Built on my Birthday?

dod03-52 · Post by **dod03-52** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 9:56 am

My 1952 M38 Ser#59148 was built 03/52. I was born 03/16/52. Is there any way to find the day mine was built?

Post by **wesk** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 11:31 am

No. Unless you get extremely lucky and know your hood number and see a dated photo of your hood number on the tail end of the assembly line at Toledo!

dod03-52 · Post by **dod03-52** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 7:50 pm

I found my hood number under 2 layers of white paint --I am going to
Mecca---I mean Toledo next August, I will look there.
The quest continues

Jeeps4Brains · Post by **Jeeps4Brains** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 8:20 pm

If that date is from the data plate that date is the date the Army accepted the Jeep.

It could have been built around that time or even late Feb. If the Jeep had issues Willys might have had to do some rework before the Army gave the ok.

Seymour · Post by **Seymour** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 9:11 pm

My USMC M38a1 has DOD 2/53.. Same DOD as my wife...so I gave it to her

Mike

alphonzo · Post by **alphonzo** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 12:52 pm

There is also a date on the back of the speedo. Is that an assembly date also? Thanks. AL

Post by **wesk** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 9:04 pm

You'll find assembly and overhaul dates quite often.

The initial Army acceptance took place at the open door at the end of the the assembly line. The Army had an approved inspector with an office right in the Willys building and it's his initials you see in the inspected by block of the serial data plate. When these jeeps were received at their using units they were inspected again but that inspection was the unit's inspection and not the Army's acceptance of the jeep which actually occurred right at Willys.