I read it as 2 DL D 11 over 2012
2 = Vermillion Red
DL = Dallas, TX
D = April
11 = 11th
(birthday of April 11, 1949)
2012 = ?
Sorry everyone didn't remember that I already posted this info!

 

Moe, the reason for that is that Ford issued the serial numbers out of headquarters to each plant in batches.

 

Anyone confirm that this serial # looks original and not altered?

 

The R and T look odd, but I believe they are original. 1949 or 1950 V8 F4
Mark

 

And yet it's a 1950 S6 F4 =(

 

With a production number that high, I'd be confident about it being a '50. As far as the V8 vs. 6, can't help you there...

 

I agree with what Mark and Ross have posted.
What does the tag on the firewall and glovebox door indicate - same numbers?
What side is the battery located on? V8 and I6 were opposite.

 

Numbers match, battery is on drivers side.

 

Interesting - the R and T are a bit different, but no evidence whatever of being altered. While it's the exception to the rule, there are a lot of exceptions out there...

 

Then it really was a 6-banger from the factory.

 

Hello folks,
I hate to just throw my numbers out there and just ask for a translation. I scoured through this thread and figured most of it out but I still have questions. Please correct me if I'm wrong:
My vin is:
97HC315466 * RIC
9: 1950
7H: 6 cylinder
C: 1/2 ton (F-1)
315xxx: early 1950 (3-speed on the floor)
RIC: Richmond, California? or is that Virginia?


Now my biggest question is regarding the firewall stamp.
From what I'm understanding is RH (RIC on the VIN) is for Richmond (still not clear if that means California or Virginia)
As for the rest of it, I'm at a loss. I don't know what is the paint code (it's been painted over a couple times) or the manf. date. I'm primarily trying to figure out the real paint code...
. I



And here it is, with this lousy faux rust paint, right over the little bit of patina (rust haha) it once had (and still does):
(and fake white walls)

 

You have a truck that was built in Richmond, CA, Painted Sheridan Blue, built on Tuesday, 9/6/1949 and 511 down the line.Sheridan Blue

 

Thank you very much! So those letter "I" are in fact number "1" I guess...
Can I ask you how you came up with Sheridan Blue? I only ask because I've sanded down beneath this red color and only found 2 very light colors, either a gray or dull blue-ish...

 

The Richmond thing threw me for quite a while too, at first. Mine's a '56 'R' code.

Several online sources seem to refer the 'R' or 'RH' codes to Richmond, VA. Since there doesn't appear to ever have been a Ford plant here (only Norfolk), it must refer to Richmond, CA.

When I looked mine up, it said Richmond VA, which then leads to Richmond CA, and neither of those are correct either because production moved from there to San Jose between '53 and '56. So my 'R' code is actually San Jose, CA.

Confused.com!

 

RH = Richmond
FI = 1/2 ton
S = Sheridan Blue
6J = 6th of Aug
5II = 511

If someone sees it different let me know.