1958 to 1968 M37B1/M43B1 Serial Numbers

1958 to 1968 M37B1/M43B1 Serial Number or VIN

The serial numbers on M37B1/M43B1 and other variants are not well understood. There is very little literature on the subject and checking a number of truck tags and frames proved that the limited information in the literature is incorrect in several ways. More verified data from actual trucks is needed to figure out this system completely. Please check the frame (note if the number is on the passenger side or driver side) and tag of any trucks you have from this era and send images of the numbers to townwagon@hotmail.com

The information in the table below was gathered from actual truck tags and frames. The dates are the Date of Delivery from trucks in the contract in question. They are not the dates of the contract. The serial numbers are the earliest and latest found on actual trucks. The serial number range and dates of delivery for the actual contract would have started earlier and ended later.

Earliest Serial Number From Trucks		Latest Serial Number From Trucks		Serial Prefix	Contract Number	Dates of Delivery From Trucks
On Frame	On Tag	On Frame	On Tag
L245-1049	L245-1049	L245-3948	L245-3948	L245	DA-20-018-ORD-15711	4-58 to 9-58
L245-4403	L245-4403	L245-6477	L245-6477	L245	DA-20-018-ORD-17307	11-58 to 2-59
T24502122	02122	T24504169	04169	T245	DA-20-018-ORD-22821	12-60 to 6-61
2661160058	60058	2661190290	90290	26611	DA-20-018-ORD-23508	8-61 to 5-62 (2661199999 highest possible)
2661215401	15401	2661229473	29473	26612	DA-20-018-ORD-23508	8-62 to 8-62 (May have started 2661200001)
2668000116	00116	2668010726	10726	26680	DA-20-018-AMC-0090T	1-63 to 8-63
2668011763	011763	2668011903	011903	2668	DA-20-018-AMC-0682T	7-63 to 8-63
2668012613	12613	2668017512	17512	26680	DA-20-018-AMC-1175T	6-64 to 3-65
2668020152	8020152	2668022627	8022627	266	DAAE07-67-C-5149	9-67 to 1-68

The factory TSBs (Technical Service Bulletins) that cover serial numbers in the mid to late 1960s state:

"Military vehicle serial numbers are located on the vehicle data plate and are five digit numbers, such as 05418. When preparing a Warranty Repair Order against a military vehicle, precede this number with 2668-0 making the number: 2668-005418. Failure to comply with these instructions will delay the processing of the W. R. O. for payments."

Based upon trucks that have been checked so far, Dodge did follow this convention in the trucks built from 1963 to 1965. This text is used in the TSBs until 1968, yet the 1967 to 1968 trucks only need 266 added as a prefix to complete the serial number. The trucks built prior to 1963 follow a totally different numbering system.

Some trucks built after the prefix was left off the tag end up repeating the serial number on the tag. Serial number 02122 from contract 22821 was delivered in 12-1960. Contract 0090T starts before 00116 and ends after 10726 so there is likely a 02122 built in 1963 as well. Because of this the complete serial number from the frame should be used to identify a truck. The contract number and date of delivery can also be used to limit confusion.

The tag is found on the glove box door and looks like the image below. The serial number is found in the box labeled MFR. SER. NO. and in this example reads 02382. The complete serial number for this truck is T24502382.

The frame number is found on the driver side on many years of truck, but some have the number on the passenger side. The number might be a few inches back form the location shown in the image below. The number is on the driver side of the frame facing the tire between the steering box and the steering pivot. The passenger side version is in the same portion of the frame, but on the passenger side. The number in the image below is in the red area and it reads 2668003507.

If the serial numbers are sequential the numbers found on trucks for some contracts show much higher production than the offical records. For example the 23508 contract shows a total production of 14059 or 7453 depending on the source. Subtracting the earliest number from the latest number before the 26612 version of that contract gives a production number of 28670 (89585 minus 60915) which is more than double the highest known production number. Either portions of that range were skipped or there were more produced than the records show.

If you have any information at all on the 1958 to 1968 M37B1 and other variants serial numbers please contact me at townwagon@hotmail.com