The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 1951 serial number plate questions

Hello i hope i have posted this in the correct place, I am new here so please correct me if I have not. My question is that I have a 1951 Chevy truck but i don't understand all of the numbers on my serial plate. The weight and the rest of the Chevy writing is faded and hard to read but stamped numbers are legible. There is a serial number at the very bottom that is 14JP-L 1968 which i believe to be made in Baltimore Maryland, dec 1951 3600 but I'm not real sure hoping someone could confirm this for me. Above that there is another number stamped C51 12 i dont know what that number is (year month maybe)and to the right of that are some letters MJM. They are lightly stamped or wore and they are twice as big as the other ones. I would appreciate any help with these numbers.

Stucknut,

Welcome to Stovebolt.com


Presumably, you are referring to the Vehicle code on a metal tag attached to the cab between the driver's side door hinges?

Pretty good job on the decode:

14JP-L 1968
14 = Baltimore
JP = 3100 (1/2 ton) JR is 3600
L = December
1968 = 968th 3100 off the line in that plant in 1951

thanks tclederman i didn't know that it was 968th off the line and i'm glad to have some confirmation from someone who knows what their talking about. I wonder how many total 1951 chevy trucks were made. Any idea what the other numbers mean?

If those other numbers are on the cab plate, they might have been added by the dealer or owner, or when re-registered/titled after a sale. Can you post a link to a photo of the plate?

Here is some information on USA Chevrolet Truck production from 47-55. Break-down by model/series is available for only a few years - I have not seen a break-down for 1951.

here is a link to the pic of the cab plate, its not the greatest. so the other numbers are probably dealer added and irrelevant?

https://picasaweb.google.com/adirondackcustomwoodworks/51Chevy#5893283822837312386