, etc. like the '42. There were many
changes during those years including the serial
plate location. In '42 it was on the floor like
the description above and I suppose that it changed in '46 or possibly '47. After a few years of corrosion, many of the floor plates were
unreadable, therefore a reason for the change.

My info. is incorrect.In checking two other sorces the plate is on the pillar from 1946 and up.On the right floor pan from 1940-42.Left pillar from 1949 and up.

The Jan.1946 service News list the changes for 1946.Says serial number is relocated from under floor mat to right front door pillar to make it "more convienent for service people to read"

Thanks Gene... :) :) Didn't know the serial # plate was on the right door pillar for those years.

Wow what a discussion! I was also looking at the service manual and I never remembered a tag on the floor, the only one was on the door post. I learned a lot through this exercise.

Thanks again to everyone who participated,