1932 roadster - no S/N
 

Hey V-8 gurus,

I am restoring my 32 roadster and decided to confirm the s/n (18 MR18113xxx) to the bill of sale and registration, but with no luck. After removing 15 very rusty bolts holding down the left fender, I expected to find it on the frame rail, perhaps near the firewall or the steering box. But nothing was there.

How could a frame leave the factory with no s/n?

I do know that the transmission was exchanged at some point as the s/n (18-17xxx) on the housing is different to the registration.

On another note, what do the registration and transmission s/n tell you about the vehicle? Maybe I can determine what month it was built or what year the transmission was exchanged?

Thanks guys,

Sally

Re: 1932 roadster - no S/N
 

There may be one on the rail about under the door or toward the rear possibly on the kickup both on the left rail???

Re: 1932 roadster - no S/N
 

No '32 engine number (aka serial number or vin) exceeded seven digits after the prefix and even then, only if built with a four-cylinder engine as the number series began 5000001. In the case of '32 V-8 engine numbers (those produced in the U.S.), no number exceeded six digits after the prefix and none had a six digit number beginning with a number higher than "2".

It is, therefore, highly unlikely that you will find your number 18MR18113xxx stamped anywhere on the frame and if you do, it will not have been placed there by Ford when the car was manufactured.

Re: 1932 roadster - no S/N
 

No such number, if you used the18-113xxx group maybe legit but 32 Fords only had a 6 digit serial number. Trans number seems legit. Re issued title or no title registration?

Dave answer while I was typing.

Re: 1932 roadster - no S/N
 

Guru Guys,

I guess I wasn't communicating properly. Even though the registration shows number 18 MR18113xxx, I did expect to find MR18- plus 6 numbers, ie 18- 113xxx. Is this not correct?

This is a factory chassis, so why I am I not seeing anything?

Thanks for helping.

Sally

Re: 1932 roadster - no S/N
 

Guru Guys,

Sorry, I provided a wrong s/n from the registration. It should be MR1813XXX, ie 5 numbers after MR18.

Does this put this vehicle as being produced in the 13 thousand range?

Does anyone know how many of each body style was produced? I would particularly like to know the production numbers for roadsters and pickups and panel vans.

Thanks guys,

Sally

Re: 1932 roadster - no S/N
 

That number just doesn't compute. I have never seen a Ford Serial number start with the letters MR. Is this some foreign job??

Re: 1932 roadster - no S/N
 

Guru guys,

The MR1813xxx s/n is from the registration, not from the frame. Therefore, this was originally a California car, I would guess that MR may stand for "Motor Registry" (?)

What do you think?

Thanks again,

Sally

Re: 1932 roadster - no S/N
 

If you have the body off, there will be another number back towards the rear of the frame, David should be able to give you the correct coordinates.

Re: 1932 roadster - no S/N
 

the serial # can be any where from the front frame horn to under the drivers door

Re: 1932 roadster - no S/N
 

If you think the MR stands for "Motor Registry", it's not an original stamping (IMO) but possibly a restamp due to lost title, orig # unknown, etc. JMO
Paul in CT

Re: 1932 roadster - no S/N
 

Look here-
http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...ame#post562781

Re: 1932 roadster - no S/N
 

Absent the MR, 18-13xxx is a legitimate '32 V-8 engine number for one produced in the second week of May, 1932.

As for '32 model unit production, there were 14,985 roadsters produced worldwide, 14,330 pickup bodies (both open and closed cab versions), and 6,634 panel deliveries on the 106" wheelbase commercial chassis.

Re: 1932 roadster - no S/N
 

I don't think the stars have been mentioned above...a proper stamp should have a star at each end to prevent tampering, and of course the funny 1931-onward font that has been mentioned. If you lack the service bulletins (get with it, and buy the resto book as well!) the fonts have been pictured on the Model A barn and can be searched up fairly easily.

Re: 1932 roadster - no S/N
 

You should find your SN at the inside edge of the top rail, right near the firewall foot. I've never seen a '32 with it stamped more than a few inches either direction from there. If you are pulling the body off you can look in the two other places the guys here have said.

Re: 1932 roadster - no S/N
 

Hi - Trying to correlate serial numbers on a roadster that has the body on. I realize the need to pull the body to see two of the numbers on the frame rail. What's involved with searching for the front number near the steering box? Can I get by with just removing the fender?

Thanks much for any help or suggestions for my "Bucket List" project.

Jughead

Re: 1932 roadster - no S/N
 

here's the link to MacVP's website showing serial numbers and where they might be found.....good luck...Mike

http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/f...ialnumbers.htm

Re: 1932 roadster - no S/N
 

The number would not be hidden under the firewall foot or the fender. It was meant to be used to identify the car. It is right beside the firewall foot on the edge of the frame on the drivers side. I agree you have a later add on ID number. The frame would have been stamped like this *18-15xxx* using the strange stamps. I would wire brush the area and see if the original number is still there.

Re: 1932 roadster - no S/N
 

My '32 has the serial number just in front of the firewall (it matches the title, with the stars fore and aft) but it took a lot to see it. At first there appeared to be nothing there. But, with some (sort of a lot) of wire brushing, it came up. Very difficult to make out, but if one studies it, it's there. New Jersey DMV wanted a pencil rubbing or photo. Took a lot of images to get one that was really readable. Was never able to find the one on the rear frame kick up. I'm assuming that the body welting strip held moisture over that spot and it's gone.

Re: 1932 roadster - no S/N
 

It is also very possible that the numbers were never stamped on the two places "under the body". I have seen frames with the number stamped only in one of these two locations and frames with no stamps other than the "firewall" location.

Re: 1932 roadster - no S/N
 

I have heard that up north some left the factory without numbers stamped on the frame. I have a frame that has no numbers on the left rail like they all do. I've also hearted that some people made there own serial numbers using the star then 18 then using part of there SSN so it would be the only one out there. Hope this helps.

Re: 1932 roadster - no S/N
 

If the car was right hand drive out of the factory serial number might be on the right side of the frame rail.

Re: 1932 roadster - no S/N
 

I have a `32 frame that came from Canada. It has # C18D**** ( with a star at each end) stamped by the firewall foot so weak that's very difficult to read. This I assume is do to stamping the numbers without a backup support under the top rail, allowing it to flex down. I can not find any other numbers along the top left rail, like the other American frames I have do.
This number is so weak that the guy I bought it from, didn't think there was a number there.

Re: 1932 roadster - no S/N
 

C18Dxxxx was the first series of Canadian V8 1932 numbers the other was c18Rxxxx. The 32 frames I have from Canada have very good clean numbers alot depends on pitting moisture and how exposed the frame was and then some were just not stamped very deeply.

Re: 1932 roadster - no S/N
 

I'll repeat the 'right-frame-rail' theory. That's how mine is.

Re: 1932 roadster - no S/N
 

If this is true, then '32 closed cab Ford pickups are more rare that roadsters??? That doesn't seem possible, but maybe...

Re: 1932 roadster - no S/N
 

yes but then you have the bigger trucks cabs taken off the larger wheelvbases and put on a 106 inch wheelbase

Re: 1932 roadster - no S/N
 

Yes, I guess that has probably happened a lot, with no way to tell a true 32 pickup cab from a larger truck cab, huh?

Still, with so few 32 pickups made, there must be certain rare pickup parts that are unique to pickups only, and those parts could indicate whether or not it is indeed a rare true pickup.

Re: 1932 roadster - no S/N
 

The original 32 commercial radiator cap is probably the hardest part to find.Unique to that model.

Re: 1932 roadster - no S/N
 

rear fenders are unique. In 33 and 34 have the same issue with bigger trucks being downsized.

Re: 1932 roadster - no S/N
 

Yes,I for got that the PU rear fenders unique to 32 PU.33-34 PU rear fenders won't work on a 32 PU.

Re: 1932 roadster - no S/N
 

The radiator cap scarcity is something of a mystery since all of the commercial vehicles (except deluxe panels, late station wagons, and sedan deliveries) and all big trucks came equipped with one.

Apart from the bed assemblies, rear fenders, late rear fender braces, and the late inner bed support brackets at the rear of the frame, there were no other unique-to-pickup parts in the '32 model year. Both the closed cabs and open cabs contained no parts that would identify them as originally from a pickup or a big truck.

Re: 1932 roadster - no S/N
 

Thanks for that info on 32 pickup particulars.