M-38A1 USA REGISTRATION PRIOR TO 1956

1952 - 1968, M38A1, M170, questions, discussions, regarding anything related to the M38a1 series.
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M-38A1 USA REGISTRATION PRIOR TO 1956

Post by Joe Gopan » Sat Sep 22, 2012 5:12 am

M-38A1 USA REGISTRATION prior to 1956 had the prefix U.S.A. OEM marking was 2". Around 1956 the USA numbers were changed to the U.S. ARMY prefix. If your M-38A1 represents service prior to 56 U.S.A. is in order.
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Re: M-38A1 USA REGISTRATION PRIOR TO 1956

Post by James L » Sat Sep 22, 2012 4:53 pm

I have a 52 38a1 and the original hood # is U.S. ARMY jim

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Re: M-38A1 USA REGISTRATION PRIOR TO 1956

Post by wilfreeman » Sat Sep 22, 2012 6:07 pm

I know of one with (what looks to be) original paint and markings, with US ARMY. Also, if they went through a depot level re paint after 1956, would the numbers be changed from USA to US ARMY at that point?
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Re: M-38A1 USA REGISTRATION PRIOR TO 1956

Post by Joe Gopan » Sun Sep 23, 2012 5:56 am

It may have original paint, what may have happened was that the original U.S.A. Reg may have been dusted over and late marking applied. If your M-38A1 was manufactured before the changeover period it definitely would have had 2" font with U.S.A. If it went thru a depot after the new U.S.ARMY was in effect it should have had the new marking. The M-38A1 is easy to spot with repainted registration.
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Re: M-38A1 USA REGISTRATION PRIOR TO 1956

Post by wilfreeman » Sun Sep 23, 2012 11:18 am

Makes sense to me
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Re: M-38A1 USA REGISTRATION PRIOR TO 1956

Post by Joe Gopan » Sun Sep 23, 2012 3:00 pm

Original M-38A1 U.S.A. Hood Registration was in 2" Font with 1" between upper ans lower lines. It was centered on the hood and the lower line was approx 1/8" above the water fording cut out. Both sides were at the same level and the periods were square.
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Re: M-38A1 USA REGISTRATION PRIOR TO 1956

Post by Joe Gopan » Thu Aug 18, 2016 4:34 am

For you M-38A1 fans.
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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
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Re: M-38A1 USA REGISTRATION PRIOR TO 1956

Post by MASH_4077 » Thu Jan 05, 2017 12:52 pm

So post 56 it would have had US ARMY on the hood. Would the hood numbers change as well or would they remain the same?
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Re: M-38A1 USA REGISTRATION PRIOR TO 1956

Post by Joe Gopan » Thu Jan 05, 2017 5:24 pm

Hood numbers remained the same, and the word "Army" was spelled out. This took effect on all wheeled and tracked Army Tactical Vehicles. any M-38A1's manufactured after the 1956 marking change would have the new version, What also appeared around 1955 were the shortened USA Registration on Jeep such as 2A-5177 on my 1955 M-38A1, The M-37 adopted the system with registration such as 3B-XXXX, the M-35 Reo 2-1/2 Ton 4C-XXXX, the 5 Ton 6x6 5A-4012, I drove that particular 5 Ton. :wink:
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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
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Re: M-38A1 USA REGISTRATION PRIOR TO 1956

Post by Silver88 » Sat Apr 17, 2021 6:03 am

So I know this is an old thread but I have a 1955 M38A1, I know it should say U.S.A and then the registration number below it. The problem is I have no clue as to what that registration number should be - the jeep was already restored (at least the body/paint) when I bought it. I've had the jeep less than a year and I know my serial is MD79XXX So I'm not sure what the correct pre-fix is I've been searching and reading everywhere and getting different answers across the board.

Some say it should be 2AXXXX others say is 20XXXXX. I can't seem to get a straight answer. I saw one thread on another forum saying " The accepted method for a replacement number is to use the correct prefix for your year with your serial number so that it looks good but is obvious to those who know that it is a made up hood number, and does not mess up the database being collected of correct numbers." I have no idea how to find the correct pre-fix number for my year.

I was just going to make one up and do the U.S.A and on the second like put 2A1524 (the 1524 has personal significance to me but could mess up the people collecting them for databases?) Also I'm not sure what to use for the numbers on the front/rear bumper - I'm not very savy with military speak so looking at all the information about Major Command/Intermediate command/Unit Activity/Vehicle # makes no sense to me - Can I just pick whatever I want from each of those? The examples I've seen in the section of the manual for how it should be formatted are very confusing and I can't make heads or tails of it - maybe I'm just being dumb but I really could use the help. The data plates show it was ORD. Hope someone can help.
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Re: M-38A1 USA REGISTRATION PRIOR TO 1956

Post by dpcd67 » Sat Apr 17, 2021 10:29 am

You can't just make up random numbers; (you can but collectors will know); do more research on this forum, and read AR850-5. (Free on Jeep Draw) Learn about the military structure and how the bumper numbers go; it will mean more if you learn what they are. After all, you own a Military jeep; you should at least be able to speak some of the lingo. Learn what a Company, etc, is and how it fits into the whole Army organization. Then get back to me. I could just give you some bumper markings; but then you wouldn't learn anything.
Registration numbers; I think there is a data base on willys M jeeps site.
They frown on using interpolated registration numbers; I say nonsense to that; we routinely interpolate WW2 jeep numbers.
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