New member, my first M38A1

smokey1 · Post by **smokey1** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 3:20 pm

Recently purchased a 1953 M38A1 which I believe to be a first gen A1.
The paper title reads- 56,8xx

Since I do not have the orginal patent plate does this serial number seem to fit into the known range of 53' M38A1 first gen jeeps with the following visual clues described: 45 deg angled fender lines, hinged front grill, free standing rad, thumbscrew(s) battery box lid.

I would like to get a patent plate made as the orginal is missing.

Is there a particular prefix before the 5 digit serial number? Also, is there a specific patent plate background color for this year/type?

Thanks in advance and look forward to spending much time on the forum while undertaking the restoration process.

Post by **Ryan_Miller** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 7:18 pm

That serial number would put your jeep as a mid 1953 M38A1.

The big changes in the rad guard (grill) and fenders (first change) occurred shortly after at around vehicle MD60406 (10/53)

The serial number plate should have an MD in front of the serial number.

smokey1 · Post by **smokey1** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 9:48 pm

Great news! Thank you for the info.

Post by **wesk** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 10:12 pm

A few sample Patent plates:

MD18424 9/52

MD22696

MD67900

A few sample dash serial plates:

MD18424 9/52

MD19232 9/52

MD56810 9/53

MD64637 11/53

smokey1 · Post by **smokey1** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:25 am

Excellent!

Wow, they were cranking these things out! MD56810 9/53 to MD 64637 11/53 is 7827 jeeps between those two tags during that period. Is there a known production count by year/month that is available?

Also, noticed in one of the dash plates that there is a order ser. number-is that usually blank on the ones you listed or is it just the camera angles and/or that the tags is just worn down.

What is the inspection marking and "EPM" on the last line of those dash plate tags?

Post by **Ryan_Miller** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 12:44 pm

Most of the M38A1 vehicles were produced between 1952 and 1955.

The Army was already looking to newer jeeps even before the first M38A1 was produced and had a prototype of the M151 built in late 1952 by Ford.

EPM has been a hot topic. Prior to and during WWII, the Officer in charge (OIC) of inspections for a particular district would have his initials stamped by the inspectors when ordnance was approved.

After WWII, the Ordnance department went through a lot of changes. We have not been able to verify what EPM stands for at this time. It could be the OIC of the inspectors or the acronym for an inspection agency within the ordnance department after WWII.

Post by **wesk** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 6:55 pm

The "ORD SER NUM" lines are blank.

Of 101,400 M38A1's built from Jul 1952 thru 1971, 25,191 were built in 1952, 33,803 in 1953, 9,560 in 1954, 8,826 in 1955, 3,166 in 1956, 1,050 in 1957, 780 in 1958, 1,273 in 1959, 2,673 in 1960, 434 in 1961, 2,957 in 1962, 4,369 in 1963, 2,622 in 1964, 578 in 1965, 320 in 1966, 840 in 1967, 1,906 in 1968, 0 in 1969, 0 in 1970 and 596 in 1971. As you can see clearly almost 70 % were built in the first 2 years.

As Ryan mentions the M151 project started in 1952 but didn't see fruition until 1959 and when they first entered service not all military units were very happy with them. Most of the 1960 thru 1964 M38A1 contracts were for the USMC who did not care for the M151 at all.

With all the heavy discussions over the years it has never been put to rest. One thing is certain it represents the final acceptance inspection authority for the US Army Ordnance Dept.