VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Trucks and Vans Question for Oldie

Hi Oldie-

The old door plate on my 1950 1/2 ton looks like 38HPH 15411. The first two plant numbers are badly worn (it may just be one number- not sure) and I can barely read them. If those aren't listed, can you please tell me what are the number/plant options that they might have been? I want to stamp up my new plate.

Thanks-
SPEEDLINE

Speedline-

Reference your '50 1/2 ton VIN. I don't know what to make of the 38 number. There wasn't a plant designation 38 that I'm aware of. The Plant identifications were as follows:
1 = Flint
2 = Tarrytown
3 = St. Louis
5 = Kansas City
6 = Oakland
8 = Atlanta
9 = Norwood
14 = Baltimore
20 = Los Angeles
21 = Janesville

Your serial number 38HPH 15411 breaks down as:
38 = ?? plant location
H = 1950 model year
P = 3100 series commercial
H = 8th month or August build
15411 = 14411 3100 series unit built at ??

Note: Los Angles is out because the last serial number in their sequence was 9680. Production ended in November at all plants for your model between the 10th and the 14th of the month.

Oldie-

Does it indicate if trucks were produced at St. Louis and Atlanta in that year? The truck was delivered to Alabama. Would that destination be more likely from either one of these locations? Does it make any sense if the first character is a "B"?

Thanks-
SPEEDLINE

Speedline,
Yes, Trucks were assembled at both the St. Louis and Atlanta assembly plants during that time. The first unit built at each plant had sequence number 1001. St. Louis started production of the 3100 series on 12-12-49 and ended with serial number 37721 on 11-13-50. Atlanta started production of the 3100 series on 12-12-49 and ended with serial number 21003 on 11-14-50. Those number are for the 3100 series vehicles only.
Does your VIN plate appear to have been altered in any way? Do the worn numbers you refer to look like they were installed using the same style stamp?

Oldie-
It hasn't been altered but it is seriously disfigured from age and corrosion, and has been kicking around my garage since I restored the truck about 15 years ago.

One more question: Do you know if there is supposed to be a space on the plate between the plant code and the following year designation letter (3 HPH 15411), or is it a single string of characters (3HPH 15411)? That might account for my misinterpretation. Oh, and I'm still curious if you know if it was more likely for an Atlanta truck to be delivered to Alabama?

Thanks again-
SPEEDLINE

Speedline -
The data that I have implies that the serial numbers were arranged like 3HPH 15411, but it is not spelled out as such, and I can not be sure that this layout on the tag would be correct. Maybe someone with a like vehicle, having a VIN tag in good condition, can respond.
I think it's a fair guess that a vehicle built in Atlanta could have been delivered in Alabama, but here again, I have no way of being sure.

Speedline,
The last post didn't end up looking like I arranged it in the answer. I'll try again. I was trying to say I think the number should look like _.

3HPH 15411

Thanks for all your help Oldie.

SPEEDLINE

Speedline, when you state your vin plate is damaged and corroded, please be more specific. For example, mine is weathered to the point that the whole plate is blank with just the stamped vin number visible along with the oxidized aluminum. As far as any spacing between characters, my month letter is spaced out one place on both sides and I don't remember, but pretty sure the plant code wasn't spaced. But then that may have been up to each plant or person stamping them. Or maybe because mine was "20" for Van Nuys (L.A.) it wasn't spaced. If it isn't buggered up, try marking a pencil on paper over the vin to help make it more visible. Since your replacing the plate anyways, sanding lighting might clear things up. If its definitely a "3" or "8" forget the other number if not so pronounced. You might have to go as far as checking which number isn't stamped in the same manner as the rest of the characters, ie not as deep or straight, etc. Other than that, I don't know what else to say on the matter. Good luck on finding the correct number.

Oldie
I have heard that the vin number is also on the frame near the gearbox. Are they the same # or a separate referance #. I have not looked on my frame for it yet. Also do yo have the production numbers for St Louis in 1956 modle year?
Thanks
Brad

Brad,

I have some engine number information, but no VIN info for 1956. Post your numbers and someone will be able to help I'm sure.

Brad,
I assume since you asked about a 56, your question about the VIN being stamped on the frame applies to that model. I don't know about the TF trucks and will let others comment on that. However, for the Advance Design trucks (going back to Speedline's original question) there was NO ID number anywhere else on the truck other than the ID plate on the door post.

Also, just to be nit-picking , the manufacturer's ID number (at least through the AD trucks) was not a VIN, although it was and is used as such. The standard, 17 character VIN was not standardized and required by the Feds until the 1980s.

Jeff & Brad,

I think I have enough information to break down your "Vehicle Serial Number" (previously refered to as the VIN) if you would like to post it. My data is not complete enough to provide anything close to a "vehicle build date."

I'm going to post the statements that Chevrolet affixed to the "1956 Passenger Car and Truck Serial Prefix Numbers" explanation dated 3-12-56. This affixed information implies that "Hidden" serial numbers were applied to passengere cars and frame serial numbers on commercial and truck units. I asssume these were added as some form of theft deterent. Here it is =

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"The hidden car serial numbers of all Passenger jobs, except model 2934 should be located per Layout L-XXXXX which has been furnished to the Assembly Plants for use in stamping these numbers. Also, the hidden numbers are not to include the series designation. For example, the hidden car serial numbers for the 2100 series job mentioned in the previous example would be 56T001025."

" The hidden serial number on Model 2934 should be the same as the serial number on the Identification Plate, that is, it should include the prefix "E" (Refer Layout L-XXXXX for location of the hidden serial number on this model)"

" The Frame Serial Numbers on Commercial and Truck Jobs are not to include the serial designation. For example, the hidden and visible frame serial number for the 6100 series job in the previous example would be 56K001083 (Refer Layout L-XXXXX for the locations at which the Assembly Plants should stamp these numbers."
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All of this would imply that Chevrolet did identify the Model year, Assembly Plant Build Location, and Build sequence numbers on the frames of passenger cars and trucks in that era. The document also states "stamped" which would lead one to believe that it was a permanent type marking.

A 1956 truck serial number from St. Louis should look something like this = 3A56S 001001. A "V" added by the assembly plant preceeding the 3A would indicate a 265 cu.in. V8. so it could read V3A56S 001001.

3A = 3100 series
3B = 3200 series
3C = 3400 series
3D = 3500 series
3F = 3700 series and on and on =

56 = Model year
S = St.Louis assembly plant
001001 = Build sequence number (first unit assembled at that plant was 001001)

No wonder we all become confused when trying to identify vehicles out of the past.

After re-reading Jeff's statement, I rechecked my information. What I said about the 56 cars and trucks still stands. The same information is also spelled out for the 1955 cars and trucks. Looking at the 1953 and 1954 data, the references to hidden serial numbers on the frame covers passenger cars only, no mention of trucks. The 1952 and earilier data does not mention anything about hidden numbers on any vehicle, cars or trucks.