As suggested by George, the purpose of this thread is to try and determine what the VIN sequence # cut off is between the 1949 and 1950 Ford Trucks. It would also be a good opportunity to try and identify the VIN # cut-off for other little 1950 oddities like the raised panel bed being converted to a flat panel bed and the floor shift three speed versus column shift three speed.

Best way to do this is probably to ask for the following information:

1 - Year truck is registered as (or believed to be)
2 - VIN # (The whole thing including the 98RC, 98RD, etc.)
3 - Bed - Raised Panel or flat panel
4 - Is this the original bed
5 - Transmission
6 - Column shift or floor shift
7 - # stamped into the firewall if you have one.

?'s 3-6 may not be relavent if the truck has had major mods but if you know anything about what was there it would be helpful. I'll be sure to keep results updated. I need to figure out how to set up a link to the spreadsheet or data base I use.

Participation is obviously voluntary but would be greatly appreciated. Any other information on the truck you may want to provide would also be welcomed.

Sugggestions for other information to collect are also being welcomed.

Thanks,

Carl Gustafson - a.k.a Texan 2004

 

Truck - 1950 F3 (but you probably guessed that already)
Serial No. - *98RY*395273*SP
Bed's original and raised panel
Non synchro
Floor shift
No discernable number stamped on firewall

This was nice timing as the engine came out Saturday and I powerwashed the firewall.

Anything else?
Dave

 

Carl,

This will be a great database!! When I get back home I will gather my info and get it posted

Thanks
Bobby

 

That does it. Appreciate the response.

There are some folks who numbers have turned up on here from time to time. If responses are slow, I may try contacting throuhg PM to see if it is alright to add their VIN's to the D-base as well.

 

Truck !950 F1
Serial # 97HC 302953 AT
Bed Raised Panel
Original
3 Speed non synchro
floor shift
# on Fire wall A30F-211

Bill

 

Thank you for the reply Bill. Yours has been added. BTW - My wife and I really like the Cocoa Beach area.

 

Carl, I've collected more than 30 vins for 49/50 trucks, most from here, bonusbuilt and ebay. Do you want these? No way to give credit or find owners, but all were posted on public forums.

Also I've been collecting 48 vins 'cause I'm finding the 49/50 serial number string continued where '48 left off. For instance, I don't believe you'll ever find a '49 with a serial number below 166979.......... the cutoff for '48 6 cylinder trucks.

Let me know if you want them. I don't have much info beyon vins - very little re: rear window/shifter/box style, etc.

 

Tim,

I would be very interested in what you may already have. I've seen you post on this subject in the past and you seem to be the resident expert on the subject. I've actually taken a few of your comments posted in other threads related to this subject and pasted them to the spredsheet I set up yesterday. I intend to use these comments as a point of reference/funny look test for information that I receive.

Any other items I might want to quiz for here aside from the floor/column shift and flat/raised panel beds that have historically been a source of confusion on the 1950 trucks? You input is definitely valued.

Carl

 

I'll try to clean up the data - it's pretty raw at the moment. Happy to help in the chase for F series truck info. Will post as soon as I get it sorted out.
Tim

 

OK, here's what I have on 49/50's. Questionable years are marked with * and all are from ebay descriptions - no surprise there.
Offhand I'd say the split comes between 268181 and 274323. Notice all small windows and no late bedsides until the 400,000's


1949/50
raw data collected from a variety of sources, unknown reliability

* 97HY 192924 50 F3
98RC 197326 49 F1 (sm window, early bed)
97HY 197845 D AL 49 F3
98RC 201131 49 F2
* 97HC 232367 50 F1
97HD 242108 49 F2
98RC 250232 49 F1
98RD 268181 49 F2

97HC 274323 50 F1
98RC 274860 50 F1
98RC 281519 50 F1
97HC 281890 50 F1 (sm window)
98RC 290244 50 F1
97HC 300023 50 F1 (sm window, early bed)
97HC 302953AT 50 F1 (early bed)
98RY 303898 50 F3 (sm window)
98RD 316403 50 F2
98RC 321671 50 F1
97HC 323982RIC 50 F1
98RC 359104 KC 50 F1 (sm window, early bed)
98RY 378642 SP 50 F3 (sm window)
98RC 379001 50 F1 (sm window)
* 98RC 380593 49 F1
98RC 386852 50 F1 (early bed)
98RC 388218 DL 50 F1 (sm window, early bed)
98RY 395273 50 F3
98RC 398423 50 F1 (sm window, early bed, registered as ‘51)
* 98RC 455181 49 F1 (sm window)
98RC 462310AT 50 F1 (sm window, late bed)
98RC 468153CH 50 F1 (sm window, late bed)

 

And for the 48 guys:

VINS 1948-50 F series trucks

1948

88RT 17274 48 COE
88RT 30799 48 F5 COE
88RC 59028
87HY 100027 48 F3
88RT 120934 48 F7
88RC 121558 48 F1
88RC 121684 48 F1
88RD 126079 48 F2
87HD 127452 48 F2
88RC 128358 48 F1
88RC 133323 48 F1
87HD 143099 48 F2

 

Oh, great, the pressure's on! Carl, I'm no expert. Just happened to gather some odds and ends of info that might be helpful to sorting this all out.

In fact, some of my earlier ramblings might be suspect. I always thought Ford started the vin serial numbers over at 101 when they changed the vin in 49 - until about 6 months ago when it dawned on me I'd never seen one below 150K. That's when I started seriously gathering the vins. Thus my data is pretty raw.

Now I'm to the point where I think Ford continued with the same serial number string from Jan 16, 1948 thru Sept 15, 1951. warning: This assumption could change with additional information.

Thanks for compiling this garbage into a spreadsheet of useful info.
Tim

 

My truck "Willard" (Name bu PO)

49 F-1
Seriel # 98RC254726
Raised panels on bed
Original
3 speed light duty trans
Floor shifter
Stamped # IbRH4k238

What is the significance of the stamping in the cowl? I have a 50 F-6 cab that has no stamping.

 

For the 1948 info if needed

88RC 133732 - 48 F1 Panel

 

Willard,
They vary from one assembly plant to another, but it's thought they indicate assembly info and some don't have any markings:
color - Ib is really 16 -- Was your truck originally yellow?
plant - RH (richmond)
day - 4th
month - October (Ford didn't use the letter 'I' for a month)
unit number assembled - 238

Thanks, Dick - I'll tuck that away with the rest.