Since your data plate is missing any hope of knowing where and when your truck was built are lost for all time. The good news is the State of Arizona gave your truck a clean bill of health and issued it a new VIN number.
I have a 1978 ex Navy Jeep and when it was auctioned off by the Navy they listed it as a 1976. I call my DMV to get the title corrected and even though they see's the mistake (as the VIN number lists the model year) they can't change it because the Gov't got it wrong on their paperwork...you could have the same issue.
At car shows I'd call it a '51 and just leave the 1949 title date out of conversations, it will make life easier.
Mike B
