Posted 2024-06-07 3:03 PM (#635583) Subject: '55 Dodge data plate - Please decode if you can read it...
Regular
Posts: 54 Location: Louisville Ky
Is there something I can do to make it easier to read? And how come some guys can post huge pics and this size is the largest I can post? Am I doing something wrong? Thanks in advance....
Posted 2024-06-07 5:08 PM (#635585 - in reply to #635583) Subject: RE: '55 Dodge data plate - Please decode if you can read it...
Exner Expert 10K+
Posts: 10175 Location: Lower Mainland BC
Dodge55CustomRoyal - 2024-06-07 12:03 PM
Is there something I can do to make it easier to read? And how come some guys can post huge pics and this size is the largest I can post?
If you "polish"/burnish that data plate with some steel wool to get rid of some of the rust, it would help us (and you) to read the data plate.
Starting at the left bottom, I see that the scheduled build date was June 15, 1955 (06 15). The five numbers beside the 06 15 are production numbers and are
meaningless to us now.
Under BDY (Body), I see (I think) 235 which was the code for a 1955 Custom Royal 4 dr sedan
PAINT code 73 (could have been 573, at least on the IBM card) is two tone with Sapphire White on the top and "Fantasy" Yellow on the bottom.
TRIM code 441 was a black and white combination specific to the Custom Royal sedan
SP = most likely the shipping route (but I don't know how/why)
The above interpretations are based on information in Mike Peterson's "1955 Dodge - by the numbers" book available on demand (for a price) from the Antique Automobile Club of American (AACA)
NOTE: Mike shows a data plate from a 55 Dodge that was scheduled to be built on 06 14 (the day before your car). It apparently had a VIN of 34934003. I suspect that your car's VIN be close to that one.
Posted 2024-06-08 9:53 AM (#635599 - in reply to #635583) Subject: Re: '55 Dodge data plate - Please decode if you can read it...
Regular
Posts: 54 Location: Louisville Ky
My serial number is 34933706 which is weird because it has a lower number than his. Also, FYI a VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) has 17 characters and they weren't called that until Uncle Sam stepped in in 1980-81 and told all car companies that sell cars here to use 17 characters (both letters and numbers). For more info on VINs look it up on Wikipedia....
'55 Dodge data plate - Please decode if you can read it...
