VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Trucks and Vans VIN Identification for Chevy Truck

I bought a coupe of art deco Chevy trucks and need help with a positive ID on one of them.

It is titled a 1944, which I know may be an extremely rare occurrence, so I want to be sure of its origin.
The title vin says BD7114249BK403281

The badly worn cowl plate has the numbers "46" in the center, and 9CK11 2707 at the bottom

The engice near the distributor looks like it has SC 507A stamped on it, it is very light, but after using a dremel and small wire brush, that's what I could read.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance,
Bill

A CK is an early 1946 1/2 ton truck

A BK would be a 1942 1/2 ton truck or any 1/2 ton made in 1943-44 or 45

I see no BD listed.

Either way the 1942 truck or early 1946 had no chrome trim.

I definitely says "BD" on the title

It may say BD on the title, but that doesn't make it valid. Typo error ?

In addition, the serial number, BD7114249BK403281, shown on the title appears to have way too many digits. Typo error again ?

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/models/series2.htm

That looks like two serial numbers combined.

Yes it does Gene.

Here's a few things that I do not understand:

1- Is there a list posted somewhere that you guys know about the prefixes and length of serial numbers or is there something published somewhere to decipher the vin?

2- The numbers that are physically on the truck, have no correlation to numbers on the title, so where would the title numbers come from? (It's a Pennsylvania title, if that matters)

Any help at all is very much appreciated!

Prior to 1955 most states used the engine number for registration and it was on the title.The engine numbers on a 1942 1/2 ton truck began with BD or BK.
The numbers went from 1001 and up to about 8000. The following Bk-xxx ....BK and BD were both used on 1942 engines bt not both on one engine.
An change of engine may have caused both numbers to appear on the title.

The 9CK 11 xxxx is the serial number and is the prefix to a 1946 truck actual serial number. The 9 indicates assembled in Norwood Ohio, CK a first design 1946 and 11 is month assembled (11 = Nov of 1945)

To answer your question of where to look try: chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com there is a lot of info in there for you.

Did you not see the link I posted above, taking you to the serial number site ?

What is the serial number, as shown on the truck ?

If the title numbers do not coincide with the numbers on the truck, you may have difficulty proving ownership.

Don't know how PA. addresses such issues, but I can tell you North Carolina was a bear for me to deal with ......... and my numbers were all legit.

The poster has two serial numbers connected, one begins with BD, one begins with BK.

A very odd issue, something is off center with the title information, as the owner posted.

BLUEZINHARP, see if this link helps you understand what your serial number should look like.

https://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/VIN.html

Okay, so if I've gotten this right...

Going by the "https://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/identification/Series/index.html#forty" website, since the plate on the cab says: 9CK11 2707 and the wheelbase is 115 inches,
I can assume that it was built in Norwood Ohio, and that it is an 'interim series' (what exactly does that mean?) 1946 truck.
Is the "2707" a production number?

I would also assume that since I cannot find any other numbers (are there any hidden anywhere else?), the title numbers may reflect a different engine at some point in its history.

Why then would it have been titled a 1944? That part baffles me.

Again, I really appreciate all of the guidance here!

OK - one more time
9 = assembled in Norwood, ohio
CK = 1946 1st design. Bascially a 1942 design and has no chrome trim.
2nd design had chrome bumpers and grille and some mechanical improvements.
!st design trunks made from Sept 1945 until Nov. 1945. Then GM had a strike and the 2nd design trucks came out after the strike in May of 1946.
11 = assembled in Nov. 1945
2707 = it was the 1706th 1/2 ton truck assembled at that plant (numbers began with 1001)

interim is a publication description for what Chevrolet called a 1st design truck. Chevrolet never used interim .

If it were a 1942-1943-1944-1945 truck it would have the serial number prefix of BK

Can not nswer why title says 1944.

. My father had a priority to purchase 2 trucks a year during WWII. He didn't need 2 but purchased a Dodge PU in 1942, a Chevy PU in 1943, another Dodge PU in 1944 and Chevy half ton cab and chassis in early 1945. The auto manufacturers were not allowed to manufacture any civilian vehicles after Feb 1942, but could sell the stock on hand to those with a priority. When I read the serial numbers, The PU was made in the 14th month of 1942, and the chassis in 32nd month of 1942.
. If you haven't figured out what's going on, you can start flipping pages on your calendar. .
. Lou .

Hi all.

Dont want to brush off old topics. But i see more trucks with a VIN that starts with BD. I just bought my first pickup. On the title it says it is a 1945 and my VIN starts with BD77*

How do i know what year truck i have? Thanks for any help i will get

I think the Stovebolt page has a place to check the serial number

Not sure if you got an answer or not, but "BD" is the prefix for a 1942-45 1/2 ton truck 216 engine made at the Flint Engine Plant.

What's the serial number on the cab?

Mike B