Serial number year and dod question

1952 - 1968, M38A1, M170, questions, discussions, regarding anything related to the M38a1 series.
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Bill H.
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Serial number year and dod question

Post by Bill H. » Mon May 23, 2022 12:58 pm

Can someone please give me a year and maybe dod on serial number MD55375? The best I can come up with is July, 1953???

Thank you in advance.
Bill H.

"Each shall seek his own kind, in other words, a bird may love a fish but where would they build a home together?" Tevye, Fiddler on the Roof

1952 Dunbar Kapple M100
1953 Willys M38A1
1962 AMC M422A1
1965 Stevens M416B1 X 2
1967 Kaiser M715

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Bill H.
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Re: Serial number year and dod question

Post by Bill H. » Tue May 24, 2022 6:32 pm

Nobody? Nothing? :cry:
Bill H.

"Each shall seek his own kind, in other words, a bird may love a fish but where would they build a home together?" Tevye, Fiddler on the Roof

1952 Dunbar Kapple M100
1953 Willys M38A1
1962 AMC M422A1
1965 Stevens M416B1 X 2
1967 Kaiser M715

2 Timothy 3:1-5

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Re: Serial number year and dod question

Post by Ron D » Tue May 24, 2022 7:41 pm

Hi Bill,
There's a database of sorts and more than a few threads about it over on the willysmjeeps site.
Am guessing maybe you already knew that.

Good luck!
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Bill H.
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Re: Serial number year and dod question

Post by Bill H. » Tue May 24, 2022 7:52 pm

Ron D wrote:
Tue May 24, 2022 7:41 pm
Hi Bill,
There's a database of sorts and more than a few threads about it over on the willysmjeeps site.
Am guessing maybe you already knew that.

Good luck!
I tried joining without success. I can't access any data.
Bill H.

"Each shall seek his own kind, in other words, a bird may love a fish but where would they build a home together?" Tevye, Fiddler on the Roof

1952 Dunbar Kapple M100
1953 Willys M38A1
1962 AMC M422A1
1965 Stevens M416B1 X 2
1967 Kaiser M715

2 Timothy 3:1-5

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Re: Serial number year and dod question

Post by dpcd67 » Wed May 25, 2022 6:41 am

8-53
Here is the data base; it reads up and down, not left and right. Not that complete. http://www.willysmjeeps.com/downloads/M38A1SNDB.pdf
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Re: Serial number year and dod question

Post by Bill H. » Wed May 25, 2022 2:01 pm

Thank you. I tried downloading that yesterday without success. Got it this time. :)
Bill H.

"Each shall seek his own kind, in other words, a bird may love a fish but where would they build a home together?" Tevye, Fiddler on the Roof

1952 Dunbar Kapple M100
1953 Willys M38A1
1962 AMC M422A1
1965 Stevens M416B1 X 2
1967 Kaiser M715

2 Timothy 3:1-5

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Re: Serial number year and dod question

Post by AFM38A1 » Wed May 25, 2022 10:10 pm

Thanks for posting the link.
There is a 1955 vehicle listed with a MD serial just 83 past mine.
Fortunately, it is one of the few in the year range with a hood number, so by doing the math (2A hood number -83), I was able to estimate the [probable hood number of my unit. (Barring a change in deliveries, serial number type/range, or allocation to another service, etc).

Not that it will do much good since so am repainting it in Air Force markings.
There was no history or hood numbers on mine, but I'll make a note of that number to pass into future owners.
M38A1 MD 82551. Built 3/1955. Purchased in Nov. 2021.
Former owner/restorer of 1977 Jeep CJ-5 Renegade Levis Edition.
All stock w/factory V-8. Used as a daily driver for 7 years.

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Re: Serial number year and dod question

Post by CHS843 » Sun Oct 22, 2023 6:53 am

I have tried to download the database several times without success. I have what I’m told is a’52 M38a1 serial number MD 21966.

The story I got was that it came off production line after the ceasefire and was sold at surplus to a utility company in Texas that used it to run power lines. It was then bought by a gentleman in SC who took the pto and rims off for a restore project and sold it to our farm.

I am trying to restore it after years of sitting in a barn. Unfortunately, Dad has passed away so I have no way of contacting anyone to verify this information so I’m hoping someone who has accessed the database can help me out.

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Re: Serial number year and dod question

Post by AFM38A1 » Thu Oct 26, 2023 9:02 pm

CHS 843

I just found one for sale with slightly earlier number...21583.
It was delivered 9/52.

So, we can assume yours was built around the same time.
But to be sure, let's do some math to figure out daily/weekly/monthly build rates...

So, if f there were no gaps in the serials....admittedly a bit of an assumption.... and I'm sure some will chime in to say if I'm wrong...

Mine was built in 3/55 and is 82551.
So, it is roughly 60,000 units and 30 months after the 21583 unit.

So, 60,000 ÷ 30 is 2000 a month.
So say 500 a week.
So yours is 400 after one built in 9/52...that's about four days.
So yours was built in 9 or 10 of 1952.

Make sense?
M38A1 MD 82551. Built 3/1955. Purchased in Nov. 2021.
Former owner/restorer of 1977 Jeep CJ-5 Renegade Levis Edition.
All stock w/factory V-8. Used as a daily driver for 7 years.

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Re: Serial number year and dod question

Post by illini » Fri Oct 27, 2023 3:13 am

My ex M38A1 with a 10/52 date stamp was MD23050
M151A2 AMG
1952 M38A1 MD23050 Sold

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Re: Serial number year and dod question

Post by dpcd67 » Fri Oct 27, 2023 7:51 am

That link/list pops up for me every time. Get a new computer.
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Re: Serial number year and dod question

Post by AFM38A1 » Tue Nov 07, 2023 7:04 pm

The database doesn't have many numbers past 1955.
Does anyone have later numbers?

The reason I ask is over on BAT someone is trying to sell a "1954" M38A1...but it has a Willys serial of 89XXX.
I know 89 is not correct for that year. Mine is a 55 and has a 82XXX serial.
Any idea when it would have been built?

Also, the Patent plate and dash plate have VERY heavy number stampings, quite different than mine. (My patent plate was almost illegible due to wear or being sand blasted. These could almost pass for Braille.
The Inspector stamp has initials but no year stamp.

Maybe someone is trying to make a Jeep fit the title?

Aside from that, the Jeep looks nice. Very clean underneath with reportedly all the fording gear.

it has the early fold down grille but later battery box cover. The left fender is the later type with a vertical seam, the right fender has no visible seam.
M38A1 MD 82551. Built 3/1955. Purchased in Nov. 2021.
Former owner/restorer of 1977 Jeep CJ-5 Renegade Levis Edition.
All stock w/factory V-8. Used as a daily driver for 7 years.

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Re: Serial number year and dod question

Post by Joe Friday » Fri Nov 10, 2023 5:50 pm

I don't have serials for 1954 or 1955, but I have total prduction numbers (combined) for M38A1 and M170,
1953 33,988 (only 2 were M170)
1954 11,578
1955 6,940

Knowing that Serial 72051 is 2//54, A serial of 89xxx (if it was real) would be the very end of 1955?
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Re: Serial number year and dod question

Post by markpickens57 » Sun Dec 03, 2023 4:21 am

I just reaching out. I have a 1954 that I received after my dad passed away. On the title it has a serial number of 11025. I am moving the jeep to Ohio but I can't find the serial number on the jeep

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Re: Serial number year and dod question

Post by D Pizzoferrato » Mon Dec 04, 2023 4:44 am

There are only 2 places to look on an M38A1. The lower right data plate on the data plate cluster on the dash will have the Mfg Serial Number.Image
The number is also on the Patent Plate on the vertical face of the right wheelhouse behind the passenger seat.
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