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Guy's I have a M38 with late body no notch in the dash fold only id plates I have possibly original but who knows are here and still on. Patent plate that's gone can not find any numbers other than M stamped in the frame in places locations top of battery box support and front chassis reinforcement plates.
Engine has been decked so number gone however old docs show MC85476.
Data plate info is here
Plate reads ser No 46292
Date del 12-51
Contract no DA-33-019-ORD-43
Inspected - looks like a round stop watch crest with possibly ERM possibly EPM but so faint it's hard to read but deffo a M at the end and only three stamps.
Thanks in advance for any assistance John.

Ordnance Escutcheon consisting of a round leather belt, crossed cannons, and flaming bomb. Not a watch.
Your body should have the data plates on a flat steel plate and have a big hole in the dash under it. Before SN 34151, Sep 51, they are screwed directly onto the dash.
Before you do anything else, get the green M38 reference guide, and a full set of TMs, including the SNL; study those every day for 6 months and then you can touch the jeep.

Not sure what you are using as a guide to late and early tubs. A good place to start is the firewall:





The data plate serial plate on the dash can also be a clue:



The instruments cluster is another clue:





The presence of CB's as shown and that accessory plug are a clue:



The front end of the frame rails and the front lifting eyes can also be a clue:



Early vs late wiring diagram will also help your insp.

dpcd67 wrote:Ordnance Escutcheon consisting of a round leather belt, crossed cannons, and flaming bomb. Not a watch.
Your body should have the data plates on a flat steel plate and have a big hole in the dash under it. Before SN 34151, Sep 51, they are screwed directly onto the dash.
Before you do anything else, get the green M38 reference guide, and a full set of TMs, including the SNL; study those every day for 6 months and then you can touch the jeep.

Great info yes removed data plate large hole in the dash, has the second picture of the instrument panel take it that's late, the firewall is the late type as shown here and the lifting shackle plates are also the late ones as shown.

data plate large hole in the dash,
Attached to plate = after MC34151 Sep-51
has the second picture of the instrument panel take it that's late,
Late = After MC17885 APR-51
the firewall is the late type as shown here and the
Late FW = Sep-51 about MC34151
lifting shackle plates are also the late ones as shown.
Late shackles = after May-51

So at this point you have established it was built late 1951.

And since his data plate has a 12/51 delivery it all fits together nicely.

Well that's a great start I guess just going to enjoy and drive this now came over here back in the 60's and uk registered runs like a peach then maybe try do some research later in trying to find its history, many thanks for all the advice, John.