pasture m-38 find

bobatwarsaw · Post by **bobatwarsaw** » Wed Dec 18, 2013 6:55 pm

what does the md vin plate fit?

Post by **wesk** » Thu Dec 19, 2013 12:44 am

Let's get the terminology correct for the 50's jeeps. There were no VIN's before 1972. Only factory serial numbers. A VIN is a federal requirement that requires a very long alpha/numeric entry that includes the make, model, year, build location, and some other data and finally at the end the actual factory serial number.

Willys military vehicle data plates on the dash and patent plates on the wheel house show the basic 5 digit serial number and the Willys model code. Up til 1964 the model code for the M38 was MC, for the M38A1 was MD and for the M170 was MD-A. The M stands for military and the A, B, C, D, D-A is the series. In 1964 a 5 digit model code was placed in use by Kaiser Jeep. The M38, M38A1 and M170 all carried their patent plates on the front of the right rear wheel house.

The top shelf question right now is: WHICH SERIAL NUMBER IS ON YOUR TITLE????????

Bob,
You can clear up your location and model jeep owned by updating your profile. You can list your city/state in your location block and in your signature block you can place your real name and year/model of jeep owned.

oilleaker1 · Post by **oilleaker1** » Thu Dec 19, 2013 6:15 am

I think Bob the originality of your jeep is what fascinates most of us when finding a Jeep. I know it sounds crazy, but I would be tempted to try and preserve the look it has. They are only that way once and people like me are drawn to look at it because it's original. I see leaf cutter bee mud piles and I'm betting they got into the vent port of your carburetor. No hoses to the carb and I see the plugs out with oil stains means it's stuck. Mine was just like that. The real kicker is it was in your division of service! That makes it the most special Jeep for you. Glad you can save it from a miserable death by someone who wants a rockcrawler. Did you find the engine #?

RICKG · Post by **RICKG** » Thu Dec 19, 2013 9:56 am

bobatwarsaw wrote:what does the md vin plate fit?

I know it's a stretch Bob but I'd check the MD55915 wheelhouse
plate against the dash data plate on the A-1 in the backround and
the 66535 dash plate on your M-38 against the wheelhouse plate
on the A-1. Not likely but perhaps they were switched..

And Wes asked the million$$ question, WHAT SN IS ON THE TITLE??

bobatwarsaw · Post by **bobatwarsaw** » Thu Dec 19, 2013 7:50 pm

hi all
i didnt get a title with the jeep but i will get one
thru texas dps, i have got one before. the m38
isent at my house at the time, about 25 miles
away at a friend place. hope to get there
tommorrow to look for the engine number
so if i am correct i should apply for the title
with the serial 66535 number

if any other pics are wanted let me know
thanks bob

Bretto · Post by **Bretto** » Thu Dec 19, 2013 8:18 pm

Should he add the 'MC' in front of that serial # when he goes for the title?

BullRun · Post by **BullRun** » Thu Dec 19, 2013 9:44 pm

Pretty amazing find! I second that suggestion to get the A1 and the trailer if you can. That is a very unusual find anymore.

Post by **wesk** » Thu Dec 19, 2013 10:23 pm

I don't know the rules at the Texas DMV. If you are presenting a Bill of Sale you received with the jeep then you will have to use whatever is on the Bill of Sale.

If you have no paper on the jeep then start the DMV conversation with:

Make: Willys
Model: MC (If MC is not enough for them just tack on [Jeep] after the MC)
Serial: 66535
Date of manufacture: May 1952