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Fred Crismon's book U.S. Military Wheeled Vehicles show an M38 photo from Detroit Arsenal dated 1-50. does not say how mant prototypes there were

There were six. Contract number W-20-089 Ord 4758 USA Registration numbers 2368159 through 2368164.

Ken,

Those photos are also in the French book: Jeep Le tout-terrain de lat leberte'

I bought the book when I was at the D-day museum at Caen.

It's all in French, but has good photos.

and thats the contract number shown on the plate in the tm9-804...interesting

The two Detroit Arsenal photos show only the first two and the last two digits as the Blackout light is in the way.

23XXX64

The photos are listed as June 1950

The TM9 804 is listed a published September 29, 1950
(signed by the authority command anyway)

That narrows it down some as I would think that the TM would be released just prior to or at the same time as the M38.

A vehicle without a maintinance manual would be unusual wouldn't it?

are we looking at the same book?

Ken,

The two photos I have came out of that French book.

One photo is of the M38 with the winter top and the snorkel. The other photo has the artic top with a snorkel and the heater kit.

Both jeeps have the same hood number and are taken at the same angle.

Yes, I am aware to push up a VERY old topic but, please, let me explain:

I live in Spain (Europe) and I have recently bought a M38 here from a reseller. I am now doing some research and what what was my big surprise?
It is the M38 mentioned in the first post of this topic!!

So: It seems my M38 has travelled a lot in the last 10 years!
Of course, I know it was brought to Spain by ?? some years ago. When imported, guys from the Spanish National Guard (who do de border control) picked away the machine guns, as well a part of the radio, that were considered dangerous items Yes, we don't have your gun laws here, and no NRA to help us.

I would like soo much to have some more information of the history of my M38!!
Rumours say it has been for many years in some Museum in the USA?

Also, I am struggling with serial numbers to see if I can estimate the real age? I know some of them are clearly fake, but then some of them could be real??
Let me list you what I have, until now:

ID PLATE:
MFR. SER. NUMBER MC12751
DATE DEL. 6/11/50
CONTRACT NUMBER is DA-33-019 ORD.-630
should be? DA-20-018 ORD.-9196?

ENGINE MC83307

Frontal Chassis number MS5578 Yes: M"S" it says!?

Plate behind passenger seat MS5578 (obviously fake)

HOOD 20460040 (This is badly new with vinyl stickers)
I've read it should be around 2368xxx ??


Well: Still discovering. Really hope to find some help here!!
Thank you all in advance!

I can't find the photos of the referenced jeep. The old links are long since dead.

To answer some of your questions:

ID PLATE:
MFR. SER. NUMBER MC12751 This serial delivered Roughly April 1951
DATE DEL. 6/11/50 This date is incorrect
CONTRACT NUMBER is DA-33-019 ORD.-630 This contract number was opened in 1952
should be? DA-20-018 ORD.-9196? This contract was delivered late Jan-Aug 51

MOTOR MC83307 This would be a 1951 engine

Frontal Chassis number MS5578 Yes: M"S" it says!? No idea of meaning or source

Plate behind passenger seat MS5578 (obviously fake)

HOOD 20460040 (This is badly new with vinyl stickers)
I've read it should be around 2368xxx ??

I believe your jeep is simply a hodge podge of many different jeep parts and tags were stamped by some civilian completely at random.

Thank you Wesk!

I will go on looking for more serials on other parts, so to pin down more the dates that go with them.