1940 ford number on firewall

STEVE O

STEVE O

Well-known member
Hi Everyone, Just wanted to ask does the numbers stamped in the firewall on a 1940 Ford (Not the ones on the patent tag but the ones actually stamped there) mean anything? I once read that those numbers could determine how early the body was built?
Thanks
Happy Holidays
 
On my 40 wagon, the body number is under the voltage regulator. Where are the numbers you are talking about?
Can you post a picture?
 
i have the following no.s on my 40 firewall: app. 1" in ht.:

23B 29 Che



assumed to be outside vendor fabricating firewalls in 1939
 
Thats where mine is. I have also seen them towards the middle. My conv is stored in a building where now I can't get a photo.
 
Here is the body number of my 40 wagon. My car is very late, last ones have numbers around 11000.
picture.php
 
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Does anybody have the EFV-8C/A 1940 Ford Book? I would think that there would be some info in there. I ordered that book a couple weeks ago and it should be getting here soon. Waiting for Mike Kube to chime in.
 
there has been speculation for years on what those numbers meant, without much luck in finding any definite answers. On station wagon firewalls the numbers are the order that the body was assembled at Iron Mtn. those numbers were supposedly placed there by the production forman and again there is no definite answer. I have heard that there is a book on the Iron Mtn. numbers but ??? maybe Kube will chime in
 
The new book being worked on by Kube is what you want to wait for, the original one has numerous errors as it was made a long time ago.
 
Thanks Deuce Roadster. I'll buy the new one when they get it done.

I have purchased the Early Ford V-8 Club of America books for the 1933-1934 Ford; 1935-1936 Ford; 1937 Ford; 1938-1939 Ford and 1940 Fords--they are great resources. Looking forward to buying the two - volume 1932 Book. I can't imagine spending tens of thousands of dollars on an old Ford and not buying the correct reference books. A truly valuable resource.
 
Attached photo is of my 1947 Sedan Coupe "body code" stamped in center of fire wall just above horizontal seam; difficult to read; first digit "2" = two door; last digits "67" indicate body was fabricated in June 47; have not anaylized rest yet. Plant location supposedly in there.
 

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For Woodies only, Lorin Sorensen's "Famous Ford Woodies" book has a chapter "The Body Numbers a sequential history" with all the Woodie body numbers by year and month starting in 1929 with Murray body number tags up to 1939 and from 1940 to 1951 Iron Mountain numbers that were stamped in. Pages 240-243
I knew Lorin as for a time he was a member of our Regional Group due to his friendship with other members. As editor of the "Ford Life" magazine he had access to the archives at a time when it wasn't as open as it is now.
 
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I have a 46 woodie with the #163 stamped in the fire wall. Goverment gave the car companys permission to start making vehicles in june 1945 , I suggest this body would have been made some time in 45 ,and couid be the earliest post war body still in use. it had some 42 dash pieces .Johnny.
 
According to Sorensen's book (see post 11), Jan 1946 had production numbers 1-1650 so your car is indeed very early.
Lorin states "1940 - 48 records are from Iron Mountain body plant manager Mark Swanson's yearly production records, monthly capacity of the plant, and assembly records"
 
I got dug into my conv body enough to see the numbers. I was wrong as there is no numbers at the voltage reg spot(on this conv it must have been on the body I sold) but these numbers are at the center where the punch out is for the heater. The numbers are 2002 35CH Thanks
 
Could not find any information in the current EFV-8 C/A 1940 Ford Book.
 

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STEVE O said:
Kube can you help on this question? Thanks!
Click to expand...
I have never been able to find any clear documentation that would offer a positive explanation for the numbers referred to in this post. To clarify, that is when we find them (numbers) on closed cars. It appears there was never a production order to stamp these cowls (dash panels) when installed in to closed bodies.
Why some closed cars got this treatment while others did not is, at this time, still a question that deserves a definitive answer.
On wagons and convertibles, there was in fact a production order to number the bodies. However, here too it is a bit perplexing as two distinct ways to number the bodies was obviously employed. Most commonly it seems, a small tin tag with the sequential body number was nailed to the dash panel at the very upper left corner; a bit above the regulator - upon the vertical area...
It is only my opinion at this point that the tag was the intended way to number the bodies as the dash panel had dimples pressed in that area to locate the tag. Should the dash be destined to a convertible or wagon, these dimples would have been drilled out to accept the nails.

Sorry guys, I can't offer a better explanation at this time. Any one hanging out there with proof ... PLEASE share it.
 
Thanks everyone for the responses. It would be interesting if everyone would post the style body they have and the numbers and where they are stamped on their 1940 Fords.
 
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