1955 M38a1 Serial Number

1952 - 1968, M38A1, M170, questions, discussions, regarding anything related to the M38a1 series.
Post Reply
bobbyrylands
G-Private
G-Private
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Feb 25, 2015 5:10 am
Location:

1955 M38a1 Serial Number

Post by bobbyrylands » Sun Mar 01, 2015 5:57 pm

I recently purchased a 1955 M38a1 and I am looking for a little history. The Number is 83556. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.


timboy123
G-Corporal
G-Corporal
Posts: 23
Joined: Sun Aug 19, 2012 6:23 pm
Location: Illinois

Re: 1955 M38a1 Serial Number

Post by timboy123 » Sun Mar 01, 2015 6:19 pm

I believe there were about 101,000 m38a1's built starting in 1952 and ending around 1971. I have a 1954 a1 that is dated 11/54 with seriel #77627.
1954 m38a1 MD77627

bobbyrylands
G-Private
G-Private
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Feb 25, 2015 5:10 am
Location:

Re: 1955 M38a1 Serial Number

Post by bobbyrylands » Sun Mar 01, 2015 6:21 pm

I meant to say I would like a little history of my particular jeep. There are no numbers left painted on it becuase it has been painted many times since it was in the military

willystexas
G-Staff Sergeant
G-Staff Sergeant
Posts: 56
Joined: Sat Jul 19, 2014 2:44 pm
Location:

Re: 1955 M38a1 Serial Number

Post by willystexas » Mon Mar 02, 2015 4:57 am

My a1 has SN 74751 and that should mean it was manufactured in about 10/54. I have yet to find any records from the willys manufacturing line that specifies the starting-ending serial numbers for any particular year. I just try to compare with other a1 owners lucky enough to have both a serial number and a date of manufacture on their plates.

History is hard to come by, as most of the supporting documents were destroyed after the a1 was sold into civilian life. You can glean some of your jeeps history by a combination of investigative work, and employing the process of elimination. Try to determine what your jeep is not. Look for plates or numbers stamped on your frame for "rebuild" dates. Due to the serial number, your a1 was likely produced for the US armed forces. However, you might look for clues to determine if it served in Canada, Europe or Egypt.

Due to the lack of an extra volt meter in the dash, and no supporting mounts, my jeep was not intended to be a radio jeep. I did find that it had an undercoating common to USMC jeeps, and after some tedious cleaning, I have some partial numbers from the bottom layer of paint. It was painted red at some point, and it was purchased from a volunteer fire department in 1981. So, I'm not sure if the red paint came from time spent as an ordinance jeep in the USMC, or if it was painted by the fire department...
1954 M38A1 MD 74751

Joe Gopan
Jeep Heaven
Posts: 49841
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
Location: Proving Ground

Re: 1955 M38a1 Serial Number

Post by Joe Gopan » Mon Mar 02, 2015 5:09 am

DRMO destroys the records folder when the Jeep is disposed of, there are no duplicate records to go by. Unless you can find old trip tickets, etc., in the glove box or bumper markings, the history is lost forever.
Many Jeeps had radios installed, usually the Unit CO and section leaders Jeeps got radios. The Communications section vehicles would have radios with more capability installed. AN/VRC 8, 9, or 10 were very common installations. The Jeeps did not leave the factory as Radio Jeeps, and some radio installations required the installation of the 100 Amp System having the 100 Amp Alternator, DC Rectifier, and Carbon Pile Regulator.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

User avatar
Joe Friday
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1229
Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2010 10:28 am
Location:

Re: 1955 M38a1 Serial Number

Post by Joe Friday » Mon Mar 02, 2015 6:44 am

Willys Texas wrote:
My a1 has SN 74751 and that should mean it was manufactured in about 10/54.
A few daily production sheets exist from early 1954.

Oct 5th 1954, the "high serial" for the day was 75889.

They were scheduled to produce 1045 in October, at a projected rate of 50 per day.

I think that pushes 74751 back to somewhere around September 13th of 1954.
2018 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #419

Joe Gopan
Jeep Heaven
Posts: 49841
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
Location: Proving Ground

Re: 1955 M38a1 Serial Number

Post by Joe Gopan » Mon Mar 02, 2015 10:43 am

bobbyrylands wrote:I recently purchased a 1955 M38a1 and I am looking for a little history. The Number is 83556. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.
I'll bet your USA Reg. is 2A-6XXX
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

willystexas
G-Staff Sergeant
G-Staff Sergeant
Posts: 56
Joined: Sat Jul 19, 2014 2:44 pm
Location:

Re: 1955 M38a1 Serial Number

Post by willystexas » Tue Mar 03, 2015 5:09 am

A few daily production sheets exist from early 1954.

Oct 5th 1954, the "high serial" for the day was 75889.

They were scheduled to produce 1045 in October, at a projected rate of 50 per day.

I think that pushes 74751 back to somewhere around September 13th of 1954.
Joe Friday,
That is great information. I greatly appreciate the insight!

For my own entertainment, I explored how you came up with this date, Here are my numbers:
- 10/01/54 fell on a Friday and 10/29/54 also fell on a Friday. So, October 1954 had 21 working/production days.
- The difference in serial numbers is 75889 - 74751 = 1,138.
- Based on their scheduled October production of 1045 units / 21 days = 49.76 units/day
- How many production days between 75889 and 74751? 1,138 units / 49.76 units/day = 22.87 days
- Backing up 23 production days from October 5th = puts the likely production date around Thursday, September 2nd and Tuesday, September 7th. (Labor Day fell on Monday, September 6th)

Again, I really appreciate the info, and the chance to learn some of the history of my Jeep!

mw
1954 M38A1 MD 74751

Joe Gopan
Jeep Heaven
Posts: 49841
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
Location: Proving Ground

Re: 1955 M38a1 Serial Number

Post by Joe Gopan » Tue Mar 03, 2015 5:13 am

Is your USA Registration 2010XXXXX ?
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

User avatar
Joe Friday
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1229
Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2010 10:28 am
Location:

Re: 1955 M38a1 Serial Number

Post by Joe Friday » Tue Mar 03, 2015 5:42 am

WillysTexas.

I agree with your estimate.

Check your email.
2018 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #419

mikeabn
G-Corporal
G-Corporal
Posts: 22
Joined: Sun Mar 08, 2015 9:09 am
Location: Barrington, illinois

Re: 1955 M38a1 Serial Number

Post by mikeabn » Sun Mar 29, 2015 8:25 am

I am in a spot trying to register my M38A1.

Existing New York registration shows on 6155. Old data plate shows 61550. FRom what I read, it appears there should be at least 5 digits.
Trying to correct it to 61550 has created a real battle between me, state of Illinois and New York.

Hoping to resolve. I would just like to know what is correct

Thanks
1935 Chrysler AIrflow
1950 Packard
1952 M38A1
1953 studebaker
1956 DeSoto

Joe Gopan
Jeep Heaven
Posts: 49841
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
Location: Proving Ground

Re: 1955 M38a1 Serial Number

Post by Joe Gopan » Sun Mar 29, 2015 9:31 am

Happens a lot during registration, take in a pic of your data plate in order to correct it.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO


Post Reply

Return to “M38a1 Technical Knowledge Base”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 50 guests