Where is the VIN?

One question that keeps coming up is: Where is the VIN (“Vehicle Identification Number”) located on the car? The quick and flippant answer is that there is no VIN on the car.

US Manufactures started using VINs in 1954 and the current 17 character version of the number was mandated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 1981. In the 1930s, Plymouth cars were shipped with three different numbers: A serial number, an engine number and a body number.

It seems that Chrysler used the serial number as the way of tracking the car. From this point of view you would consider the serial number to be the “VIN”. However, many states used the engine number when titling and registering cars.

Number	Era	Location	Description
Serial	1928-29	Medallion on instrument panel	The “FedCo system” of alpha-numeric encoding a number was used. In theory, the code can be translated to a straight sequence number by converting the letters to numbers as follows [Chrysler 1934a]: W 0 P 1 C 2 H 3 R 4 Y 5 S 6 L 7 E 8 D 9 For example, one of the Detroit plant's run of sequence numbers in 1929 is listed as “Y-000-WP” through “Y-403-EP”. This would be translated to 5-000-01 through 5-403-81 (500001 through 540381). In practice there are numbers out there that use letters not found in the table. For example, the serial numbers for the Windsor factory in 1929 are listed as “GP-583-W” through “GC-499-L”. If you have a better explanation of the FedCo system, please send it it!.
	1930-42	Tag on right front door post	A numeric digit string
	1946-58	Tag on left front door post
Engine	1928-59	Flat metal boss on engine block above generator	The engine number is always prefixed with an engineering code for a vehicle. For example PD86123. In some years the engines were shared among differently coded cars. For example PG cars were equipped with PF numbered engines. Starting sometime in the 1930s, the engine number was also stamped on the left frame rail somewhere around the rear wheel kick-up.
Body	1928-29	Tag on floor board near drivers seat.	At least in the 1930s, the body numbers seem to have come in different formats depending on which plant the body was built. Even the style of the tag varied from plant to plant.
	1930-56	Tag on engine side of firewall.

I can't find the number that is in my paperwork on the car!

Some states used the serial number to register the car. And some states used the engine number. If the number on your registration starts with a letter (e.g. “Q”, “U” or “P”) it is probably the original engine number. If your engine number does not match, it is possible that your engine has been changed over the years. If the car was built sometime after the mid to late 1930s, then you may find the original engine number stamped on the left frame rail somewhere around the rear wheel kick-up.

Barring major accident repair, it is very likely that the serial number tag is still on the car. Depending on your state, it may be possible to change the registration to use the serial number. You will likely need to prove that the serial number is the correct one for the engine number listed on the registration forms. If your car was built in North America between 1930 and 1967 then you can get the original “Build Card” from the Chrysler Historical Collection. The build car will show the serial number, engine number and body number that the car left the factory with.

Plymouth Serial Numbers

Serial numbers are from [Chrysler 1973]. In parentheses below the 1928-29 “FedCo” numbers are the translated numeric strings. In the case of Canadian built cars the unknown letter “G” is left as a question mark.

Pre-WW2 vehicles with a model code ending in “X” were export models. The one exception is the 1933 PCXX (Standard 6) built for domestic US sale. The export version of the 1933 Standard 6 was the PCXXX.

The value in the “Total” column is the difference between the start and end numbers.

See also Phil Street’s excellent 1936-1980 Dodge and Plymouth trunk decoder

Year	Cylinders	Model Name	Model Code	Plant	Start Serial	Close Serial	Total
1928	4		Q	Detroit	HL-950-P (37-950-1)	HD-999-D (39-999-9)	20,499
					RW-000-P (40-000-1)	RH-977-H (43-977-3)	39,773
				Windsor	GP-000-P (?1-000-1)	GP-582-E (?1-582-8)	5,828
1929	4		U	Detroit	RR-120-P (44-120-1)	RD-999-D (49-582-8)	54,628
					Y-000-YP (5-000-51)	Y-403-EP (5-503-81)	40,331
				Windsor	GP-583-W (?1-583-0)	GC-499-L (?2-499-7)	34,165
1930	4	Finer	30-U	Detroit	1,500,001	1,570,188	70,188
				Windsor	9,300,001	9,305,327	5,327
1931	4		PA PAX	Detroit	1,570,301	1,667,963	97,663
				Windsor	9,305,401	9,307,933	2,533
		Special DeLuxe	PA	Detroit	1,668,000	1,668,001	2
1932	4	Thrift	PA	Detroit	1,669,001	1,669,644	644
				Detroit	1,670,001	1,674,250	4,250
		New Finer	PB PBX PBY	Detroit	1,680,001	1,758,001	78,001
				Windsor	9,307,951	9,310,965	3,015
1933	6		PC PCX	Detroit	1,759,001	1,817,044	58,044
				Los Angeles	3,000,001	3,000,604	604
		Standard	PCXX PCXXX	Detroit	1,817,101	1,858,419	41,319
				Los Angeles	3,000,610	3,001,395	786
		DeLuxe	PD PDX	Detroit	2,000,001	2,186,951	186,951
				Los Angeles	3,002,501	3,007,678	5,178
1934	6	DeLuxe	PE PEX	Detroit	2,188,001	2,397,536	209,536
				Los Angeles	3,007,701	3,019,347	11,647
				Windsor	9,321,911	9,326,544	4,634
			PF PFX	Detroit	1,859,001	1,894,740	35,740
				Los Angeles	3,100,001	3,101,358	1,358
				Windsor	9,313,276	9,315,000	1,725
					9,315,376	9,316,221	846
		Special	PF* PFX*	Detroit	1,909,001	1,941,945	32,945
				Los Angeles	3,092,001	3,094,353	2,353
		Standard	PG	Detroit	1,020,001	1,039,039	19,039
				Los Angeles	3,150,001	3,151,472	1,472
1935	6	Business	PJ* PJX*	Detroit	1,039,101	1,111,645	72,545
				Los Angeles	3,151,501	3,157,116	5,616
				Windsor	9,396,076	9,397,345	1,270
		DeLuxe	PJ PJX	Detroit	2,397,601	2,641,320	243,720
				Los Angeles	3,019,401	3,040,567	21,167
				Windsor	9,326,551	9,332,281	5,731
		Standard	PJ	Detroit	1,675,001	1,675,032	32
				Windsor	9,386,551	9,387,355	805
1936	6	Standard	P1 P1X	Detroit	1,111,701	1,183,569	71,869
				Evansville	9,000,101	9,012,724	12,624
				Los Angeles	3,157,151	3,162,365	5,215
				Windsor	9,376,551	9,376,669	119
					9,397,351	9,400,000	2,650
		DeLuxe	P2 P2X	Detroit	2,641,401	2,987,635	346,235
				Evansville	9,025,101	9,062,168	37,068
				Los Angeles	3,040,601	3,077,397	36,797
				Windsor	9,332,286	9,339,684	7,399
1937	6		P3 P3X	Detroit	1,184,001	1,237,460	53,460
				Evansville	9,085,551	9,097,493	11,943
				Los Angeles	3,101,401	3,105,159	3,759
				Windsor	9,376,676	9,381,157	4,482
		DeLuxe	P4 P4X	Detroit	10,101,001	10,468,044	367,044
				Evansville	9,190,000	9,199,074	9,075
					9,950,001	9,999,021	49,021
				Los Angeles	3,162,501	3,205,879	43,379
				Windsor	9,339,691	9,349,561	9,871
		Commercial Car	PT50 PT50X	Detroit	8,850,101	8,861,664	11,564
				Evansville	9,182,701	9,185,187	2,487
				Los Angeles	9,206,601	9,208,113	1,513
1938	6		P5 P5X	Detroit	1,240,001	1,296,615	56,615
				Evansville	9,097,601	9,107,725	10,125
				Los Angeles	3,105,301	3,109,407	4,107
				Windsor	9,381,161	9,385,097	3,937
		DeLuxe	P6 P6X	Detroit	10,470,001	10,625,650	155,650
				Evansville	20,001,001	20,025,900	24,900
				Los Angeles	3,206,001	3,220,997	14,997
				Windsor	9,349,566	9,358,662	9,097
		Commercial Car	PT57	Detroit	8,618,701	8,624,135	5,435
				Evansville	9,185,301	9,186,416	1,116
				Los Angeles	9,208,201	9,208,797	597
1939	6	Road King	P7 P7X	Detroit	1,298,001	1,377,475	79,475
				Evansville	9,150,401	9,164,593	14,193
				Los Angeles	3,110,001	3,114,680	4,680
				Windsor	9,603,586	9,607,605	4,020
		DeLuxe	P8 P8X	Detroit	10,630,001	10,879,874	249,874
				Evansville	20,027,001	20,062,199	35,199
				Los Angeles	3,222,001	3,242,203	20,203
				Windsor	9,358,626	9,368,510	9,885
		Commercial Car	PT81	Detroit	8,624,201	8,630,418	6,218
				Los Angeles	9,208,851	9,209,340	490
1940	6	Road King	P9 P9X	Detroit	1,378,001	1,454,303	76,303
				Evansville	9,062,201	9,081,375	19,175
				Los Angeles	3,114,801	3,121,385	6,585
				Windsor	9,368,516	9,373,193	4,678
		DeLuxe	P10 P10X	Detroit	10,883,001	11,122,538	239,538
				Evansville	20,063,001	20,104,165	41,165
				Los Angeles	3,242,501	3,269,066	26,566
				Windsor	9,607,611	9,616,760	9,150
		Commercial Car	PT105	Detroit	8,631,001	8,637,730	6,730
				Los Angeles	9,209,351	9,210,053	703
1941	6	DeLuxe	P11 P11X	Detroit	15,000,101	15,135,030	134,930
				Evansville	22,001,001	22,036,667	35,667
				Los Angeles	3,121,501	3,133,962	12,462
				Windsor	9,821,241	9,829,853	8,613
		Special DeLuxe	P12 P12X	Detroit	11,123,001	11,399,250	276,250
				Evansville	20,105,101	20,147,921	42,821
				Los Angeles	3,269,301	3,296,572	27,272
				Windsor	9,616,761	9,624,457	7,697
		Commercial Car	PT125	Detroit	81,000,101	81,006,107	6,007
				Los Angeles	9,210,101	9,210,700	600
1942	6	DeLuxe	P14S	Detroit	15,135,501	15,153,935	18,435
				Evansville	22,037,001	22,041,356	4,356
				Los Angeles	3,134,501	3,136,266	1,766
				Windsor	9,829,856	9,836,986	7,131
		Special DeLuxe	P14C	Detroit	11,399,501	11,494,048	94,548
				Evansville	20,148,001	20,164,436	16,436
				Los Angeles	3,297,001	3,306,756	9,756
1946	6	DeLuxe	P15S	Detroit	15,154,001	15,206,935	52,935
				Evansville	22,042,001	22,053,039	11,039
				Los Angeles	26,000,001	26,003,588	3,588
				Windsor	9,624,461
		Special DeLuxe	P15C	Detroit	11,496,001	11,643,103	147,103
				Evansville	20,165,001	20,185,185	20,185
				Los Angeles	25,000,001	25,009,752	9,752
1947	6	DeLuxe	P15S	Detroit	15,206,936	15,252,278	45,343
				Evansville	22,053,040	22,063,369	10,330
				Los Angeles	26,003,589	26,010,839	7,251
		Special DeLuxe	P15C	Detroit	11,643,104	11,854,385	211,282
				Evansville	20,185,186	20,233,167	47,982
				Los Angeles	25,009,753	25,035,585	25,833
1948	6	DeLuxe	P15S	Detroit	15,252,279	15,292,209	39,931
				Evansville	22,063,370	22,073,646	10,277
				Los Angeles	26,010,840	26,018,852	8,013
		Special DeLuxe	P15C	Detroit	11,854,386	12,116,123	261,738
				Evansville	20,233,168	20,299,138	65,971
				Los Angeles	25,035,586	25,071,430	35,845
1949	6	DeLuxe	P17	Detroit	18,000,101	18,040,467	40,367
				Evansville	24,000,101	24,011,890	11,790
				Los Angeles	28,000,101	28,003,814	3,714
				San Leandro	28,500,101	28,503,162	3,062
		DeLuxe	P18	Detroit	15,300,001	15,358,928	58,928
				Evansville	22,080,001	22,096,252	16,252
				Los Angeles	26,025,001	26,030,100	5,100
				San Leandro	26,500,101	26,503,423	3,323
		Special DeLuxe	P18	Detroit	12,120,001	12,384,178	264,178
				Evansville	20,304,001	20,366,486	62,486
				Los Angeles	25,075,001	25,097,094	22,094
				San Leandro	25,500,101	25,510,640	10,540
1950	6	DeLuxe	P19	Detroit	18,041,001	18,119,094	78,094
				Evansville	24,012,001	24,035,538	23,538
				Los Angeles	28,004,001	28,009,848	5,848
				San Leandro	28,503,501	28,511,177	7,677
		DeLuxe	P20	Detroit	15,359,501	15,456,084	96,584
				Evansville	22,097,001	22,125,803	28,803
				Los Angeles	26,030,501	26,035,870	5,370
				San Leandro	26,504,001	26,510,569	6,569
		Special DeLuxe	P20	Detroit	12,384,501	12,627,867	243,367
				Evansville	20,367,001	20,428,448	61,448
				Los Angeles	25,097,501	25,110,385	12,885
				San Leandro	25,511,001	25,527,262	16,262
1951	6	Concord	P22	Detroit	18,126,001	18,192,309	66,309
				Evansville	24,042,001	24,056,628	14,628
				Los Angeles	28,011,001	28,015,557	4,557
				San Leandro	28,513,001	28,518,994	5,994
		DeLuxe Cambridge	P23S	Detroit	15,460,001	15,577,561	117,561
				Evansville	22,132,001	22,159,468	27,468
				Los Angeles	26,040,001	26,045,620	5,620
				San Leandro	26,512,001	26,518,068	6,068
		Special DeLuxe Cranbrook	P23C	Detroit	12,635,001	12,906,467	271,467
				Evansville	20,435,001	20,484,924	49,924
				Los Angeles	25,112,001	25,125,247	13,247
				San Leandro	25,531,001	25,545,962	14,962
1952	6	Concord	P22	Detroit	18,192,501	18,223,600	31,100
				Evansville	24,056,701	24,063,833	7,133
				Los Angeles	28,015,701	28,018,555	2,855
				San Leandro	28,519,101	28,522,352	3,252
		DeLuxe Cambridge	P23S	Detroit	15,577,801	15,662,660	84,860
				Evansville	22,159,601	22,181,520	21,920
				Los Angeles	26,045,701	26,049,991	4,291
				San Leandro	26,518,201	26,523,546	5,346
		Special DeLuxe Cranbrook	P23C	Detroit	12,906,701	13,066,238	159,538
				Evansville	20,485,001	20,516,075	31,075
				Los Angeles	25,125,301	25,134,190	8,890
				San Leandro	25,546,101	25,555,957	9,857
1953	6	Cambridge Cranbrook	P24-1 P24-2	Detroit	13,070,001	13,505,004	435,004
				Evansville	20,520,001	20,657,000	137,000
				Los Angeles	25,136,001	25,161,846	25,846
				San Leandro	25,560,001	25,588,345	28,345
1954	6	Plaza Savoy Belvedere	P25-1 P25-2 P25-3	Detroit	13,506,001	13,829,336	323,336
				Evansville	20,658,001	20,739,829	81,829
				Los Angeles	25,163,001	25,175,377	12,377
				San Leandro	25,590,001	25,606,284	16,284
1955	6	Plaza Belvedere Savoy	P26-1 P26-2 P26-3	Detroit	13,835,001	14,119,261	284,261
				Evansville	20,745,001	20,819,358	74,358
				Los Angeles	25,180,001	25,200,109	20,109
	8	Plaza Belvedere Savoy	P27-1 P27-2 P27-3	Detroit	15,663,001	15,871,476	208,476
				Evansville	22,182,001	22,244,749	62749
				Los Angeles	26,524,001	26,550,290	26,290
1956	6	Plaza & Taxi Savoy Belvedere	P28-1 P28-2 P28-3	Detroit	14,120,001	14,272,723	152,723
				Evansville	20,820,001	20,857,927	37,927
				Los Angeles	25,202,001	25,212,960	10,960
	8	Plaza & Taxi Savoy Belvedere & Fury 1	P29-1 P29-2 P29-3	Detroit	15,873,001	16,080,450	207,450
				Evansville	22,247,001	22,325,907	78,907
				Los Angeles	26,552,001	26,590,897	38,897
1957	6	Plaza Sub. & Taxi Savoy Sub & Taxi Belvedere Suburban	P30-1 P30-2 P30-3	Detroit	14,280,001
				Evansville	20,860,001
				Los Angeles	25,215,001
	8	Plaza Sub. & Taxi Savoy Sub. & Taxi Belvedere Sub. & Fury	P31-1 P31-2 P31-3	Detroit	16,083,001
				Evansville	22,330,001
				Los Angeles	26,595,001
1958	6	Plaza Suburban Savoy Suburban Belvedere Suburban	LP1-L LP1-M LP1-H	Detroit	LP1-1001
				Evansville	LP1E-1001
				Los Angeles	LP1L-1001
				Newark	LP1N-1001
	8	Plaza Suburban Savoy Suburban Belvedere Suburban	LP2-L LP2-M LP2-H	Detroit	LP2-1001
				Evansville	LP2E-1001
				Los Angeles	LP2L-1001
				Newark	LP2N-1001
		Fury 1	LP2-S	Detroit	LP2-1001