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Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Decoding
 
1954 to 1956 1/2 ton serial numbers
  Model Starting Serial Number Ending Serial Number
    Detroit California Detroit California
1954-Early 1955 C-1-B-6 82338001 85328001 82372344 85330985
C-1 Series C-1-B-8 84250001 86100001 84262923 86100446
           
1955-Early 1956 C-3-B-6 82373001   82397181  
C-3 Series C-3-B-8 84265001   84284000  
           
1956 C-3 Series C-3-B-6 82398001   82407868  
  C-3-B-8 84284001   84287960  
1954 to 1956 1/2 Ton Model Code Key
C-1 1954 to 1955 First Series
C-3 1955 Second Series to 1956
B 1/2 ton
V8 engine C-1 series 241ci Poly, C-3 series 269ci
8
Poly
Flat Head six engine C-1 series 217ci, C-3 series
6
230ci
C-1 1954 to 1955 First Series production started on July 1st 1953 and ended on March 1st
1955.

C-1 V8 production started on June 1st 1954.

C-3 1955 Second Series production started April 11th 1955

C-3 1956 production started May or June of 1956 and ended in October 1956
This is the tag from a C-3 series truck, but C-1 and C-3 series trucks have the same basic VIN
tag.

The tag is located on the drivers side of the cowl (approximately where I have the red text),
just below the drip rail for the hood, or as pictured below just above the drip rail. I am not
sure why they are in two different places, but I have seen both on C-1 series trucks,
 
1957 1/2 Ton Serial Numbers
 
Model Code Starting Serial Numbers
K6-D100 82413001
K6-W100 81910001
K8-D100 84289001
K8-W100 82901001
1957 1/2 Ton Model Code Key
K 1957
6 Flat Head six engine
8 V8 engine
D Two Wheel Drive
W Four Wheel Drive
This is the paper tag that was put in the glovebox of all 1957 Dodge trucks, and early 1958
Dodge trucks. I have only ever seen this one.

This was the only tag put on 1957 Dodge trucks, so most 1957 trucks can only be verified by
the VIN number on the frame. The VIN number is located on the drivers side of the frame
near the front spring shackle.

 
1958 1/2 Ton Serial Numbers
 
Model Code Starting Serial Numbers
L6-D100 L6D1-L01001
L6-W100 L6W1-L01001
L8-D100 L8D1-L01001
L8-W100 L8W1-L01001
1958 1/2 Ton Serial Number Key
 L 1958
6 Flat Head six engine
8 V8 engine
D Two Wheel Drive
W Four Wheel Drive
1 Half ton
L Light Duty

 
DODGE TRUCKS
  BUILT BY CHRYSLER CORPORATION DETROIT MICHIGAN U.S.A.
  MAXIMUM GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT BELOW IS RESTRICTED BY SPRINGS
  AND AUX. EQUIP. WARRANTY VOID IF GROSS WEIGHT IS EXCEEDED

  L8W1 L17001  5100  108

  SERIAL NO.   MAX G.V.W. LBS   W. B.

  3600  4.1  CHRY    

  REAR AXLE CAP.   REAR AXLE   MAKE   MODEL  
  3000  3 SYN  N PROC  89905 
  FRONT AXLE CAP.   TRANS.   MAKE   MODEL  
  165 4400  1300  12500 
  CERT. NET HP AT R.P.M.   FRONT SPRING CAP.   REAR SPRING CAP.  
        10218047 
  MAKE AUX.   MODEL TRANS.   S. O. NO  
1958 is the first year for the VIN tag to be located on the drivers door jamb like the rest of the
years of TW. Though some early trucks have the paper tags like the 1957 trucks.

The early trucks often have no holes in the door jamb for the tag, and have single headlights.
Later 58's, and every year following of TW has the VIN tag on the drivers door jamb.
 
1959 1/2 Ton Serial Numbers
 
Model Code Starting Serial Numbers
M6-D100 M6D1-L01001
M6-W100 M6W1-L01001
M8-D100 M8D1-L01001
M8-W100 M8W1-L01001
1959 1/2 Ton Serial Number Key
M 1959
6 Flat Head six engine
8 V8 engine
D Two Wheel Drive
W Four Wheel Drive
1 Half ton
L Light Duty

 
DODGE TRUCKS
  BUILT BY CHRYSLER CORPORATION DETROIT MICHIGAN USA
  MAXIMUM GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT BELOW IS RESTRICTED BY SPRINGS
  AND AUX. EQUIP. WARRANTY VOID IF GROSS WEIGHT IS EXCEEDED

  M6W1 L20001  W100  108

  SERIAL NO.   VEHICLE MODEL   W. B.

  4500  4.1  SPICER  60 

  REAR AXLE CAP.   REAR AXLE   MAKE   MODEL  
   3000  3 SYN  WARNER  T85E 
  FRONT AXLE CAP.  TRANS.   MAKE   MODEL  
  168 4400  1300  1250 
  CERT. NET HP AT R.P.M.   FRONT SPRING CAP.   REAR SPRING CAP.  
  6000     10305035 
  MAX G.V.W. LBS   AUX. TRANS.   S. O. NO  

 
1960 1/2 Ton Serial Numbers
 
Model Code Starting Serial Numbers
P6-D100 06D1-L100001
P6-W100 06W1-L100001
P8-D100 08D1-L100001
P8W100 08W1-L100001
1960 1/2 Ton Serial Number Key
0 1960 (in the Model code, P is also 1960)
6 Flat Head six engine
8 V8 engine
D Two Wheel Drive
W Four Wheel Drive
1 Half ton
L Light Duty

 
DODGE TRUCKS
  BUILT BY CHRYSLER CORPORATION DETROIT MICHIGAN USA
  MAXIMUM GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT BELOW IS RESTRICTED BY SPRINGS
  AND AUX. EQUIP. WARRANTY VOID IF GROSS WEIGHT IS EXCEEDED

  1160103896  D100  108

  SERIAL NO.   VEHICLE MODEL   W. B.

  3600  4.1  CHRY    

  REAR AXLE CAP.   REAR AXLE   MAKE   MODEL  
  2500  3SYN  WARNER  T85E 
  FRONT AXLE CAP.   TRANS.   MAKE   MODEL  
  109 3600  900  1050 
  CERT. NET HP AT R.P.M.   FRONT SPRING CAP.   REAR SPRING CAP.  
  5100     90712623 
  MAX G.V.W. LBS   AUX. TRANS.   S. O. NO  

THIS NUMBER MUST BE USED

WHEN ORDERING SERVICE PARTS
  0 6D1 L102695 
 
PARTS AVAILABILITY NO.
This is the first year for two tags to be used on Dodge trucks, the small tag is the "Parts
Availability Number" this was supposed to be the number used to order parts. The serial
number was generally used for titles and the like.

The frame normally had the serial number stamped into it, not the "Parts Availability
Number".

The only problem with all of this is that most of the books show the "Parts Availability
Number" as the way to decode what type of truck you have, and if you use the '61 and up
system to decode the serial number you will get an odd answer for the year, but the model
code part works.

 
1961 to 1966 1/2 Ton Serial Numbers
 
Below are examples of the 1/2 Ton Serial numbers for Dodge trucks built between 1961 and
1966. The first three numbers define:

How many wheels drive the Weight Class Engine

vehicle
1 = 1/2 Ton 6 = Slant Six
D100 2wd = 1
2 = 3/4 Ton 8 = V8
W100 4wd = 2
3 = 1 Ton
 
The last seven digits are the sequential serial number, and from that you can tell the year the
truck was built.
 
Model Starting Serial Numbers for 1961
1/2 Ton D100 6cyl 116 1100000
1/2 Ton W100 6cyl 216 1100000
1/2 Ton D100 V8 118 1100000
1/2 Ton W100 V8 218 1100000
   
Year Starting Serial Number
1961 R-Series 1100000
1962 S-Series 1160000
1963 T-Series 1230000
1964 V-Series 1315000
1965 A-Series 1430000
1966 B-Series 1548000
 
So VIN number 1181460747 would be a D100(2wd), 1/2 Ton, V8 truck, and if you follow
the list above you find this was the 30747th truck built in 1965 as the starting serial number
for 1965 Dodge trucks was 1430000
 

 
DODGE TRUCKS
  BUILT BY CHRYSLER CORPORATION DETROIT, MICHIGAN USA
  MAXIMUM GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT BELOW IS RESTRICTED BY SPRINGS
AND AUX. EQUIP. WARRANTY VOID IF GROSS WEIGHT IS EXCEEDED
 
  D100  114 
  VEHICLE MODEL   W. B.  
  3600  3.91  CHRY  RA 36 
  REAR AXLE CAP.   REAR AXLE   MAKE   MODEL  
  2500  3 SYN  CHRY  A745 
  FRONT AXLE CAP.   TRANS.   MAKE   MODEL  
  164 3900  1025  1750 
  CERT. NET HP AT R.P.M.   FRONT SPRING CAP.   REAR SPRING CAP.  
  5200     11030895 
  MAX G.V.W. LBS   AUX. TRANS.   S. O. NO  

VEHICLE SERIAL NUMBER

NO. DE SERIE DEL VEHICULO
  118 1460747 
THIS NUMBER MUST BE USED
WHEN ORDERING SERVICE PARTS
ESTE NUMERO DEBE SER USADO
AL
ORDENAR REPUESTOS DE
SERVICIO
 
Below is a set of 1965 data tags. These tags are the same as 1961-1966 Data tags, except that
some of the early years have slightly different wording on the small tag, and some small tags
are attached with one rivet instead of two. Above is a version of these tags that I made to
make them easier to read.

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