1932 serial number starts with D5

Dave, I think he is referring to the registration in 58 using what is assumed to be the frame number. It is listed as LGHTDL (whatever that means) and a 4 cyl. I do not know 32 models that well, but did a roadster every come with a 4 cylinder? I also do not know other states laws, but around here they go by the frame serial number and the body sitting on the frame doesn't much matter (as long as it looks somewhat original). You really can't tell much about which body was on which frame with the original serial numbers anyway within an engine group.

Did any of the custom builders at the time use any frames other than the assembly line frames?

By the way, I find topics like this interesting because it is an area I know virtually nothing about!
 
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All '32 body types were offered with either a four or V8, except that V8s were not released for use in commercial vehicles and big trucks at the beginning of the model year. The first commercial vehicle to offer the choice of engines was the station wagon in May, 1932, but the other commercials and trucks did not offer the V8 engine option until late in the model year. (It is highly likely that more V8-powered '32 pickups exist today than were originally built that way by Ford.)


The drive-away chassis offered by Ford used the same frame as that of the whole vehicles. Bare frames could be purchased through service in painted form and I've seen several of them in NOS form. Naturally they had no engine or any other numbers stamped on top of the frame rails.
 
DavidG said:
All '32 body types were offered with either a four or V8, except that V8s were not released for use in commercial vehicles and big trucks at the beginning of the model year. The first commercial vehicle to offer the choice of engines was the station wagon in May, 1932, but the other commercials and trucks did not offer the V8 engine option until late in the model year. (It is highly likely that more V8-powered '32 pickups exist today than were originally built that way by Ford.)


The drive-away chassis offered by Ford used the same frame as that of the whole vehicles. Bare frames could be purchased through service in painted form and I've seen several of them in NOS form. Naturally they had no engine or any other numbers stamped on top of the frame rails.
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Thanks DavidG.... my car will be here today (hopefully) and I will be able to post pics of the frame. The seller states that it is a rare 32 frame (the other guy I know with the same VIN starting ID has the same story for his frame).

My hunch is that the frame under the car I bought is a Model A frame and not a 32 frame, but since I have not seen the frame in person, I don't know what I don't know (except stories from two different people who have never met with the same story, as well as others).

We'll see soon enough, my car is supposed to be dropped off soon. I doesn't matter to me either way, I bought a great hot rod for a great price, but I always like to know what I don't know.
 
Not exactly on subject but can you guys help with a Vin number check? Just brought home a '32 full fendered '32 roadster purchased from the widow of a friend of mine. This guy had a restoration business in Reno,NV and had owned the car since 1952 and it was his own driver. The vin was 18500xx. Is that the correct amount of digits for a 32? Also have you ever heard of a '32 with '31 doors and rear body? I know the '38 Deluxe and the '39 Standard are about the same and the '39 Deluxd and the '40 Standard are about the same and I'm wondering if Henry used the body of the '31 until he ran out of them before using the '32? The '31 A400's doors fit inside like a '32 when all of the other '31's overlap.


Any help would be appreciated,


Jim
 
jmerson said:
Not exactly on subject but can you guys help with a Vin number check? Just brought home a '32 full fendered '32 roadster purchased from the widow of a friend of mine. This guy had a restoration business in Reno,NV and had owned the car since 1952 and it was his own driver. The vin was 18500xx. Is that the correct amount of digits for a 32? Also have you ever heard of a '32 with '31 doors and rear body? I know the '38 Deluxe and the '39 Standard are about the same and the '39 Deluxd and the '40 Standard are about the same and I'm wondering if Henry used the body of the '31 until he ran out of them before using the '32? The '31 A400's doors fit inside like a '32 when all of the other '31's overlap.


Any help would be appreciated,


Jim
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There should be a star before and after the serial number. The "18" indicates it started life with a V8 and the rest of the number is the sequential production number. I assume you are reading this from the top of the left frame rail near the steering box? If not, the story might change. A photo would be nice. I have never heard of Model A parts being used on a '32 from the factory, probably something your friend did.

Charlie Stephens
 
I8, CA or BBI8. Factory.


things get messed up in 80-100yrs. Don't mean it's illegal or nefarious. Just not original.



.
 
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Charlie Stephens said:
There should be a star before and after the serial number. The "18" indicates it started life with a V8 and the rest of the number is the sequential production number. I assume you are reading this from the top of the left frame rail near the steering box? If not, the story might change. A photo would be nice. I have never heard of Model A parts being used on a '32 from the factory, probably something your friend did.

Charlie Stephens
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Thanks Charlie for the reply. I wrote you a nice long reply but hadn't loffed in so it was lost and i con't feel like doing it over so this will have to do. Maybe later i'll get enough energy to resend the message.


Thanks again,


Jim
 
18-500XX is a legitimate '32 engine number, which Ford used as a VIN. Normally on the stamping on the frame would include a star preceding the 18 and following the last digit as Charlie indicates and there would normally be a dash between the 18 and the rest of the numbers.

If the VIN you are reciting is off the paperwork and not read from the chassis frame, there would be no stars and sometimes no dash included.

There were a fair number of Model A parts carried over into '32 model production, but no body sheet metal.


Tinker,

CA? I assume you meant one of the two Canadian '32 V8 engine number prefixes of C18D or C18R as CA was not a '32 engine number prefix.
 
David I was generalizing. For Canadian builds. You are the expert on 32s, model A frames/engines did have a ca not sure 32's. To my knowledge a D5 is never mentioned... nor thought it was... to my knowledge not ever a vintage correct vin
 
The '32 Canadian LHD fours had prefixes of CBG and CBQ plus as with all '32 RHD engine numbers, whether manufactured in East Windsor, Dearborn, or Dagenham, an F as the last letter in the prefix.
 
I wonder if the guy in Reno ever worked for Bill Harrah. One of my mentors worked for Bill back in the late 50s until the late 60s. Harrah had employees that specialized in different models and trade specialties. My old friend was his Stanley Steamer specialist and welding was his main specialty. They restored a lot of cars for Bill Harrah
 
Roto, Yes he did. In fact he was running the place when it shut down. He also worked on the Class A hydro plane. T think it was the Miss Bud. He also tuned one of the Indy cars but i'm not sure if it was a Budweiser car. He showed me his credentials that allowed him to get into the pits at Indy. I've been told he was the person that first used Nitrus Oxide on a race car. Not sure and don't have any paper work to prove or disprove it. He was a very talented guy, a little ornery at times but a good guy.
He had a shop at 806 Glendale Ave in Sparks,NV just down the street from Summit Racing's store.
Getting back to the roadster, he had aowned it since 1951 and had driven it most ot those years. If it is in fact a '31 body i can only think that he probably swapped it out when he was a kid and kept it that way after he became a guru out of respect fot his humble beginning. He would certainly have known the difference especially with the doors overlaping the body.
 
Delaware at one time used ASM ahead of a number for serial numbers for assembled vehicles like street rods and kit cars
 
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