serial numbers not there

[jim k]

I have a 31 sw town sedan the serial number on the engine is a 29 serial number but everything else about the car says it's a thirty one according to the judging standards. I removed the left front fender running board and splash pan and jacked up the body to check the frame but found no number there either. this frame is not rusted or pitted in fact it is real clean and smooth but there is no trace of the numbers or the stars or the A. Has any one else found this? I even checked the rear cross member by the spring for the spring stamping there but I understand not all cars had this as well as the stamping by the drives seat which also is not there. i guess my question is is there any place else people have found the serial number. my guess by reading everything I can in the judging standards this car was built in May but just wanted to verify it by the serial number.
Jim

[bykerlad]

No help to you ,but model A chassis are not stamped here in Australia.

[Tom Wesenberg]

I lifted the left side on my 29 Tudor and couldn't find the numbers on the frame. I suspect I didn't look close enough to the corner top outside edge. Someday when I do a body off, I'll probably find the number.

[columbiA]

If your S/W sedan is a Canadian car,it wont have a serial # on the frame.Only early Canadian A,s had a # on the frame,allthough Ive seen 1 early 30 with a #.

[Don S]

My 31 coupe is Canadian ,has the number IF3549 on the center crossmember,left side ,just in front of drivers seat, under the carpet.I think it was from the Windsor plant,Ontario.

[jim k]

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nothing makes me think this is a Canadian car but I guess it's a possibilty

[Keith True]

I've had some without numbers.I had two perfect frames a friend brought out of Canada,they had nice paint on them and no sign of numbers.I have an uncle with a late 31 coupe,clean frame,no numbers.We don't know where that car came from.It has a late 31 engine number.

[Jim Parker Toronto]

Keith, I wondered where those frames went! Please have your friend bring them back...

[columbiA]

Don S---The # on your coupe is the BODY #.My late 30 Canadian cpe has body # OF361.Our cars used a lot of robertson screws throughout the body

[Steve Wastler]

Was speaking with Bob Hitchcock in Texas last night, he has an AA frame (mail truck) with the serial in the normal place and on the inside of the frame rail beside the battery tray with the serial inverted.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

It's part of the mystique when cars hide their identity. Someone sectioned my early '29 Std. coupe and just removed assembly plant letters.
When asked "where built?" I reply, "A Model A plant." (I probably should say, "PURDY'S MODEL A FACTORY.") BILL W's Ghost

[George Miller]

My 1928 Sports coupe has no serial number on the frame. It has a frame with no rust. It was in north east Mich from at least 1938. It came to NC in 2005. The guy who owned it before me had it since 1960 until I got it in 2000.
I always though it was built in Canada but not sure.

[Don S]

Columbia,interesting prefix to your frame numbers. Dave Sturges in Maryland has done a lot of research on Canadian and American frame numbers,may be able to tell you where your frame/body was assembled. If interested send me a pm,I will send you his e-mail address.

[TD]

There have been several posts about techniques to read a frame number that is gone. It requires chemicals, copper scrubber, and electricity. If in fact you suspect the were numbers on the frame try the process. It is based on the fact the punched numbers are compresses molecules of metal and although UN-readable they are still crunched together in the steel.
Hope that helps.
TD