I'm going to look at a 1941 Ford pickup tomorrow, and I'm told that it does not have a VIN plate. So, where can I find the VIN stamped on the frame. OBTW, I sold my 1956 F100 to buy this '41. Thanks for the help.

 

The VIN number is located on the drivers side about 1 foot from the very front of the frame on the top. It has a star stamped before and after the VIN number. The Vin begins with a 1 that looks like an I.

Congrats on your new (old) truck and excellent choice.

 

Also if for some reason or another you pull the cab and box off the truck, the numbers are also located on the frame top under the cab, and on the hump over the rear axle.
One other place if it has the original Transmission it will be located on top of the Transmission where it bolts to the bell housing.
These frames were basically the same as the cars, & 1/2 Tons from 35-41.

I have read some where along the way that vehicles that wern't sold in the model year, example this 41. If it wasn't sold until 1942-3-4 etc it would have been registered for the year in which it was sold. I can't remember where I read it but back in those years things were a little different, unlike the registry of today.

In Canada there was a V.I.N. plate on the firewall, on Fords begining in 1946. I am told that in the U.S. the V.I.N. didn't appear until 1951. I had bought an early 47 ford Coupe, and there was no V.I.N. plate, I had all the correct paperwork, and the serial number matched the one on the frame. So I had contacted the Guy that does the V.I.N. plates and mentioned to him that I had misplaced mine.
I was promptly told that, what I have mentioned above about not appearing until 1951.

Anyway good luck with your new find, I am sure you will enjoy it, they are a very desireable Truck.

 

The VIN range for 1941 Ford V8 truck models ran between 18-5896295 = 18-6769035

70,195 half ton Ford trucks were made in 1941 for civilian use.

Before the 1950's, vehicles were (mostly) registered by the engine number. Today, it's uncommon for numbers to match, especially on Model A's and T's.

Production ended in February 1942 for all civilian vehicles. Many dealers hoarded their inventories, and despite the OPA, sold them for hundreds of dollars over the list prices which were not displayed on side windows then. The only cars produced for civilians during WWII were taxi cabs, most were made by Nash.


Prior to the late 1940's, there was no "September" introductions like there are now. New cars came out when the manufacturers felt they needed a new model. Packard for example, introduced some models over a year and a half after they introduced the last model.


Civilian production was first began in late 1945, by January 1947 most makers were in full production again.

 

Good info Bill...and the main reason I decided not to hotrod/modify my '42, something like only 7,000+ made before the shutdown.