1952 M38 20943735

MarkR1951M38 · Post by **MarkR1951M38** » Wed Apr 25, 2018 5:31 am

4x4M38...now you have me really confused...I have multiple (alot) pictures of M38's I capture off the interweb that have 20 as the prefix for the hood. All of them have the headlight protectors and single windshield so I know they are M38's.

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Wed Apr 25, 2018 5:37 am

Yes, my bad.

Go back to page 1 where Wes shows the contract numbers
and registration numbers. After 236 and 238, right in there they
switched to 20xxxxxx prefixes and eight digit registration numbers.

Apologies!

Post by **wesk** » Wed Apr 25, 2018 8:42 am

The AR 850-10 tells which class code number to use for each type vehicle.

20 is for General service - truck, passenger - carrying
Truck, 1/4 Ton, 4x4
Truck, Command, 1/2 Ton to 3/4 Ton, 4x4
Truck, Carry-all, 1/2 Ton to 3/4 Ton, All combinations
Station wagon, All Sizes, All combinations
Bus, All sizes, All combinations

Planning ahead the Army categories were labeled 20 meaning 20 series. This series could be represented by the first two digits being 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 to provide for enough registration numbers and if needed sub-categories.

This system was born in 1938. The copy of AR 850-10 I referenced was dated Oct 1946 with Rev 2 Aug 49.

So there is nothing out of the ordinary with the early M38's using the 23 prefix on their registration numbers.

charliebrowndog · Post by **charliebrowndog** » Tue May 08, 2018 7:47 pm

Halfbob if you suspect yours is around 5/52 mine is a month earlier. Hopefully this will help: