M38 Patent Plates

[wesk]

The ORD Serial block was left blank.

The patent plate was marked MD 78343 There's the equivalent of 5 digits space between the MD and the &.

[wesk]

Hello North shore,

Can you post or send me a larger & more detailed photo of the front of your plates?

My email is wsknettl@centurytel.net

[RchLovn]

Mine is
MC 209XX
Going by other's serial numbers and your M38 Data Base, mine is in the range of May 1951. It is Forest Green over Olive Drab. It also has the early DANA with the oval covers.

My dad and brother's M38 is
MC 300XX
and that one has a dash Data Plate that reads
8 - 51
and the Responsible Agency / Procurement Data Plate reads
MARINE CORPS. Painted Forest Green over Olive Drab with original Combat Wheels and even the Goodyear dated 1952 Mil tires with a 4 Digit Yellow Drab Number on one of the tires(yes, the tire and is original).

[Steff]

Hi Wes

My number is MC 43708 and built in 07.51. The plat e is black
I send you a picture with E-mail


Stephan[/img]

[north-shore]

Hello North shore,

Can you post or send me a larger & more detailed photo of the front of your plates?

My email is wsknettl@centurytel.net

Hi,
here one plate

[wesk]

Hello North Shore,

Thanks for the photo. What is the serial number of the M38A1 CDN plates you have on your photo page?

[tufneck]

what is the correct thing to do if my M38 has no serial plates at all?..is it common to use plates purchased from other jeeps?

[wesk]

Most state governments have laws against doing that. Many folks do that and many are successful. Yet many end up finding out the hard way that that serial is already registered to another person and you end up defending yourself against a stolen vehicle charge.

Most states have provisions for your situation. Some will provide a titling and registration of a "Vehicle assembled from spare parts" and they will assign a state VIN . Some allow you to post a bond and they will then issue a VIN so you can title and register the vehicle.

Before you make an important decision like this one that may end up with you in court you should contact your State Police and DMV for the what ifs.

[tufneck]

how badly will a restored M38's value suffer with a DMV assigned VIN due to missing plates? Will they assign a long 17 digit VIN and force me to mount it in a bad spot? Thanks Wes.

[wesk]

Where you must mount their VI depends on the state. Again, they are the guys to ask those questions of.

With two identically restored jeeps side by side and one has an original serial plate and one has a state assigned VIN I would estimate a 1-5% drop in price. That drop would not be based on any solid ground. Just the prospective buyers lack of knowledge about how easily the M series post WWII jeep screw on data plates can be moved from jeep to jeep.

This always brings back my old motor pool story. The motor pool Sgt sends two privates out to the storage area on Friday afternoon to gather up all the M38A1 data plates from the jeeps and bring them in to re-stamp the tire pressure change on them. Then about 1500 hours the same two privates are sent back to the storage yard to re-install them. Now it's Friday afternoon, both guys have dates and the job will take twice as long if they match the serial plate to the correct jeep.

What do you think happens here?

This is just an honest example. Now try to imagine how many M38's and M38A1's have been scrapped, junked, parted out and how many really have their original serial plates.

[jerry72]

1) MC 64434
2) 4/52
3) Light
4)2,125,526 2,184,553 2,154,929
2,407,178 2,238,649 D-148,579
5) Light Background

Sorry Wesk I tried to attach pictures here but could not. How do I post pictures.
I have them on my album section.

[Maverick135]

New member here! Just bought my M38.

MC 44438
Ordnance Stock Number: 6795525
Contract Number: DA-33-019-ORD-43
Date: 12/51

Appears to be brass with black or dark paint over.

Pics to follow.