Something Interesting I found for my 34

[Ian_Greenlaw]

In a previous thread I wrote that the following were my serial / data numbers I found on my Dodge :

Body Number ( stamped on the firewall ) – RH 38240

Engine Number ( on the side of the engine block ) – DR-01303

Top of head of engine – 620027-2

Serial Number is 3736886

Written in paint on the inside of the body, right side near the rear window is Empire Maroon, RHD, DR

This is a Budd Body not a Richards Body.

I was searching through my parts to see what I have ( and haven't ) and came across an oval data plate for the firewall which reads :

"DR 40500 S"

Its interesting that this little plate number and that stamped in the firewall are different.

Has anyone else got something similar or can shed light on these two numbers ?

Ian

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[Manuel]

Hi Ian,

According to my book:

620027--Is the no for the Cylinder Head, cast iron, standard compression.

Serial no 3736886--This is a Detroit built car. Serial no. started at 3,680,001 for DR and DRX [small bore engine]. So yours is the 56,885 car built [according to my maths].

Cars were also built in Canada.

HTH

Manuel in Oz

[Guest 1930]

I will add to what Manuel wrote and maybe it will help. Serial # 368001 was first car built in series with engine number of DR-1009 built on 12-11 1933.

I am confused in that you state above Serial Number is 3736886 but you dont indicate where you have found this number. Is this the number you mention as being stamped into firewall? Can you show a pic. of where it is stamped, I know very little about the 34 model cars and can only refer to what info I have gathered but it would be my understanding that if that were your serial number that it would start with DR and then finish with 3736886.

Seems odd to me as well that the number would be stamped into the firewall but again maybe this is how it was done in later years and look forward to you confirming that and teaching me something.

I guess my question is could the number which I am assuming be stamped into your firewall not be the serial number but some other identification and the data plate that you found be the correct serial number for your car instead?

Thanks by the way for providing all of your important numbers, the only info you you left out was the exact location of your vehicle at all times, I need this info for ...............research purposes :eek:

Edited January 19, 2012 by 1930 (see edit history)

[ply33]

... I know very little about the 34 model cars and can only refer to what info I have gathered but it would be my understanding that if that were your serial number that it would start with DR and then finish with 3736886...

As noted above, that serial number is for a Detroit built Dodge. My "decoder" page produces the following for that number:

<table><tbody><tr><th align="right">Serial Number</th><td>3736886</td></tr> <tr><th align="right">Found in range</th><td>3680001 to 3756367</td></tr> <tr><th align="right">Serial</th><td>56886 of 76367</td></tr> <tr><th align="right">Year</th><td>1934</td></tr> <tr><th align="right">Make</th><td>Dodge</td></tr> <tr><th align="right">Model Name</th><td>Six</td></tr> <tr><th align="right">Model Code</th><td>DR</td></tr> <tr><th align="right">Engine</th><td>6 cylinder 217.8 cu.in. L-head</td></tr> <tr><th align="right">Wheelbase</th><td>117 inches</td></tr></tbody></table>

In that era for US built Chrysler cars the serial number will not have an engineering model code prefix, it will be just a numeric string. And it will be on the right front door hinge post (passenger side for US style left hand drive).

On the Plymouth side of things, the body number tag found on the firewall varies quite a bit. Different shape of tag and different sequences of letters/numbers depending on the body supplier. I expect that is also true of Dodges.

[Guest 1930]

Thanks for that Tod, where exactly would I find .........My "decoder" page produces the following for that number:..........Where on your site please.

Quote..........In that era for US built Chrysler cars the serial number will not have an engineering model code prefix..........I did not know this, thanks for that.

[ply33]

Thanks for that Tod, where exactly would I find .........My "decoder" page produces the following for that number:..........Where on your site please.

Quote..........In that era for US built Chrysler cars the serial number will not have an engineering model code prefix..........I did not know this, thanks for that.

Plymouth First Decade: Where is the VIN?

[Ian_Greenlaw]

Hi,

One of the photos shows the RH 38240 stamped into the firewall between the hole for the coil and the hole for the wiring loom grommet.

The next shows the serial number stamped into the chassis 3736886 and the next pic shows the locations of that serial number. This is also the same number that is stamped on the tag that sits on the front door pillar.

The next photo shows the primed firewall. This photo also shows ( if you can make it out ) the RH38240 again just to the left of the coil mounting position.

Below this are two sets of four holes. I had to redrill the holes to match the new plates I have but the original holes for the bottom plate is for the id tag I found yesterday in my parts. This has stamped DR 40500 S.

I was doing alright until I found this other original tag. Obviously the DR is the model but the 40500 S has me confused.

I have registration records that go back to May 1937. The gap between 34 and 37 is a bit of a mystery. I did try and get the original build sheet but when I contacted Chrysler, approx 240 build sheets are missing from the microfilm. I dug a bit deeper and found that approx that number were made Right Hand Drive, so whether they allocated a blanket number of serial numbers to right hand drive for export I guess I'll never know but something will surface one day.

Given the dates I believe my car has been in Australia before 1937 as I think a few were brought out ( as with other countries ) that were right hand drive to those applicable countries and taken around as demonstration models. When they were ordered they were given their car but the body was made by TJ Richards ( and mated to a chassis from the States ).

Hope this helps and some of it is my opinion given what I could find out. At least I know of all owners since 1937. The guy who sold it to me still contacts me and visits a few times a year. Good news too.....its getting painted this year and is booked in for April.

[1936 D2]

Thanks by the way for providing all of your important numbers, the only info you you left out was the exact location of your vehicle at all times, I need this info for ...............research purposes :eek:

Giggle... (inside joke.)

[1936 D2]

Ian, would you be able to post a photo (or scan) of the little oval number tag? Thanks.

[Guest 1930]

Giggle... (inside joke.)

[Ian_Greenlaw]

Here ya go !

Its only 6.5cm wide so its only a small plate.

[1936 D2]

That is a "Body Number" firewall tag. See the photos below of my '36 tags. (Center numbers and center letter have been obscured). The tag says "BODY NUMBER" at the top and I can see "DODGE" & "Division" below with also what may be "BROTHERS" after the DODGE. I took photos of this tag under six different lighting conditions to try and preserve the painted data as best possible. This shot shows the most.

I have also included a shot showing the placement of the tags. The location is obvious on your firewall center.

This "Body Number" tag is placed there by Dodge (NOT the body manufacturer) and this tag IS NOT used for registration or titling (although it MAY show up on some titles depending on how detailed that form is). It IS on the "Build Record" for the car. (Sorry ) The RH 38240 number is stamped by Budd for their tracking purposes.

Edited January 21, 2012 by 1936 D2
Added data (see edit history)

[Ian_Greenlaw]

Hey thanks for that. At least it clears that up. Does the "s" stand for anything ?

Ian

[hchris]

Hi Ian

Interesting thread, I have a 34 CB Chrysler in Adelaide, the firewall stamping numbering / data plates are almost identical to yours. I have found many brackets fittings etc. stamped with DR numbers so assume the Chrysler / Dodge manufacturing for these pooled common parts.

Like you, Chrysler has no build record of my car, makes it hard to piece the history together.

ch

[1936 D2]

The "S" on your "Body Number" tag means something, but I don't know if any of the authorities have ever decoded those letters. We all do seem to feel the number part is a sequence style number assigned at the Dodge factory as the vehicle bodies came in from the body manufacturer. That way they assigned a body to a frame for the final construction of the car and they could track all the stock as the stuff was put together. That's why you find all the pertinent numbers on the "Build Record" (if you were able to get one) except for that firewall stamped one (RH 38240) because that number is only of interest to the body builder.

[Guest 1930]

S= Sedan

[1936 D2]

So then... what does the "TSA" on my '36 tag mean?

T = Touring

S = Sedan

A = A???????? (Not "Auto" - that would be pretty redundant! What other kinds of Touring Sedans are there - Trucks? no - Professional Car? no - Convertible? no, that's an "Auto" too!)

See, there has been no "official" decoding of these letters that I have ever heard of. It would be cool to see that decoding in a publication.

[Ian_Greenlaw]

Interesting that.

TSA has me confused ( that happens a lot )

Out of interest why do you pixelate the numbers in the photograph ?

I'm also thinking of starting a new thread in the General Section on members garages. When you see a photo of someones car in the garage how many people look beyond the car and look at the garage. I know I do and find it fascinating how people organise themselves and what they have up on the wall. A friend of mine has two garages ( a 3 car and a 2 car ) and every square inch is covered in either old tail lights, hubcaps, emblems, signs etc. I'd love to take some photos but I don't think he would let me ! He even has a 2 door convertable plymouth PE coupe which someone said to him dosn't exist in Australia. He's even got a grille and surround with the tag still on it as it has never been put on a car !

Anyhow I might take some photos and post them and see what happens !

Cheers

Ian

[Guest 1930]

Might be the sequence the tags are placed in the order of production at a point specific to a position where one of several things could happen, possibly the walls can interchange between bodystyles so they make an extra notation or an extra digit so that assy workers can know what the end result was intended to be.

Prob. several different possabilities and its anyones guess unless of course some hard data is found, might be it designates a specific assy plant, again another guess.

[1936 D2]

Ian - Those letters have had a lot of us confused for quite a while. Someday someone will find something on it and we will all smack out collective heads an go - "Ohhhh!!!".

I used those photos for some other stuff and the group that was viewing them had no need for "all the info" so they were obscured. It is just a form of ID safety. Maybe a bit on the paranoia side but better to have people ask why, than to try to have to fix a problem later. No worries.

The other thread idea could be very interesting. Personally I like photos without the distracting backgrounds so the mind stays focused on the subject at hand. I personally would take effort to not show the background using draping - whatever.