I have recently bought a Ford 1932 3W Coupe in California. The pinkslip is old and everything looks good, but the identification number is not like i thought it should be on a 32 Ford. The number is one letter and 5 numbers close to this: A17575 Could my car have left the factory in 1932 with this number And it is an all steel old car. Rgrds Tor
All of the ones I have now and have owned had 18 as the first numbers ... go here ... for serial numbers ... http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/flathead_serialnumbers.htm
I have had people say that 4 cylinder cars ... or early cars or nada, nada, nada cars came with numbers other than 18 ... I do not know for positive but I know what the list says and mine have 18 in them .
My guess and it's just an educated guess, is that the "A" numbers are body numbers not registration numbers.
A 32 should have a 18 if it's originally a V8 powered car or truck.....or a B if it's a 4 banger...remember the first half of the production was 4 cylinder powered... This A17575 looks like a very early Model A number was used to me...were there stars in front and behind these numbers? And then you bring up a reproduction frame.... Hmmnn...looks like someone used what they had to register this 32 Ford.... I don't think I'd worry about it in Norway......
Thank you for a very useful link to the serial numbers Your homepage of your 3W Coupe is really nice, keep on posting more pictures
4 cylinder cars were not just the first 1/2 of production. It was an option. If memory serves me right, the earliest of 32 4 cylinder cars vins started with "AB" and the number was a continuation of the Model A number. Somewhere early in the production, they dropped the "A" and just used the "B".
It's definitely not a USA deuce number. Canadians had short numbers with prefixes for batches, but not like that--I think this was an ***igned number put on by state for an un***led or ***embled car. USA 4 cyl would be *AB or *B, then a number ABOVE 5,000,000*. V8's would be *18-number between 1 and somewhere in upper 200,000 range. If that number were Ford, it would represent an extremely early Model A.
I checked my frame...and now I'm really confused. The first symbol is a star, the next two digits are about obliterated but appears like it might have been a 7 and 5. The rest of the number are clearly viewed as 114079.
Jackbolt's number is reasonable IF the first two mystery numbers are 18. All USA V8 numbers begin with 18, all 4 with AB or B. Throw in BB in same sequences for big trucks.
Bruce, I checked for the serial numbers on the left frame rail in the other two possible locations. Lo and behold after I got the funk brushed off, the middle location number was plain to see. * 5114079* Checked the rear location but all I can make out is the 5. Do you suppose the "5" might signify it's Canadian or something like that?
Bruce, I have a ch***is that starts off with the 5 mil. number that you,ve cited above. Where can I find this info in writing so I can register my ch***is? Thanks, CK
This "18" on the "***le" is why they are more collectible to hot rodders... because it states it is a V8 car, and most guy upgrade to a more stout V8 when hot rodding. Really, it doesn't matter.
Model 18 stand for 1st year V8 so 18 makes sense as a prefix to V8 cars. Where do I look for my numbers. Oh god I hope they are not on the quarters hahaha!!!!
The 4 cylinder serial numbers started with 5000000. This was slightly above that last Model A serial number. Your number should start with star B ... in the location visible next to the steering but the other hidden locations lacked the prefix. According to the book "The Early Ford V8 As Henry Built It" the transmission/engine originally installed in your vehicle was made in June of 1932. Charlie Stephens
Maybe slightly off topic, but did the overseas cars have US made frames? My original '32 even had the vin number either stamped into the bell housing or the block, I don't rememeber which. I have always ***umed the vin numbers were stamped on the ***embly line as the parts came together.
Just inside of the firewall foot on the drivers side. Others say that it is stamped in other places but I can't find any on my frame. One weekend I checked 5 original Deuce frames and this is the only one of them where the number was legible. This is a fairly early V8 frame.
The thing I'd be most concerned with is if the ***le matches the frame number. In wisc that's what they look at, they match them up, if the numbers don't match you better have a good explanation as to why.
My 87 year old uncle says the 18 was only added to the number in front of the firewall cause they didn't know what engine it was getting til the body was already on. The other two numbers should be about mid frame and on the rear kick up both on the P***enger side.
Your 87 year old uncle is wrong. The ch***is were ***embled with engines (and the numbers) before a body went on. I've seen pics to prove it.
Your uncle is wrong. When engine/transmission ***emblies p***ed inspection they were given a serial number including the prefix. The number was copied from the engine/transmission ***embly onto the frame at the time they were installed. My guess is they left the prefix off at the other locations to save money. Charlie Stephens
Yeah, B and 18 ranges of numbers were totally different, and there were lots of minor parts and routing differences between B's and V8's beside the actual engine so a car would have been ***embled for one or the other almost from the moment the rails hit the ***embly line. The dozens of differences are only minor to a rodder... Jackbolt's car has a normal B number showing. Not sure what would be quickest source for something his DMV would see as authoritative...maybe just a xerox of the serial number pages in the V8 resto book.
I just got my car registered in CA and the Vin number is 1850055. Is this number 55 on the line or 50,055?
My 32 cabriolet has a star followed by the letter F(found out F stands for rt hand drive/ must be true as there are 2 holes in the dash on p*** side for the steering column to bolt to and NO holes on the drivers side) so car still has rt hand drive dash in car. Serial number is Star F 18**** Star indicating very early production which started(I think) March 1932
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