Vehicle Number
Vehicle Number
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,779
Likes: 557
From: Kalispell, MT
Vehicle Number
1948 vin will start with 88RC or 88HC
1949, 50 and 51 (thru Sept 15, 1951) start with 98RC or 98HC
'50 was a continuation of '49 numbers. I don't have a breakdown by year, but to give you some idea my 48 was built sometime in mid-Nov and the number is 133,xxx.
As best I remember they produced a similar number in 49 so anything much higher would be a 50 or 51. This stuff isn't very exact so the best you'll be able to do is get close.
The vin only tells:
first character - year '8' for 48, '9' for 49,50,51
second, third characters - engine series 8R for V8, 8H for 6 Cyl
fourth character - weight rating: C = 1/2 ton
Keep in mind they were built by calendar year - model year was Jan to Dec. '48's hit showrooms in mid-January 1948.
The '51 models were completely restyled in the front end and dash was different, so even tho the early vin is similar they're easy to sort out.
Mid '50 the box changed to smooth sides.
Confused yet? Hve fun with it - Tim
1949, 50 and 51 (thru Sept 15, 1951) start with 98RC or 98HC
'50 was a continuation of '49 numbers. I don't have a breakdown by year, but to give you some idea my 48 was built sometime in mid-Nov and the number is 133,xxx.
As best I remember they produced a similar number in 49 so anything much higher would be a 50 or 51. This stuff isn't very exact so the best you'll be able to do is get close.
The vin only tells:
first character - year '8' for 48, '9' for 49,50,51
second, third characters - engine series 8R for V8, 8H for 6 Cyl
fourth character - weight rating: C = 1/2 ton
Keep in mind they were built by calendar year - model year was Jan to Dec. '48's hit showrooms in mid-January 1948.
The '51 models were completely restyled in the front end and dash was different, so even tho the early vin is similar they're easy to sort out.
Mid '50 the box changed to smooth sides.
Confused yet? Hve fun with it - Tim
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Milano, Texas USA
Vehicle Number
Thanks Tim! Been outta old vehicles for about 25 years, forgot a lot. Looks like I got a 1950. Owned for about 13 yrs, just pulled up out of dirt in pasture and brought to house. Now there are a lot of homeless rats south of Milano,Tx! Originally leaning toward hot rod but now considering restoration, guess it will depend on condition of the old flathead when I pull the heads. I sold several tons of parts for these for scrap long ago. Wish I had kept some of the old reference material I used to have, not to mention the cars & trucks!. This is a great site! Just found the day I posted my question. Lots of very knowledgeable, helpful folks out there.
