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Hey guys, so I am in the process of getting the ministry paperwork sorted out for my truck and they are telling me I need to break down all the info on the data plate for them. I’ll attach a pic and maybe you guys can help me out. I’ve googled other plates but mine just doesn’t make any sense. Like why does it say A and Red where I think the colour code would be. Any help is appreciated so I can get this sorted out. Also can’t use the vin on the frame as the previous owner had to replace the frame as it was rotted right through. Thanks guys
It appears someone sandblasted your plate. If your truck was build in Canada it would have been built in either Oakville or Windsor , tag would look like this if from either plant..
A color code is Raven Black for a 55 Not sure what red would be unless it was for two tone or interior color.
17 17th day
M December
2217 scheduled manufacture number
Is this US or Canada?
Have you determined what the original color was?
Most of my work on serial/vin numbers has been 48-52 US. Canada did their own thing with data plates.
It's possible A code is for Black exterior. Canada often included interior trim colors which may be the RED but I'm just guessing here.
The 17 M is likely 17 Dec assembly
2213 is probably the DSO code with no way to decipher
So I bought it from a guy here in Canada but he said it came from Texas in the 80s. The RED part is confusing me greatly
Yeah, I have nothing on RED - there isn't even a space for that on the data plate.
The Richmond assembly plant by the way was in California which would make sense with the Texas origination. (Virginia plant was Norfolk)
John's post shows what a Canada plate would look like.
It seems to be a US data plate and not a Canadian and decodes according per my first response above. Maybe the ministry would be satisfied with "Color Code", "Color Name", and "Factory Production Code" for the last bits. And if the truck isn't currently RED, so be it - many vehicles have been repainted.
You've got good info here. The only thing I would add is the RED likely means red two-toned roof on a black (code A) truck. I looked at my 56-57 catalog just to make sure there wasn't an update that didn't get referenced in my catalog, and interior trim colors weren't added yet to the rating plate, so that's the only thing that makes sense. Here's the decode page from the 1955 Chassis Parts Catalog for US production trucks like yours you may find helpful. The 17M2213 is the production code, identifying your assembly date as 17 December, 1954. Most times we see the numbers are stamped closer together than you have on your plate, but that's it. The guy running the plate stamper that day apparently wanted it to look symmetrical and pretty with more even spacing. He nailed it.
From the for what-it's-worth department, the R for the manufacturing plant is for Richmond California, not Richmond Virginia, as some may believe. In 1956, production shifted to San Jose California, which is a few miles south of Richmond, basically on the opposite (southern) end of San Francisco Bay. The trucks assembled in San Jose in 1956 and after retained the R as the manufacturer up until the San Jose plant closed down.
Last edited by 55RoundTwo; Feb 15, 2024 at 05:15 AM.
Reason: clarity
If that is paint on the tag soak a rag in lacquer thinner and put it on the tag until the paint starts coming off and repeat till it is to your liking it should leave the original black on the tag.
Could be, it’s not pitted anywhere or have any texture that sandblasting tends to leave. I got it this way so it’s a mystery on all fronts. I’m tackling the ministry next week so we’ll see how it goes. Eventually I’ll get a new one. I know mid fifty use to sell them, does anyone know where to get them now that midfifty is closing?
