Can anyone help decipher this VIN or Body Number (may not relate to VIN) off my car, Model A 5 Window. Body Number 195-1841. Not sure if it's a 28 or 29 for starters. I only have the body. Thanks Much !!
Model a did not have VIN on body -- VIN (serial number) is on engine and frame. what's a 5 window? Coupes and tudors have 5 windows.
Personally, I'm waiting for the "Model As didn't have a VIN, they had a serial number. VINs didn't exist until 1981" post, which I'm sure someone will surely add shortly, as they always do.
yes, you need a frame for a serial number, it would be on top of the frame rail behind the steering box, under the front left of the cab/body. the number on the firewall tag will not help.
The VIN/Ser number for a Model A is stamped into the frame in two places.. The first stamping place will be adjacent to the cowl location on the frame.. The second location is on the frame on the rear end hump.. Ford did not use engine numbers and/or body numbers as a means of identification.. If you do not have a Model A frame with a good clear number, you might be up the proverbial creek without a paddle..
blucar, I did know about the stamping on the rear, is that on the rear crossmember? center? top, front or rear?
Model A frames don't have a rear end hump. And I've never seen a serial number stamped on a rear crossmember.
The body number which you have is only related to the plant the body was made at. If you search some of the Model Restoration sites, they break it down to what plant it may have been built at. This number is not related to the serial number which it would be titled under.
Perhaps he means top of rear X member.. "At the time of vehicle final assembly, the pre-existing engine number was also stamped on the vehicle frame in one or more locations (top of LH frame rail near Number One body bolt, LH frame rail top towards rear, and rear crossmember on top). (note: Frame-stamped serial numbers are typically not found on Canadian-built Model A's)" from http://www.fordgarage.com/pages/ABenginenumbers.htm Although I have only looked under the left side cowl.
VIN/Serial Number... is like potato, potato.. The terminology evolved because the serial numbers used actually started to mean something, identifying engines, trans, etc. in lieu of just being a numbering system, as used by Ford for one...
Model A frames don't have an X member either. I guess we aren't helping the op's question.... but My current 29 didn't have a frame number, but I had the original engine that matched the title so I was good to go. But the cowl stamped number was never used for VIN/Serial number purposes. Those were production number stampings.
Not to get off topic but isn't there supposed to be a number stamped on the body on the passengers side floor? I am not sure what the number means but my dads truck has one, Its right in front of the seat if you lift up the wood floor. I always assumed it was the date it was built like the number stamped on the drivers side of the gas tank.
This was the production number of that particular body style at that plant. Say the 1245th coupe produced at Saint Louis is: STL 1245 http://www.fordgarage.com/pages/assemblyplantbodynumbers.htm .
There is a slight hump in the rear of the Model A frame were the rear leaf spring rests in and then the large U-bolts are secured for holding. The serial number is stamped on the left side of the frame in the area of pedals and steering box areas. The number stamped on the engine area is not recognized by most State DMV departments because of multiple engine changes of the years.
my model A has two vin stampings. one is where it should be, and I stamped it again in front of that, where it can be seen.
Thats good to know all I have is a frame and cowl whitch always looked differant on the firewall than most I think it is a briggs body but only guessing.
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