Thanks Joe - here's my 52 F2

F2R2SP19662
5700 GVRW
122" WB
96 @3400
4 spd
4.86 rear
Color N and appears to have always been Meadow Green
Prod Code: 5A 4044X

 

I'm not aware that 52 date codes used the secondary month codes. I don't know why they would have done that, since the serial number was changed with the current model year with no 1/2 year overlap. I've got 3 52's that I'll need to check. I'll stand by my date code, and 2 December 1951 makes sense, to me, for an early 52 model.

 

CH we already know is Chicago
A= Black
4D= April 4
23OK2= plant code

 

Are you sure about the N?
N= Vermillion RED

 

Wayne, this is what I am using as a source for the codes

 

And what they're saying about first year/second year is in the case where a new model year was released prior to the typical model year changeover. The easiest one to use as an example is the 65 Mustang, which was actually began production in February, 64. Commonly known as a 64 1/2 in the hobby, that designation was not used by Ford. It was always a 65 Mustang, and the date codes follow the first year codes for 1964 production, and all Mustangs built for the 65 Model year in 65 use the 'second year' code letters. When 66 production began in September, 65, they used the first year letters. Again, I don't know of any reason Ford would have used the second year codes if the model wasn't released a year early. It's an example of what the codes mean, not necessarily that second year codes were used for 52. I guess we'll see as the info in the thread fills in.

 

MTFlat's truck is a '52, built in StPaul on Jan. 5th 1952, ser. # 19662 (date code 5A)
Firstrider's truck is a '52, also built in StPaul, build date Nov 13th '51, ser. #17824 (date code 13L)

That kinda makes sense as far as there being 1838 trucks made in 53 days at that plant (although that's only 35 trucks/day, single shift? F-1's only? Christmas/Thanksgiving shutdowns?). But for the '51 build date to use the 2nd year codes and the '52 to use 1st year codes isn't logical.

 

We KNOW that the 51's used the 'first year' codes. And there is a lot of things that Ford (an others) did back then that doesn't seem logical. So far, I only have 3 '52's with codes and they do all 'seem' to be using the 'first year' codes. I'll wait till we get more '52's and see if the codes change.
We know that they used the first year codes for the 48,49 & 50 models, so the only thing that lines up with first and second, is if you look at things like the plant codes where they broke them down, 51/52, 53/54 and 56. That is the 'logic' that I used to figure out the years. Maybe they never really used that system after they published the books.

 

If that were true, Ross' truck would have had to be built in December '52, because if his was a 52 built in 51, based on your example it would have to have an Z date code.

 

I'm sure about the N on the F2.

I have a 52 F6 color code M that has always been red as far as I can tell (behind the gas tank and way up under the dash.

I'll get the rest of the details tomorrow.

 

All I can say is.....

 

Don't exclude the human error aspect. This first pic is my green 51, correct with an M. The second pic is my 52, also with an M, but red everywhere. Stu

 

I'm not saying the book is wrong.... only what I have doesn't agree - that's the value of this registry

Here is my F2 N code - I'm pretty sure the logger who owned it originally didn't waste $$ on repainting it. He was a neighbor...

 

I'll record the colors, color codes, date codes and other info as provided and see if we can figure out why the differences.
As far as the date codes, so far it does look like they all used the same 'first year' codes.

 

Interesting that so far the color code issue, with the exception of your 52 above is limited to the Twin City (St Paul) plant. Also curious that in the plant code on that truck it has SP in it. Is it possible that part of this truck was done in St Paul and part of it in Detroit? I believe that M-H was in Indianapolis, could the truck had been built in St. Paul, then shipped to M-H and returned to Detroit for some kind of final assembly?