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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / '39 ford vin or serial number

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Discussion Topic: '39 ford vin or serial number

oldfordman

01-10-2020 @ 10:13 AM

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Hello,
Well, finally got a good pic of the frame and the number is *O-18735*.
At one time the number was recorded as a C, but it must have been covered in grime and the O must have looked like a C.

Chris.NZ

01-05-2020 @ 12:52 PM

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There were 31000 1939 fords assembled in Canada for the model year according to the EFV8 38/39 Book.
If they had a F in the number it indicated RHD.
Yours sounds like it was assembled as a domestic ( LHD ) about 1/2 way ( April 1939 ) through the production year. The ones that came to New Zealand had a C prefix, then the number, followed by an F.
Correct me if I'm wrong.

This message was edited by Chris.NZ on 1-5-20 @ 12:55 PM

42wagon

01-05-2020 @ 4:30 AM

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Both Mike and Charlie are correct.

I will add for those reading this thread and have a 1940 or later station wagon that the bodies were built "in house" by Ford at Iron Mountain Michigan starting in 1940. Iron Mountain did not add a body number plate. Instead they stamped a number, sequential for the year, directly in the firewall at the same location were Mike shows the number plate in his photo.

In Sorensen's book, Famous Ford Woodies, you can see a picture of a 1940 body with the location where the number is to be stamped marked in chalk on the firewall. The patent plate would also be added on the firewall. As far as I know the Iron Mountain body numbers have no letters in them.

42 Wagon

kubes40

01-04-2020 @ 1:27 PM

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Charlie is 100% correct of course.
Here's a photo of a '39. Note the data patent plate in the center of the dash panel common to all Fords of this era.
Also note the small plate at the far left of the panel... that's the sequential body number found on convertibles and wagons.

Mike "Kube" Kubarth

CharlieStephens

01-04-2020 @ 1:19 PM

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There may be two plates on the firewall. All vehicles should have a patent data plate with a list of the patents used to built the vehicle. Bodies subcontracted to other body builders have a second plate showing the manufacturer and the sequential number for the body.

There are usually two other places on top of the left frame rail under the body (you have to remove the body to see them). Another place is on top of the transmission bell housing. The DMV will usually not recognize the number on top of the transmission as a VIN to register the vehicle since it is easy to change a transmission. The following site is useful: http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/flathead_home.htm

A copy of the clubs book covering the 1939 Ford would be a good investment, https://shop.efv8.org/collections/ford-books/products/1938-1939-ford-book-softbound

Charlie Stephens

This message was edited by CharlieStephens on 1-4-20 @ 1:29 PM

oldfordman

01-04-2020 @ 1:14 PM

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But I do see a plate on the firewall of a lot of ‘39’s, about midway .
They have some info on them.
Thanks
Don

01-04-2020 @ 12:32 PM

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The 39 serial or vin number is on the top the left frame rail. It can be located anywhere from the firewall to the front X member. They are usually on or right near X member. G.M.

kubes40

01-04-2020 @ 12:00 PM

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Originally there was no VIN plate so at some point that plate was added.
That number means nothing in regard to authenticity.
Is that the complete number on the plate?

Mike "Kube" Kubarth

oldfordman

01-04-2020 @ 11:58 AM

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Does this number C18735 mean anything to you guys? supposedly from the vin plate.
thanks for your input,
Don

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