The information below is drawn from official records and is all that is available at this time. Unfortunately, it is not as accurate as might be expected. Some of the files linked below are quite large to allow easier viewing - they may take a while to load and can be manipulated more easily in a graphics viewer program rather than your standard web browser.

The question most asked by readers is when was my truck delivered. Although careful study of the records below compared to your chassis number may allow you to deduce an approximate year of manufacture, this question can only be answered with a little more certainty by comparison with trucks having known delivery information. I have compiled a list of the data that I have and it can be seen below. If you have a truck with confirmed original chassis number, date of delivery (and if possible, the US Registration number), please send in this information for inclusion. To keep this list as accurate as possible, please only submit information that is verified by a surviving data plate or original markings - ie., no estimated or guessed numbers thanks.

The next most frequent question is can I trace the history of my vehicle. The general answer is no as the US Government is reputed to no longer retain individual equipment files - the best you can hope for is to uncover any unit markings from the front and rear bumpers and the US Registration number from the hood if they still remain under later coats of paint. Early vehicles sometimes had the Reg'n number painted under the hood as well.

UPDATE: The date your vehicle was manufactured can now be ascertained by ordering a copy of the Build Record for your vehicle from the DaimlerChrysler Corporate Historical Collection. In the WW2 Dodge Forum, Mr. Bruce R. Thomas - (Corporate Historian for DaimlerChrysler) has commented on the Build Records as follows: You are correct in assuming that our build record service provides a print of the microfilm record. The data put on the card at the time is all we can provide and again, you are correct that the US numbers were assigned later and are not on the front face of the build record. I have no idea what, if anything appeared on the back. We do not have any build records on vehicles built outside the US and to the best of my knowledge, that information is not available anywhere within DaimlerChrysler. Our normal charge for build records as you stated, is $45.00, but since the military vehicle cards don't list much more than engine numbers and build dates (and requires no decoding on our part) we can provide copies for $25.00 each. Since we can't send card images over e-mail and we require check or money order payment in advance I believe the mail is the only practical method of communication for them. If you would like to post this on your website, feel free to do so (if you give the DaimlerChrysler Corporate US Archives credit). Regards, Bruce R. Thomas Corporate Historian DaimlerChrysler Corporate Historical Collection www.chryslerheritage.com

The Build Record will give you the date the vehicle was produced at the Dodge plant and the original engine number. Remember that the vehicle's production date and the delivery date stamped on its data plates aren't necessarily the same. The vehicles were tested by government inspectors before acceptance and allocation of the US Reg'n number. Any faults or deficiencies had to be made good or missing equipment replaced. For example, I recall reading that there was a shortage of the correct winch rope at one point so winch-equipped vehicles could not be delivered until they were completed according to the government specification. Thus, there could be a delay of a few days to as much as several months before the vehicle was accepted by the Government and the US registration number allocated. Currently, there is no way known to determine a lost US hood registration number other than by comparison with the files below.

Serial Number Location: The principal vehicle identifier is the chassis number which is stamped in 3/8"-1/2" numerals on the outer vertical face of the front chassis rail (driver's side) just ahead of the front wheel. You may find another number stamped into the side chassis rail under the driver's step but this is the chassis part number.