SERIAL NUMBER=INFORMATION

[Jimmie]

A fellow who worked for Chrysler for 30 years insists that part of the digits in the serial number of my 1950 Champion stand for certain options or features of the car. Since there are only 6 numbers and I would think that most of them would have to be used to simply identify the car in general, I cannot see how he can be right.

Also, according to my shop manual the first serial number for a 1950 Champion was G-468101. Were the numbers used in sequence? Does this mean that my car with the serial number G-486296 was the 18,195th Champion made at South Bend that year?

1950 2 timer
Orleans, Indiana

[Dick Steinkamp]

Yes

[Dick Steinkamp]

Yes

[Tom Bredehoft]

Gently tell your friend that Chrysler and Studebaker didn't number their cars the same way. The numbers were sequential, with the caveat that at the end of the run (year) they jumped ahead to the next 100.

Your second question, probably within 1% yes. Maybe closer.

[img=left]http://www.alink.com/personal/tbredehoft/Bothcars3.jpg[/img=left]
Tom Bredehoft
'53 Commander Coupe
'55 President State Sedan Project
'60 Lark VI (Now on the market)
'05 Legacy Ltd Wagon
All Indiana built cars

[Tom Bredehoft]

Gently tell your friend that Chrysler and Studebaker didn't number their cars the same way. The numbers were sequential, with the caveat that at the end of the run (year) they jumped ahead to the next 100.

Your second question, probably within 1% yes. Maybe closer.

[img=left]http://www.alink.com/personal/tbredehoft/Bothcars3.jpg[/img=left]
Tom Bredehoft
'53 Commander Coupe
'55 President State Sedan Project
'60 Lark VI (Now on the market)
'05 Legacy Ltd Wagon
All Indiana built cars

[Jimmie]

Yes, gentle will be the way to handle him and even that may not convince him that the two companies used different systems.

Thanks for your response.
Jim

quote:Originally posted by Tom B

Gently tell your friend that Chrysler and Studebaker didn't number their cars the same way. The numbers were sequential, with the caveat that at the end of the run (year) they jumped ahead to the next 100.

Your second question, probably within 1% yes. Maybe closer.

[img=left]http://www.alink.com/personal/tbredehoft/Bothcars3.jpg[/img=left]
Tom Bredehoft
'53 Commander Coupe
'55 President State Sedan Project
'60 Lark VI (Now on the market)
'05 Legacy Ltd Wagon
All Indiana built cars

1950 2 timer
Orleans, Indiana

[Jimmie]

Yes, gentle will be the way to handle him and even that may not convince him that the two companies used different systems.

Thanks for your response.
Jim

quote:Originally posted by Tom B

Gently tell your friend that Chrysler and Studebaker didn't number their cars the same way. The numbers were sequential, with the caveat that at the end of the run (year) they jumped ahead to the next 100.

Your second question, probably within 1% yes. Maybe closer.

[img=left]http://www.alink.com/personal/tbredehoft/Bothcars3.jpg[/img=left]
Tom Bredehoft
'53 Commander Coupe
'55 President State Sedan Project
'60 Lark VI (Now on the market)
'05 Legacy Ltd Wagon
All Indiana built cars

1950 2 timer
Orleans, Indiana

[52hawk]

Chrysler-??? WHO made those?[)]

LaSalle,Il
61Hawk

[52hawk]

Chrysler-??? WHO made those?[)]

LaSalle,Il
61Hawk

[Dwain G.]

A little information besides just sequential serial number can sometimes be interpreted from that plate. On a '50 model the 'G' identifies a Champion model. The first number, '4', tells you it was assembled in South Bend. If the first number in the serial was a '7' it would be a Canadian built car, and '8' would be Los Angeles.


Dwain G.

[Dwain G.]

A little information besides just sequential serial number can sometimes be interpreted from that plate. On a '50 model the 'G' identifies a Champion model. The first number, '4', tells you it was assembled in South Bend. If the first number in the serial was a '7' it would be a Canadian built car, and '8' would be Los Angeles.


Dwain G.

[StudeRich]

I wouldn't argue with the man Jimmie, I would open the Chassis or Body Parts Catalog and SHOW him he absolutely IS wrong! [:0]

quote:Originally posted by Jimmie

Yes, gentle will be the way to handle him and even that may not convince him that the two companies used different systems.
Jim

StudeRich
Studebakers Northwest
Ferndale, WA

[StudeRich]

I wouldn't argue with the man Jimmie, I would open the Chassis or Body Parts Catalog and SHOW him he absolutely IS wrong! [:0]

quote:Originally posted by Jimmie

Yes, gentle will be the way to handle him and even that may not convince him that the two companies used different systems.
Jim

StudeRich
Studebakers Northwest
Ferndale, WA