VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 1938 master deluxe

New to antique Class
I just purchase 1938 master deluxe 2 door w/trunk
Trying to learn the ID tag on the fender and break it down

Style# 38-1011
Body# M15498
Trim# 70
Paint# 230

Any direction or guidance would really be appreciated

Does your car still have it's data plate? It's the plate that has the code of when and where your car was built and it's build sequence. It's the plate shown below, above the plate you described.

Yes that is the only data plate

I'm not really sure what it's called but the plate still on your car isn't the "data plate". Not a big deal but folks might get confused if you refer to it as such. This is my original Data Plate. As you can see it was painted over and in rough shape so I replaced it with a reproduction. I don't have a good image of the repop. Someone will come along shortly who can answer your questions about the plate you have. Out of curiosity is your car titled with the engine number as the VIN?

That is generally refered to has the "Fisher Body" tag.
style 38-1011=1938 Master Deluxe Town Sedan (2 door with trunk)
Body #M 15498= M, body made at the Fidher Body plant in Baltimore (car would have been assembled the also)...number is production sequence number for that body style beginning with #1, the Town Sedan being the most popular model in 1938.Trim 70=tan low pile mohair upholstery - about 99% had that trim
Paint #230=Gun Metal Gray metallic. A medium gray color.

The serial number would indicate the moth car assembled.

From what I see in the picture it is a fairly original car.

No eng # I7726I0 stamp by distributor
I believe the engine was replaced at one time no history on this
I purchased this from a family friend uncle sick
Vehicle registration doesn't show the numbers that I have been reading about
Thanks I'm still learning

It was common for states to use the engine number as the VIN through '55. If it was titled using the engine number and that engine is not longer with the vehicle you have a problem you'll need to work out with the state. All states have a method for resolving that issue though so all is not lost.

Thanks

1938 engine numbers ran 1187822 through 1915446. The engine number indicates a fairly late 1938 as does the body number.
What are the first four/five letters/numbers of the serial number?

Eng# 1772610.

OK, I reread your earlier reply. If a number is not stamped then the block has been replaced with a new genuine Chevrolet short block. It most likely is a 1939 block.
The 1939 block has a casting number of 838942 (large raised lnumbers). The will also be a code type date casting number.
The serial number of the car is stamped into the other tag on the side of the cowl.