A few weeks ago I purchased a 51 F1 from a fellow member Brit_Wheels_Fan and I found that he never listed the info here. I actually know the info on the truck, but I wanted to post it so that it can be included in this 'data base' of sorts.

Serial number F1R1CH21718

F1= half ton short bed
R1= 239 cu in V8 (flathead)
CH= Chicago Plant
21718= Consecutive unit number

Firewall stamping CH D 16D 34J

CH= Chicago Plant
D- Color - Alpine Blue
16D= Production Date April 16
34J= Internal plant code

 

Maybe it would be good to start a 51/52 vin thread? I'll let somebody else keep that data - I'd love to know if each plant ran their own serial string..... because it wasn't collective like on 48-50's

 

The 51/52 serial #'s really don't need any further dissection to get the info, and the changes were pretty minor. I believe each plant did their own numbers, I can't recall seeing a number higher than about 35000.

 

I'd be curious about the serial numbers. LMC, who I think is wrong, claims that some early 51's (prior to Sept. 15,1951) were given the 49-50 serial numbers starting with 98. My truck tends to dispel that since it was built in April of 51 and starts with the F1R1.... I think that the Data Plate change may have been Sept.
Just for the sake of curiosity, I will start a new thread for the 51-52 trucks and I will set up a database to see the comparisons. I'll go back through this thread and enter the 51-52's already posted.

 

I just purchased a 1948 frame... or maybe not. Can someone please ID the number I found on the passenger's side top frame rail

93RC 435850
from my research, 93RC indicates a 1949 - not a 48
Can anyone confirm? He also said it originally had a flathead V8
thank you
dave

 

I believe if you look closer you'll see the number starts with 98RC, not 93. The beginning 9 was used in 49 and 50. 8R indicates 239 V8, C is half ton F1, and with a unit number that high, it would be a 1950 model.

 

thank you very much for the info... I'll take another look at the frame and check for a 98 vs. 93
I'm not too concerned if it's a 48/49 or 50 - just nice to know
thanks again
dave

 

I guess I should have mentioned 93 was not an option. The serial strings started with either 97H for 6 cylinder, or 98R for 49/50 V8 F1's.

 

Hi guys. New to the forum. I just pulled a 49 or 50 flat bed F1 out of the woods in amazing condition considering it was parked in the woods and sunk in the dirt since before 1964.

Here is the tag info I found. I would appreciate if you could help me decode all of this.

Vin tag on pass side of firewall reads *98RC*372615*KC

Firewall stampings read 2 KC 25D277

Glove box tag reads 98RC 33 72615 (note, the first 3 is very faint and hard to read).

The truck apprears to be a F1, V8, stick shift, with Ford OEM stake bed. Originally painted Red. It has the pickup style running boards (they are longer with holes that would attach to the rear fenders) but the stake bed is definely a Ford stake bed because it has the Ford Logo imprinted on the back. The remaining wood and stake bed are the same color as the interior of the body (red) but I am wondering if the numbers show this was originally a pickup. Could the pickup bed have been changed to a stake bed at the dealership before delivery? Please let me know what you think.

 

I think that first "3" is probably a "goof" by the stamper, who then redid it correctly. Other than that, your two numbers match. I suspect it has something to do with the punch used. The truck serial number FOR THAT CAB is 372615. The KC is for the Kansas City plant where it was built. The 98 indicates a 1950 as that serial number is higher than the 49 cutoff (I think)... experts should be along any minute to clarify my gibberish.

I say that is the serial number for the cab because the only valid serial number for the truck is stamped into the top right frame rail just ahead of the motor mount. If you can verify that number matches the two you've found, *98RC*372615*, then that is the correct number for your entire truck.

Here's where I found my frame stamp.

 

Thanks for the info. I think you are right about the first "3". I did not realize those numbers were so close to each other. After looking at the pictures again, it does seem to be a misprint in the tag.

I can't get to the frame yet as the hood is stuck in position so I am oiling the hinge points to try and get it to move. My bet is the frame number will match. The truck was parked in the woods around 1960-64 and was never touched from that point forward except for "some kid" breaking the windows out of it (that kid is the guy in the yellow shirt in the picture....I jokingly told his mom that he would not be getting away with it as I would be invoiceing him for the cost of the new glass...LOL).

 

Joe has the serial number.

Firewall tells:

2 - Vermillion Red
KC - Kansas City plant
25D - 25 April 1950 assembly date
277 - anybody's guess (in-house numbering system)

They made F1 flatbeds, but the length of your running boards looks like this was after-market modification. (Those would have attached to the pickup fenders - flatbed running boards are much shorter and stop at the back of the cab)

Nothing from the factory indicates what it would have been originally. Enjoy!

 

Need some assistance to decode my VIN: 87HT29396
Believe 1948 F-6?
It has wood bed, dualie. Did they make a F1 dualie? Thanx.

 

Actually, the numbers decode as a 1948 F-5 with the 226 flathead 6 cylinder engine. (F6 would read TH instead of just T before the unit number. There were no F1 duallies. Welcome to the forum!

 

Well thanx. I had a dodge pick-up 1950 previously. I don't have the truck yet in my possession, but once I do I'll confirm the VIN. They said F6.