Marine Corp, or, Early Deuce Vin Number

[FMJ]

Is the Marine Corp VIN format for the Deuce, 1960ish, a 6 digit number? Searched around and found some threads that reference a VIN with six digits, but not the service the vehicle came from. The truck is a non-turbo water tanker and has the paperclips on the front bumper. Only numbers I can find are 6 digits. . .

 

[Recovry4x4]

Ed, what are those 5 characters? Example, my old M108 had the VIN of M30708. Air Force issue mfd by Studebaker. In 1960 they may have still been using these types of VIN numbers. I'm not aware of a different format for the G742 series for different branches of the DOD.

 

[FMJ]

Kenny, it's all numbers, 376305, on the frame, nothing on the dash. Maybe the 3 is a B? I'm at a loss. . .

Maybe something on the passenger side frame rail? as this is an old truck?

 

[FMJ]

Ed, what are those 5 characters? Example, my old M108 had the VIN of M30708. Air Force issue mfd by Studebaker. In 1960 they may have still been using these types of VIN numbers. I'm not aware of a different format for the G742 series for different branches of the DOD.

Yeah, doesn't make sense to me either, the number should be the same format regardless of the BOS. . . .

 

[FMJ]

I've got a 54 REO Deuce out in the yard, gonna check the number on that.

 

[Recovry4x4]

Reos of the day had a simple 5 digit number for a VIN. The M prefix I eluded to was exclusive to the Studebaker trucks. Deuce VINs didn't start getting uniform until the mid 60s so seeing that on a 1960 truck seems plausible. Lots of manufacturers in the days leading up to Kaiser Jeep and subsequently AM G.

 

[FMJ]

Reos of the day had a simple 5 digit number for a VIN. The M prefix I eluded to was exclusive to the Studebaker trucks. Deuce VINs didn't start getting uniform until the mid 60s so seeing that on a 1960 truck seems plausible. Lots of manufacturers in the days leading up to Kaiser Jeep and subsequently AM G.

Kenny,

I just looked at the 54 REO, 130741? on the dash plate, but it is marked as "serial number" I'll have to scrape paint to look at the frame.

 

[FMJ]

Here is a pic of the 54 REO Data plate

 

[FMJ]

Wish David Doyle was around. . . . .

 

[1958 M274]

Hi Ed,
If you found 376305 some where on your truck, it is most likely your USMC hood number. Between my Dad and I, we have owned several USMC vehicles from the 1960's. All of the hood numbers, regardless of vehicle size, have been six digits, and all started with "3". We've had a few later vehicles as well, and they were also six digits, but started with "5".

 

[FMJ]

Trying to determine the year, for title purposes, hood number and serial number the same animal?

 

[1958 M274]

Some vehicles from that era, like Marine Corps contract M151A1s, used that number as both the hood number and serial number on the data plate. Most of our other USMC vehicles still have a manufacturers serial number on the data plate. Cant say for sure about M44 series trucks, never had one of those that was an original Marine Corps vehicle.