Confusing numbers

[Guest DeadBodyGuy]

Hi guys;

I bought a 1946 plymouth business coupe special deluxe today and i can't wait to get to restoring it.

I tried to look up the VIN number from the sets posted here but it doesn't seem to add up.

My VIN is 20214053 and by the numbers it looks like it was made in '49 but I could be reading the page wrong explaining it.

With a new car of course you would like to know as much as possible so if anyone could give me an idea of when and where this was made I'd appreciate it.

Thanks

DBG

[Norm's Coupe]

That number does sound like a 49 or later model number. That's not unusual since they used engine numbers. Someone probably replaced the motor at some point. That's probably why the numbers don't agree.

[Guest DeadBodyGuy]

It does have a different motor. This is the VIN number from the title.

The car is a '46 and i was wondering if someone could do a little decoding of it for me. Plant...maybe even month or whatever.

Thanks

DBG

[Norm's Coupe]

The cars were usually registered by the motor numbers back then, not the body number. That number should be stamped on the side of the engine block, just under the head, on the left (drivers side) front of the block. It should start with P15 then the rest of the number. You can look up the plant the car was built at with that number. The number on the door post was just the Body Number of the car. Another way to see if it's a 46 is the tail lights. 1946 was the only year that had white reflectors under the tail lights. 47 through early 49 had red reflectors under the tail lights. Of course, someone could have changed those too over the years.

Try going back to the reference page again and looking up the Body numbers for the cars. Or, check your engine number and run that number. Both numbers are there for the P15's. Also, if you have a picture, post it here. You will not get the exact month by looking up the numbers. All you can do is nail it down to the year. They did not separate the numbers by date back then. For that you would have to write to Chrysler and pay for a copy of the actual build sheet.

[Plymouthy Adams]

My book lists first serial number for each year..it appears your car is a P15C and made in Evansville plant...1947 year started with serial number 20185186 and the 1948 started with number 20233168 so it appears you could easily have a late 47 production car...

[Guest DeadBodyGuy]

First..THANKS for all of the information.

My only worry is that it's titled as a 1946 and by numbers it is looking like a late 1947.

I know these 4 years nothing was "conventional" but should I have any worry about this being the correct title?

The guy that owned it before me had it 30 years so I'm really not worried about it being stolen.

Just being curious I guess.

thanks

DBG

www.DeadBodyGuy.com

[Plymouthy Adams]

I would not worry about it..as long as the number matches the body the year is not that big a deal. Lots of cars were registered for the year it was sold so if the original owner bought this with the introduction of the new model year, it could very well have been registered as a 1946 from day one.

[Guest DeadBodyGuy]

THANKS!!!!!

I can't wait to start working on it.

I hope to post pics soon.

DBG

(Chuck)

[Dennis Hemingway]

Welcome to the forum, Where are you located? You can learn a lot on this site, I know I have.

Dennis:cool:

[Guest DeadBodyGuy]

I'm in Columbus, Ohio

I fly out west often also..

I'm looking forward to learning as much as I can about my new car.

I'll post some pics on my website next week i hope.

Thanks again

Chuck

www.DeadBodyGuy.com

[Don Coatney]

I'm in Columbus, Ohio

I fly out west often also..

I'm looking forward to learning as much as I can about my new car.

I'll post some pics on my website next week i hope.

Thanks again

Chuck

www.DeadBodyGuy.com

Chuck;

Welcome aboard. There are a few forum members in the Columbus area. I have a brother in law who lives in Pataskala. There was a pea green P-15 coupe for sale not far from him. Is this the car you bought?

[PatS....]

I'm in Columbus, Ohio

I fly out west often also..

I'm looking forward to learning as much as I can about my new car.

I'll post some pics on my website next week i hope.

Thanks again

Chuck

www.DeadBodyGuy.com

Your website is SICK!!!

I loved it!!!!!

Welcome to the forum, you'll fit right in

[Guest DeadBodyGuy]

I wish that was the car I bought.

Mine is knda "rough".

Pats, glad you liked it.. It's had over 35 million hits from 155 countries so far.

Thanks for having me here.

chuck

DBG

[BobT-47P15]