Where's my serial number?
- Late 1960s and later: usually on a small plate on the dashboard, visible through the windshield on the driver's side.
- Earlier cars: it varies by make and year. Common places are the driver's door pillar or hinge post, the steering column, the firewall, or near the glove box. Each make's page lists what our sources say.
- Paperwork: your title and registration also show it.
Example: 463VJ310001 (an example Willys serial).
Years we cover
1949-1961.
What a Willys serial looks like, by year
Each example below is split into numbered groups of characters, with what each group means. Example numbers show the layout; they are not a specific car.
1949-1950
Looks like 463VJ310001 (11 characters)
| 1 Model number | 463: Jeepster, four-cylinder, 1949 [KWSERIAL] |
| 2 Body code | VJ3: Jeepster (VJ3 as printed in the list) [KWSERIAL] |
| 3 Serial number | 10001 [KWSERIAL] |
Serial ranges printed in the Kaiser Willys list: 463-VJ3 10001-12698 (1949), 663-VJ3 10001-10654 (1949), 473-VJ3 10001-14066 (1950), 673-VJ3 10001-11779 (1950). 1951 Jeepsters (451BA1) show no units. The 1948 VJ2 is counted inside the 463 station wagon range.
How the model number and VJ3 are written on the plate (spaces or dashes) is not shown in our sources; this pattern ignores spaces and dashes. The year here follows the model number as listed, and no per-year range is encoded.
Example is built from the list's model labels, not a recorded vehicle.
All model number codes (4)
| 463 | Jeepster, four-cylinder, 1949 [KWSERIAL] |
| 473 | Jeepster, four-cylinder, 1950 [KWSERIAL] |
| 663 | Jeepster, six-cylinder, 1949 [KWSERIAL] |
| 673 | Jeepster, six-cylinder, 1950 [KWSERIAL] |
Sources: [KWSERIAL]
1951-1954
Looks like 453GB210001 (11 characters)
| 1 First digit | 4: Four-cylinder (Service Bulletin 52-79) [CJ3BINFO] [KWSERIAL] |
| 2 Model year digits | 53: 1953 [CJ3BINFO] [KWSERIAL] |
| 3 Chassis and body letters | GB: Universal Jeep, open body (series digit 1 = CJ-3A, 2 = CJ-3B) [CJ3BINFO] [KWSERIAL] |
| 4 Series digit (series within the model year) | 2: Second series (for example 453GB2 = CJ-3B) [CJ3BINFO] [KWSERIAL] |
| 5 Serial number | 10001 [CJ3BINFO] [KWSERIAL] |
- Chassis and body letter descriptions for wagon, sedan-delivery, Jeepster and truck letters come from the Kaiser Willys model labels, which use '4x' and '2x' prefixes the list does not explain.
- Prefixes for 1950 (450...) are described by CJ3B.info as starting in 1950, but the Kaiser Willys list shows no 450 series; 1950 is therefore not in this pattern.
Willys Service Bulletin 52-79 (26 December 1952), as quoted by CJ3B.info: the first number is the number of cylinders, the second and third give the model year, the first letter the basic chassis model, the second letter the body type, and the fourth number the series within the model year. Example: 453GB2 10001 was the first 1953 CJ-3B (CJ3BINFO).
Every serial in this series starts at 10001 within its prefix, so the prefix, not the serial, identifies the group. Serial counts are published per prefix in the Kaiser Willys reference (KWSERIAL), for example 451GB1 CJ-3A 10001-54158, 452GB1 10001-38652, 453GB1 10001-20617, 453GB2 CJ-3B 10001-37551, 454GB2 10001-41292, 451AA1 wagon 10001-25906, 451EC1 4WD pickup 10001-26029.
Plate layout (prefix, space, serial) as shown on CJ3B.info photos; the plate is under the hood on the right side of the firewall.
A 1954 variant 'OB54 10001' (first about 2,600 CJ-3Bs of 1954) is not encoded (CJ3BOB).
The Kaiser Willys list prints the same prefix 454EC2 (and EB2, ED2, EE2) for 1954 four-cylinder and 6-226 trucks. The first digit may therefore not always distinguish the engine.
Wagon and truck numbers before the 1951 prefix scheme (1946-1950, model codes 463, 473, 663, 673 with plain serials) are not encoded.
All first digit codes (2)
| 4 | Four-cylinder (Service Bulletin 52-79) [CJ3BINFO] [KWSERIAL] |
| 6 | Six-cylinder (Service Bulletin 52-79; the Kaiser Willys list shows 6-cylinder wagons with a 6 prefix) [CJ3BINFO] [KWSERIAL] |
All model year digits codes (4)
| 51 | 1951 [CJ3BINFO] [KWSERIAL] |
| 52 | 1952 [CJ3BINFO] [KWSERIAL] |
| 53 | 1953 [CJ3BINFO] [KWSERIAL] |
| 54 | 1954 [CJ3BINFO] [KWSERIAL] |
All chassis and body letters codes (18)
| GB | Universal Jeep, open body (series digit 1 = CJ-3A, 2 = CJ-3B) [CJ3BINFO] [KWSERIAL] |
| GA | Universal Jeep, stripped chassis [CJ3BINFO] [KWSERIAL] |
| GC | Universal Jeep, FJ Farm Jeep (CJ3B.info) [CJ3BINFO] [KWSERIAL] |
| FA | Station wagon (catalog '4x473 SW' / '4x475 SW', 4x4 wagon) unconfirmed Description is the Kaiser Willys list's model label for this prefix; the bulletin says only that the first letter is the chassis model and the second the body type. [KWSERIAL] |
| AA | Station wagon (catalog '473 SW' / '475 SW', and six-cylinder '673 SW' / '685 SW') unconfirmed Description is the Kaiser Willys list's model label for this prefix; the bulletin says only that the first letter is the chassis model and the second the body type. [KWSERIAL] |
| CA | Sedan delivery (catalog '473 SD' / '475 SD') unconfirmed Description is the Kaiser Willys list's model label for this prefix; the bulletin says only that the first letter is the chassis model and the second the body type. [KWSERIAL] |
| HA | Station wagon (catalog '2x473 SW' / '2x475 SW') unconfirmed Description is the Kaiser Willys list's model label for this prefix; the bulletin says only that the first letter is the chassis model and the second the body type. [KWSERIAL] |
| JA | Sedan delivery (catalog '2x473 SD' / '2x475 SD') unconfirmed Description is the Kaiser Willys list's model label for this prefix; the bulletin says only that the first letter is the chassis model and the second the body type. [KWSERIAL] |
| RA | Four-wheel-drive sedan delivery (catalog '4x475 SD') unconfirmed Description is the Kaiser Willys list's model label for this prefix; the bulletin says only that the first letter is the chassis model and the second the body type. [KWSERIAL] |
| BA | Jeepster (catalog '473-VJ3' / '673 VJ3') unconfirmed Description is the Kaiser Willys list's model label for this prefix; the bulletin says only that the first letter is the chassis model and the second the body type. [KWSERIAL] |
| EC | Four-wheel-drive pickup truck (catalog '473 4WD PU' / '475 4WD PU') unconfirmed Description is the Kaiser Willys list's model label for this prefix; the bulletin says only that the first letter is the chassis model and the second the body type. [KWSERIAL] |
| EB | Four-wheel-drive truck, cab only unconfirmed Description is the Kaiser Willys list's model label for this prefix; the bulletin says only that the first letter is the chassis model and the second the body type. [KWSERIAL] |
| ED | Four-wheel-drive truck, stake unconfirmed Description is the Kaiser Willys list's model label for this prefix; the bulletin says only that the first letter is the chassis model and the second the body type. [KWSERIAL] |
| EE | Four-wheel-drive truck, cowl and windshield unconfirmed Description is the Kaiser Willys list's model label for this prefix; the bulletin says only that the first letter is the chassis model and the second the body type. [KWSERIAL] |
| EF | Four-wheel-drive truck, flat-face cowl unconfirmed Description is the Kaiser Willys list's model label for this prefix; the bulletin says only that the first letter is the chassis model and the second the body type. [KWSERIAL] |
| DC | Two-wheel-drive ('HT') pickup truck (catalog '473 HT PU') unconfirmed Description is the Kaiser Willys list's model label for this prefix; the bulletin says only that the first letter is the chassis model and the second the body type. [KWSERIAL] |
| DB | Two-wheel-drive ('HT') truck, cab only unconfirmed Description is the Kaiser Willys list's model label for this prefix; the bulletin says only that the first letter is the chassis model and the second the body type. [KWSERIAL] |
| DD | Two-wheel-drive ('HT') truck, stake unconfirmed Description is the Kaiser Willys list's model label for this prefix; the bulletin says only that the first letter is the chassis model and the second the body type. [KWSERIAL] |
All series digit (series within the model year) codes (3)
| 1 | First series of the year (for example 453GB1 = CJ-3A) [CJ3BINFO] [KWSERIAL] |
| 2 | Second series (for example 453GB2 = CJ-3B) [CJ3BINFO] [KWSERIAL] |
| 3 | Third series (post-office sedan delivery, '454 JA3') unconfirmed [KWSERIAL] |
Sources: [CJ3BINFO] [KWSERIAL]
1955
Looks like 5734810001 (10 characters)
| 1 Line | 57: Universal Jeep [CJ3BOB] |
| 2 Body type | 3: CJ-3B open body [CJ3BOB] |
| 3 Engine | 4: 4-cylinder 134 cu in F-head [CJ3BOB] |
| 4 Drive | 8: All four-wheel drive [CJ3BOB] |
| 5 Serial number (the range fixes the model year) | 10001 [KWSERIAL] [CJ3BINFO] [CJ3BOB] |
- This format is digits only, and many makers used plain numeric serials in these years. A match here does not by itself show the car is this make; check the make on the car and its paperwork.
Plate prefix 57348 followed by the serial; written 57348-10001 on the plate. The model year is fixed by the serial range 10001 to 22952 (the prefix does not carry a year). Plate: under the hood on the right side of the firewall (CJ3BINFO).
Willys Service Bulletin 328 (18 October 1956), as quoted by CJ3B.info, explains the 5-digit prefix: 57 is the Universal Jeep line, the third digit the body type (3 CJ-3B open body, 4 CJ-3B stripped chassis, 5 CJ-5 open body, 6 CJ-5 stripped chassis, 7 CJ-6 open body), the fourth the engine (2 six 161, 4 four 134, 6 six 226) and the fifth the drive (7 2WD, 8 4WD) (CJ3BOB).
Numbers come from the Kaiser Willys serial reference (KWSERIAL).
Stripped-chassis (57448, 57648), fire-engine (57048-01, 57048-02), CJ-6 and diesel (57558) numbers have their own short ranges and are not encoded.
Example is built from the published range start, not a recorded vehicle.
CJ3B.info and the Kaiser Willys reference print identical CJ-3B ranges for 1955-1961. Note the 1960 range starts at 57548, which is a serial number here, not the CJ-5 model prefix.
Sources: [KWSERIAL] [CJ3BINFO] [CJ3BOB]
1955
Looks like 5754810001 (10 characters)
| 1 Line | 57: Universal Jeep [CJ3BOB] |
| 2 Body type | 5: CJ-5 open body [CJ3BOB] |
| 3 Engine | 4: 4-cylinder 134 cu in F-head [CJ3BOB] |
| 4 Drive | 8: All four-wheel drive [CJ3BOB] |
| 5 Serial number (the range fixes the model year) | 10001 [KWSERIAL] [OLSEN] [CJ3BOB] |
- Year labels for CJ-5 serial ranges: the Kaiser Willys reference starts 10001-27006 at 1955; the extracted text of the Olsen PDF appears to place the same range under 1956. We follow the Kaiser Willys labels.
- This format is digits only, and many makers used plain numeric serials in these years. A match here does not by itself show the car is this make; check the make on the car and its paperwork.
Plate prefix 57548 followed by the serial; written 57548-10001 on the plate. The model year is fixed by the serial range 10001 to 27006 (the prefix does not carry a year). Plate: under the hood on the right side of the firewall (CJ3BINFO).
Willys Service Bulletin 328 (18 October 1956), as quoted by CJ3B.info, explains the 5-digit prefix: 57 is the Universal Jeep line, the third digit the body type (3 CJ-3B open body, 4 CJ-3B stripped chassis, 5 CJ-5 open body, 6 CJ-5 stripped chassis, 7 CJ-6 open body), the fourth the engine (2 six 161, 4 four 134, 6 six 226) and the fifth the drive (7 2WD, 8 4WD) (CJ3BOB).
Numbers come from the Kaiser Willys serial reference (KWSERIAL).
Stripped-chassis (57448, 57648), fire-engine (57048-01, 57048-02), CJ-6 and diesel (57558) numbers have their own short ranges and are not encoded.
Example is built from the published range start, not a recorded vehicle.
The Kaiser Willys reference lists these CJ-5 ranges by model year 1955 to 1961. The Olsen PDF prints the same ranges in a table whose year column is one row later in the extracted text; we follow the Kaiser Willys year labels; Service Bulletin 328 also lists 57548-10001 as the start of the 1955 CJ-5 open body (CJ3BOB).
Sources: [KWSERIAL] [OLSEN] [CJ3BOB]
1955-1961
Looks like 5414810001 (10 characters)
| 1 Line | 54: Station wagon / sedan delivery family unconfirmed [KWSERIAL] |
| 2 Body type (differs by line) | 1: Station wagon (54 line) or cab only (55 line) unconfirmed [KWSERIAL] |
| 3 Engine | 4: Four-cylinder 134 (catalog '475') [KWSERIAL] [CJ3BOB] |
| 4 Drive | 8: Four-wheel drive [KWSERIAL] [CJ3BOB] |
| 5 Serial number (starts at 10001, or 5001 for some early 1955 series) | 10001 [KWSERIAL] |
- The Kaiser Willys list has apparent misprints, for example 1958 54168 starting at 32700 after 1957 ended at 32669, and the 1961 2x4 sedan delivery row reading 11694 to 19144; ranges were therefore not encoded by year.
- This format is digits only, and many makers used plain numeric serials in these years. A match here does not by itself show the car is this make; check the make on the car and its paperwork.
The Kaiser Willys reference pairs prefixes such as 54148 (475 4x4 station wagon), 54168 (6-226 4x4 station wagon), 54147/54167 (2x4 wagons), 54248/54268 (4x4 sedan delivery), 55148/55168 (4WD cab), 55248/55268 (4WD pickup) and 55348/55368 (4WD stake) with serial ranges that continue across model years (KWSERIAL).
Service Bulletin 328 documents the engine digit and drive digit for Universal Jeeps (CJ3BOB); the same digits recur in the wagon and truck prefixes, so they are applied here by analogy. The meaning of the first three digits is read from the Kaiser Willys model labels only and is marked unconfirmed.
Ambulance, fire-engine, Traveler and other special numbers carry a suffix (for example 54068-03) and are not covered. Forward Control trucks have a separate format.
Serial ranges by year are printed in the Kaiser Willys reference (for example 54168 6-226 4x4 wagon: 1955 5001-18095, 1956 18096-25335, 1957 25336-32669, 1958 32700-39196, 1959 39197-47362, 1960 47363-56330, 1961 56331-64238) but are not turned into patterns, because the list has printing errors (see disputes).
Example is built from the model-prefix labels, not a recorded vehicle.
All line codes (2)
| 54 | Station wagon / sedan delivery family unconfirmed [KWSERIAL] |
| 55 | Pickup truck family unconfirmed [KWSERIAL] |
All body type (differs by line) codes (6)
| 1 | Station wagon (54 line) or cab only (55 line) unconfirmed [KWSERIAL] |
| 2 | Sedan delivery (54 line) or pickup (55 line) unconfirmed [KWSERIAL] |
| 3 | Stake (55 line) unconfirmed [KWSERIAL] |
| 4 | Flat-face cowl unconfirmed [KWSERIAL] |
| 5 | Cowl and windshield unconfirmed [KWSERIAL] |
| 6 | Stripped chassis unconfirmed [KWSERIAL] |
All engine codes (3)
| 2 | Six-cylinder 161 (catalog '685') unconfirmed [KWSERIAL] [CJ3BOB] |
| 4 | Four-cylinder 134 (catalog '475') [KWSERIAL] [CJ3BOB] |
| 6 | Six-cylinder 226 (catalog '6-226') [KWSERIAL] [CJ3BOB] |
All drive codes (2)
| 7 | Two-wheel drive [KWSERIAL] [CJ3BOB] |
| 8 | Four-wheel drive [KWSERIAL] [CJ3BOB] |
Sources: [KWSERIAL] [CJ3BOB]
1956
Looks like 5734822953 (10 characters)
| 1 Line | 57: Universal Jeep [CJ3BOB] |
| 2 Body type | 3: CJ-3B open body [CJ3BOB] |
| 3 Engine | 4: 4-cylinder 134 cu in F-head [CJ3BOB] |
| 4 Drive | 8: All four-wheel drive [CJ3BOB] |
| 5 Serial number (the range fixes the model year) | 22953 [KWSERIAL] [CJ3BINFO] [CJ3BOB] |
- This format is digits only, and many makers used plain numeric serials in these years. A match here does not by itself show the car is this make; check the make on the car and its paperwork.
Plate prefix 57348 followed by the serial; written 57348-22953 on the plate. The model year is fixed by the serial range 22953 to 34371 (the prefix does not carry a year). Plate: under the hood on the right side of the firewall (CJ3BINFO).
Willys Service Bulletin 328 (18 October 1956), as quoted by CJ3B.info, explains the 5-digit prefix: 57 is the Universal Jeep line, the third digit the body type (3 CJ-3B open body, 4 CJ-3B stripped chassis, 5 CJ-5 open body, 6 CJ-5 stripped chassis, 7 CJ-6 open body), the fourth the engine (2 six 161, 4 four 134, 6 six 226) and the fifth the drive (7 2WD, 8 4WD) (CJ3BOB).
Numbers come from the Kaiser Willys serial reference (KWSERIAL).
Stripped-chassis (57448, 57648), fire-engine (57048-01, 57048-02), CJ-6 and diesel (57558) numbers have their own short ranges and are not encoded.
Example is built from the published range start, not a recorded vehicle.
CJ3B.info and the Kaiser Willys reference print identical CJ-3B ranges for 1955-1961. Note the 1960 range starts at 57548, which is a serial number here, not the CJ-5 model prefix.
Sources: [KWSERIAL] [CJ3BINFO] [CJ3BOB]
1956
Looks like 5754827007 (10 characters)
| 1 Line | 57: Universal Jeep [CJ3BOB] |
| 2 Body type | 5: CJ-5 open body [CJ3BOB] |
| 3 Engine | 4: 4-cylinder 134 cu in F-head [CJ3BOB] |
| 4 Drive | 8: All four-wheel drive [CJ3BOB] |
| 5 Serial number (the range fixes the model year) | 27007 [KWSERIAL] [OLSEN] [CJ3BOB] |
- Year labels for CJ-5 serial ranges: the Kaiser Willys reference starts 10001-27006 at 1955; the extracted text of the Olsen PDF appears to place the same range under 1956. We follow the Kaiser Willys labels.
- This format is digits only, and many makers used plain numeric serials in these years. A match here does not by itself show the car is this make; check the make on the car and its paperwork.
Plate prefix 57548 followed by the serial; written 57548-27007 on the plate. The model year is fixed by the serial range 27007 to 45922 (the prefix does not carry a year). Plate: under the hood on the right side of the firewall (CJ3BINFO).
Willys Service Bulletin 328 (18 October 1956), as quoted by CJ3B.info, explains the 5-digit prefix: 57 is the Universal Jeep line, the third digit the body type (3 CJ-3B open body, 4 CJ-3B stripped chassis, 5 CJ-5 open body, 6 CJ-5 stripped chassis, 7 CJ-6 open body), the fourth the engine (2 six 161, 4 four 134, 6 six 226) and the fifth the drive (7 2WD, 8 4WD) (CJ3BOB).
Numbers come from the Kaiser Willys serial reference (KWSERIAL).
Stripped-chassis (57448, 57648), fire-engine (57048-01, 57048-02), CJ-6 and diesel (57558) numbers have their own short ranges and are not encoded.
Example is built from the published range start, not a recorded vehicle.
The Kaiser Willys reference lists these CJ-5 ranges by model year 1955 to 1961. The Olsen PDF prints the same ranges in a table whose year column is one row later in the extracted text; we follow the Kaiser Willys year labels; Service Bulletin 328 also lists 57548-10001 as the start of the 1955 CJ-5 open body (CJ3BOB).
Sources: [KWSERIAL] [OLSEN] [CJ3BOB]
1957
Looks like 5734834372 (10 characters)
| 1 Line | 57: Universal Jeep [CJ3BOB] |
| 2 Body type | 3: CJ-3B open body [CJ3BOB] |
| 3 Engine | 4: 4-cylinder 134 cu in F-head [CJ3BOB] |
| 4 Drive | 8: All four-wheel drive [CJ3BOB] |
| 5 Serial number (the range fixes the model year) | 34372 [KWSERIAL] [CJ3BINFO] [CJ3BOB] |
- This format is digits only, and many makers used plain numeric serials in these years. A match here does not by itself show the car is this make; check the make on the car and its paperwork.
Plate prefix 57348 followed by the serial; written 57348-34372 on the plate. The model year is fixed by the serial range 34372 to 41591 (the prefix does not carry a year). Plate: under the hood on the right side of the firewall (CJ3BINFO).
Willys Service Bulletin 328 (18 October 1956), as quoted by CJ3B.info, explains the 5-digit prefix: 57 is the Universal Jeep line, the third digit the body type (3 CJ-3B open body, 4 CJ-3B stripped chassis, 5 CJ-5 open body, 6 CJ-5 stripped chassis, 7 CJ-6 open body), the fourth the engine (2 six 161, 4 four 134, 6 six 226) and the fifth the drive (7 2WD, 8 4WD) (CJ3BOB).
Numbers come from the Kaiser Willys serial reference (KWSERIAL).
Stripped-chassis (57448, 57648), fire-engine (57048-01, 57048-02), CJ-6 and diesel (57558) numbers have their own short ranges and are not encoded.
Example is built from the published range start, not a recorded vehicle.
CJ3B.info and the Kaiser Willys reference print identical CJ-3B ranges for 1955-1961. Note the 1960 range starts at 57548, which is a serial number here, not the CJ-5 model prefix.
Sources: [KWSERIAL] [CJ3BINFO] [CJ3BOB]
1957
Looks like 5754845923 (10 characters)
| 1 Line | 57: Universal Jeep [CJ3BOB] |
| 2 Body type | 5: CJ-5 open body [CJ3BOB] |
| 3 Engine | 4: 4-cylinder 134 cu in F-head [CJ3BOB] |
| 4 Drive | 8: All four-wheel drive [CJ3BOB] |
| 5 Serial number (the range fixes the model year) | 45923 [KWSERIAL] [OLSEN] [CJ3BOB] |
- Year labels for CJ-5 serial ranges: the Kaiser Willys reference starts 10001-27006 at 1955; the extracted text of the Olsen PDF appears to place the same range under 1956. We follow the Kaiser Willys labels.
- This format is digits only, and many makers used plain numeric serials in these years. A match here does not by itself show the car is this make; check the make on the car and its paperwork.
Plate prefix 57548 followed by the serial; written 57548-45923 on the plate. The model year is fixed by the serial range 45923 to 68815 (the prefix does not carry a year). Plate: under the hood on the right side of the firewall (CJ3BINFO).
Willys Service Bulletin 328 (18 October 1956), as quoted by CJ3B.info, explains the 5-digit prefix: 57 is the Universal Jeep line, the third digit the body type (3 CJ-3B open body, 4 CJ-3B stripped chassis, 5 CJ-5 open body, 6 CJ-5 stripped chassis, 7 CJ-6 open body), the fourth the engine (2 six 161, 4 four 134, 6 six 226) and the fifth the drive (7 2WD, 8 4WD) (CJ3BOB).
Numbers come from the Kaiser Willys serial reference (KWSERIAL).
Stripped-chassis (57448, 57648), fire-engine (57048-01, 57048-02), CJ-6 and diesel (57558) numbers have their own short ranges and are not encoded.
Example is built from the published range start, not a recorded vehicle.
The Kaiser Willys reference lists these CJ-5 ranges by model year 1955 to 1961. The Olsen PDF prints the same ranges in a table whose year column is one row later in the extracted text; we follow the Kaiser Willys year labels; Service Bulletin 328 also lists 57548-10001 as the start of the 1955 CJ-5 open body (CJ3BOB).
Sources: [KWSERIAL] [OLSEN] [CJ3BOB]
1957
Looks like 6554810001 (10 characters)
| 1 Model prefix | 65548: Forward Control FC-150, cab [KWSERIAL] |
| 2 Serial number (the range fixes the model year) | 10001 [KWSERIAL] |
- This format is digits only, and many makers used plain numeric serials in these years. A match here does not by itself show the car is this make; check the make on the car and its paperwork.
Serial range 10001 to 16635 for the 1957 model year as printed in the Kaiser Willys reference (KWSERIAL). Other FC-150 numbers (stripped chassis, cowl and windshield, dual) have separate short ranges and are not encoded.
Example is built from the published range start, not a recorded vehicle.
Sources: [KWSERIAL]
1957
Looks like 6156810001 (10 characters)
| 1 Model prefix | 61568: Forward Control FC-170, cab [KWSERIAL] |
| 2 Serial number (the range fixes the model year) | 10001 [KWSERIAL] |
- This format is digits only, and many makers used plain numeric serials in these years. A match here does not by itself show the car is this make; check the make on the car and its paperwork.
Serial range 10001 to 13101 for the 1957 model year as printed in the Kaiser Willys reference (KWSERIAL). Other FC-170 numbers (stripped chassis, cowl and windshield, dual) have separate short ranges and are not encoded.
Example is built from the published range start, not a recorded vehicle.
Sources: [KWSERIAL]
1958
Looks like 5734841592 (10 characters)
| 1 Line | 57: Universal Jeep [CJ3BOB] |
| 2 Body type | 3: CJ-3B open body [CJ3BOB] |
| 3 Engine | 4: 4-cylinder 134 cu in F-head [CJ3BOB] |
| 4 Drive | 8: All four-wheel drive [CJ3BOB] |
| 5 Serial number (the range fixes the model year) | 41592 [KWSERIAL] [CJ3BINFO] [CJ3BOB] |
- This format is digits only, and many makers used plain numeric serials in these years. A match here does not by itself show the car is this make; check the make on the car and its paperwork.
Plate prefix 57348 followed by the serial; written 57348-41592 on the plate. The model year is fixed by the serial range 41592 to 48247 (the prefix does not carry a year). Plate: under the hood on the right side of the firewall (CJ3BINFO).
Willys Service Bulletin 328 (18 October 1956), as quoted by CJ3B.info, explains the 5-digit prefix: 57 is the Universal Jeep line, the third digit the body type (3 CJ-3B open body, 4 CJ-3B stripped chassis, 5 CJ-5 open body, 6 CJ-5 stripped chassis, 7 CJ-6 open body), the fourth the engine (2 six 161, 4 four 134, 6 six 226) and the fifth the drive (7 2WD, 8 4WD) (CJ3BOB).
Numbers come from the Kaiser Willys serial reference (KWSERIAL).
Stripped-chassis (57448, 57648), fire-engine (57048-01, 57048-02), CJ-6 and diesel (57558) numbers have their own short ranges and are not encoded.
Example is built from the published range start, not a recorded vehicle.
CJ3B.info and the Kaiser Willys reference print identical CJ-3B ranges for 1955-1961. Note the 1960 range starts at 57548, which is a serial number here, not the CJ-5 model prefix.
Sources: [KWSERIAL] [CJ3BINFO] [CJ3BOB]
1958
Looks like 5754868816 (10 characters)
| 1 Line | 57: Universal Jeep [CJ3BOB] |
| 2 Body type | 5: CJ-5 open body [CJ3BOB] |
| 3 Engine | 4: 4-cylinder 134 cu in F-head [CJ3BOB] |
| 4 Drive | 8: All four-wheel drive [CJ3BOB] |
| 5 Serial number (the range fixes the model year) | 68816 [KWSERIAL] [OLSEN] [CJ3BOB] |
- Year labels for CJ-5 serial ranges: the Kaiser Willys reference starts 10001-27006 at 1955; the extracted text of the Olsen PDF appears to place the same range under 1956. We follow the Kaiser Willys labels.
- This format is digits only, and many makers used plain numeric serials in these years. A match here does not by itself show the car is this make; check the make on the car and its paperwork.
Plate prefix 57548 followed by the serial; written 57548-68816 on the plate. The model year is fixed by the serial range 68816 to 82877 (the prefix does not carry a year). Plate: under the hood on the right side of the firewall (CJ3BINFO).
Willys Service Bulletin 328 (18 October 1956), as quoted by CJ3B.info, explains the 5-digit prefix: 57 is the Universal Jeep line, the third digit the body type (3 CJ-3B open body, 4 CJ-3B stripped chassis, 5 CJ-5 open body, 6 CJ-5 stripped chassis, 7 CJ-6 open body), the fourth the engine (2 six 161, 4 four 134, 6 six 226) and the fifth the drive (7 2WD, 8 4WD) (CJ3BOB).
Numbers come from the Kaiser Willys serial reference (KWSERIAL).
Stripped-chassis (57448, 57648), fire-engine (57048-01, 57048-02), CJ-6 and diesel (57558) numbers have their own short ranges and are not encoded.
Example is built from the published range start, not a recorded vehicle.
The Kaiser Willys reference lists these CJ-5 ranges by model year 1955 to 1961. The Olsen PDF prints the same ranges in a table whose year column is one row later in the extracted text; we follow the Kaiser Willys year labels; Service Bulletin 328 also lists 57548-10001 as the start of the 1955 CJ-5 open body (CJ3BOB).
Sources: [KWSERIAL] [OLSEN] [CJ3BOB]
1958
Looks like 6554816636 (10 characters)
| 1 Model prefix | 65548: Forward Control FC-150, cab [KWSERIAL] |
| 2 Serial number (the range fixes the model year) | 16636 [KWSERIAL] |
- This format is digits only, and many makers used plain numeric serials in these years. A match here does not by itself show the car is this make; check the make on the car and its paperwork.
Serial range 16636 to 18705 for the 1958 model year as printed in the Kaiser Willys reference (KWSERIAL). Other FC-150 numbers (stripped chassis, cowl and windshield, dual) have separate short ranges and are not encoded.
Example is built from the published range start, not a recorded vehicle.
Sources: [KWSERIAL]
1958
Looks like 6156813102 (10 characters)
| 1 Model prefix | 61568: Forward Control FC-170, cab [KWSERIAL] |
| 2 Serial number (the range fixes the model year) | 13102 [KWSERIAL] |
- This format is digits only, and many makers used plain numeric serials in these years. A match here does not by itself show the car is this make; check the make on the car and its paperwork.
Serial range 13102 to 14620 for the 1958 model year as printed in the Kaiser Willys reference (KWSERIAL). Other FC-170 numbers (stripped chassis, cowl and windshield, dual) have separate short ranges and are not encoded.
Example is built from the published range start, not a recorded vehicle.
Sources: [KWSERIAL]
1959
Looks like 5734848248 (10 characters)
| 1 Line | 57: Universal Jeep [CJ3BOB] |
| 2 Body type | 3: CJ-3B open body [CJ3BOB] |
| 3 Engine | 4: 4-cylinder 134 cu in F-head [CJ3BOB] |
| 4 Drive | 8: All four-wheel drive [CJ3BOB] |
| 5 Serial number (the range fixes the model year) | 48248 [KWSERIAL] [CJ3BINFO] [CJ3BOB] |
- This format is digits only, and many makers used plain numeric serials in these years. A match here does not by itself show the car is this make; check the make on the car and its paperwork.
Plate prefix 57348 followed by the serial; written 57348-48248 on the plate. The model year is fixed by the serial range 48248 to 57547 (the prefix does not carry a year). Plate: under the hood on the right side of the firewall (CJ3BINFO).
Willys Service Bulletin 328 (18 October 1956), as quoted by CJ3B.info, explains the 5-digit prefix: 57 is the Universal Jeep line, the third digit the body type (3 CJ-3B open body, 4 CJ-3B stripped chassis, 5 CJ-5 open body, 6 CJ-5 stripped chassis, 7 CJ-6 open body), the fourth the engine (2 six 161, 4 four 134, 6 six 226) and the fifth the drive (7 2WD, 8 4WD) (CJ3BOB).
Numbers come from the Kaiser Willys serial reference (KWSERIAL).
Stripped-chassis (57448, 57648), fire-engine (57048-01, 57048-02), CJ-6 and diesel (57558) numbers have their own short ranges and are not encoded.
Example is built from the published range start, not a recorded vehicle.
CJ3B.info and the Kaiser Willys reference print identical CJ-3B ranges for 1955-1961. Note the 1960 range starts at 57548, which is a serial number here, not the CJ-5 model prefix.
Sources: [KWSERIAL] [CJ3BINFO] [CJ3BOB]
1959
Looks like 5754882878 (10 characters)
| 1 Line | 57: Universal Jeep [CJ3BOB] |
| 2 Body type | 5: CJ-5 open body [CJ3BOB] |
| 3 Engine | 4: 4-cylinder 134 cu in F-head [CJ3BOB] |
| 4 Drive | 8: All four-wheel drive [CJ3BOB] |
| 5 Serial number (the range fixes the model year) | 82878 [KWSERIAL] [OLSEN] [CJ3BOB] |
- Year labels for CJ-5 serial ranges: the Kaiser Willys reference starts 10001-27006 at 1955; the extracted text of the Olsen PDF appears to place the same range under 1956. We follow the Kaiser Willys labels.
- This format is digits only, and many makers used plain numeric serials in these years. A match here does not by itself show the car is this make; check the make on the car and its paperwork.
Plate prefix 57548 followed by the serial; written 57548-82878 on the plate. The model year is fixed by the serial range 82878 to 97918 (the prefix does not carry a year). Plate: under the hood on the right side of the firewall (CJ3BINFO).
Willys Service Bulletin 328 (18 October 1956), as quoted by CJ3B.info, explains the 5-digit prefix: 57 is the Universal Jeep line, the third digit the body type (3 CJ-3B open body, 4 CJ-3B stripped chassis, 5 CJ-5 open body, 6 CJ-5 stripped chassis, 7 CJ-6 open body), the fourth the engine (2 six 161, 4 four 134, 6 six 226) and the fifth the drive (7 2WD, 8 4WD) (CJ3BOB).
Numbers come from the Kaiser Willys serial reference (KWSERIAL).
Stripped-chassis (57448, 57648), fire-engine (57048-01, 57048-02), CJ-6 and diesel (57558) numbers have their own short ranges and are not encoded.
Example is built from the published range start, not a recorded vehicle.
The Kaiser Willys reference lists these CJ-5 ranges by model year 1955 to 1961. The Olsen PDF prints the same ranges in a table whose year column is one row later in the extracted text; we follow the Kaiser Willys year labels; Service Bulletin 328 also lists 57548-10001 as the start of the 1955 CJ-5 open body (CJ3BOB).
Sources: [KWSERIAL] [OLSEN] [CJ3BOB]
1959
Looks like 6554818706 (10 characters)
| 1 Model prefix | 65548: Forward Control FC-150, cab [KWSERIAL] |
| 2 Serial number (the range fixes the model year) | 18706 [KWSERIAL] |
- This format is digits only, and many makers used plain numeric serials in these years. A match here does not by itself show the car is this make; check the make on the car and its paperwork.
Serial range 18706 to 21754 for the 1959 model year as printed in the Kaiser Willys reference (KWSERIAL). Other FC-150 numbers (stripped chassis, cowl and windshield, dual) have separate short ranges and are not encoded.
Example is built from the published range start, not a recorded vehicle.
Sources: [KWSERIAL]
1959
Looks like 6156814621 (10 characters)
| 1 Model prefix | 61568: Forward Control FC-170, cab [KWSERIAL] |
| 2 Serial number (the range fixes the model year) | 14621 [KWSERIAL] |
- The list prints 17094 as the end of the 1959 FC-170 cab range and again as the start of the 1960 range (footnote 17, not explained). Both years accept 17094.
- This format is digits only, and many makers used plain numeric serials in these years. A match here does not by itself show the car is this make; check the make on the car and its paperwork.
Serial range 14621 to 17094 for the 1959 model year as printed in the Kaiser Willys reference (KWSERIAL). Other FC-170 numbers (stripped chassis, cowl and windshield, dual) have separate short ranges and are not encoded.
Example is built from the published range start, not a recorded vehicle.
Sources: [KWSERIAL]
1960
Looks like 5734857548 (10 characters)
| 1 Line | 57: Universal Jeep [CJ3BOB] |
| 2 Body type | 3: CJ-3B open body [CJ3BOB] |
| 3 Engine | 4: 4-cylinder 134 cu in F-head [CJ3BOB] |
| 4 Drive | 8: All four-wheel drive [CJ3BOB] |
| 5 Serial number (the range fixes the model year) | 57548 [KWSERIAL] [CJ3BINFO] [CJ3BOB] |
- This format is digits only, and many makers used plain numeric serials in these years. A match here does not by itself show the car is this make; check the make on the car and its paperwork.
Plate prefix 57348 followed by the serial; written 57348-57548 on the plate. The model year is fixed by the serial range 57548 to 67473 (the prefix does not carry a year). Plate: under the hood on the right side of the firewall (CJ3BINFO).
Willys Service Bulletin 328 (18 October 1956), as quoted by CJ3B.info, explains the 5-digit prefix: 57 is the Universal Jeep line, the third digit the body type (3 CJ-3B open body, 4 CJ-3B stripped chassis, 5 CJ-5 open body, 6 CJ-5 stripped chassis, 7 CJ-6 open body), the fourth the engine (2 six 161, 4 four 134, 6 six 226) and the fifth the drive (7 2WD, 8 4WD) (CJ3BOB).
Numbers come from the Kaiser Willys serial reference (KWSERIAL).
Stripped-chassis (57448, 57648), fire-engine (57048-01, 57048-02), CJ-6 and diesel (57558) numbers have their own short ranges and are not encoded.
Example is built from the published range start, not a recorded vehicle.
CJ3B.info and the Kaiser Willys reference print identical CJ-3B ranges for 1955-1961. Note the 1960 range starts at 57548, which is a serial number here, not the CJ-5 model prefix.
Sources: [KWSERIAL] [CJ3BINFO] [CJ3BOB]
1960
Looks like 5754897919 (10 characters)
| 1 Line | 57: Universal Jeep [CJ3BOB] |
| 2 Body type | 5: CJ-5 open body [CJ3BOB] |
| 3 Engine | 4: 4-cylinder 134 cu in F-head [CJ3BOB] |
| 4 Drive | 8: All four-wheel drive [CJ3BOB] |
| 5 Serial number (the range fixes the model year) | 97919 [KWSERIAL] [OLSEN] [CJ3BOB] |
- Year labels for CJ-5 serial ranges: the Kaiser Willys reference starts 10001-27006 at 1955; the extracted text of the Olsen PDF appears to place the same range under 1956. We follow the Kaiser Willys labels.
- This format is digits only, and many makers used plain numeric serials in these years. A match here does not by itself show the car is this make; check the make on the car and its paperwork.
Plate prefix 57548 followed by the serial; written 57548-97919 on the plate. The model year is fixed by the serial range 97919 to 119539 (the prefix does not carry a year). Plate: under the hood on the right side of the firewall (CJ3BINFO).
Willys Service Bulletin 328 (18 October 1956), as quoted by CJ3B.info, explains the 5-digit prefix: 57 is the Universal Jeep line, the third digit the body type (3 CJ-3B open body, 4 CJ-3B stripped chassis, 5 CJ-5 open body, 6 CJ-5 stripped chassis, 7 CJ-6 open body), the fourth the engine (2 six 161, 4 four 134, 6 six 226) and the fifth the drive (7 2WD, 8 4WD) (CJ3BOB).
Numbers come from the Kaiser Willys serial reference (KWSERIAL).
Stripped-chassis (57448, 57648), fire-engine (57048-01, 57048-02), CJ-6 and diesel (57558) numbers have their own short ranges and are not encoded.
Example is built from the published range start, not a recorded vehicle.
The Kaiser Willys reference lists these CJ-5 ranges by model year 1955 to 1961. The Olsen PDF prints the same ranges in a table whose year column is one row later in the extracted text; we follow the Kaiser Willys year labels; Service Bulletin 328 also lists 57548-10001 as the start of the 1955 CJ-5 open body (CJ3BOB).
Sources: [KWSERIAL] [OLSEN] [CJ3BOB]
1960
Looks like 6554821755 (10 characters)
| 1 Model prefix | 65548: Forward Control FC-150, cab [KWSERIAL] |
| 2 Serial number (the range fixes the model year) | 21755 [KWSERIAL] |
- This format is digits only, and many makers used plain numeric serials in these years. A match here does not by itself show the car is this make; check the make on the car and its paperwork.
Serial range 21755 to 23678 for the 1960 model year as printed in the Kaiser Willys reference (KWSERIAL). Other FC-150 numbers (stripped chassis, cowl and windshield, dual) have separate short ranges and are not encoded.
Example is built from the published range start, not a recorded vehicle.
Sources: [KWSERIAL]
1960
Looks like 6156817094 (10 characters)
| 1 Model prefix | 61568: Forward Control FC-170, cab [KWSERIAL] |
| 2 Serial number (the range fixes the model year) | 17094 [KWSERIAL] |
- The list prints 17094 as the end of the 1959 FC-170 cab range and again as the start of the 1960 range (footnote 17, not explained). Both years accept 17094.
- This format is digits only, and many makers used plain numeric serials in these years. A match here does not by itself show the car is this make; check the make on the car and its paperwork.
Serial range 17094 to 19599 for the 1960 model year as printed in the Kaiser Willys reference (KWSERIAL). Other FC-170 numbers (stripped chassis, cowl and windshield, dual) have separate short ranges and are not encoded.
Example is built from the published range start, not a recorded vehicle.
Sources: [KWSERIAL]
1961
Looks like 5734867474 (10 characters)
| 1 Line | 57: Universal Jeep [CJ3BOB] |
| 2 Body type | 3: CJ-3B open body [CJ3BOB] |
| 3 Engine | 4: 4-cylinder 134 cu in F-head [CJ3BOB] |
| 4 Drive | 8: All four-wheel drive [CJ3BOB] |
| 5 Serial number (the range fixes the model year) | 67474 [KWSERIAL] [CJ3BINFO] [CJ3BOB] |
- This format is digits only, and many makers used plain numeric serials in these years. A match here does not by itself show the car is this make; check the make on the car and its paperwork.
Plate prefix 57348 followed by the serial; written 57348-67474 on the plate. The model year is fixed by the serial range 67474 to 85317 (the prefix does not carry a year). Plate: under the hood on the right side of the firewall (CJ3BINFO).
Willys Service Bulletin 328 (18 October 1956), as quoted by CJ3B.info, explains the 5-digit prefix: 57 is the Universal Jeep line, the third digit the body type (3 CJ-3B open body, 4 CJ-3B stripped chassis, 5 CJ-5 open body, 6 CJ-5 stripped chassis, 7 CJ-6 open body), the fourth the engine (2 six 161, 4 four 134, 6 six 226) and the fifth the drive (7 2WD, 8 4WD) (CJ3BOB).
Numbers come from the Kaiser Willys serial reference (KWSERIAL).
Stripped-chassis (57448, 57648), fire-engine (57048-01, 57048-02), CJ-6 and diesel (57558) numbers have their own short ranges and are not encoded.
Example is built from the published range start, not a recorded vehicle.
CJ3B.info and the Kaiser Willys reference print identical CJ-3B ranges for 1955-1961. Note the 1960 range starts at 57548, which is a serial number here, not the CJ-5 model prefix.
Sources: [KWSERIAL] [CJ3BINFO] [CJ3BOB]
1961
Looks like 57548119540 (11 characters)
| 1 Line | 57: Universal Jeep [CJ3BOB] |
| 2 Body type | 5: CJ-5 open body [CJ3BOB] |
| 3 Engine | 4: 4-cylinder 134 cu in F-head [CJ3BOB] |
| 4 Drive | 8: All four-wheel drive [CJ3BOB] |
| 5 Serial number (the range fixes the model year) | 119540 [KWSERIAL] [OLSEN] [CJ3BOB] |
- Year labels for CJ-5 serial ranges: the Kaiser Willys reference starts 10001-27006 at 1955; the extracted text of the Olsen PDF appears to place the same range under 1956. We follow the Kaiser Willys labels.
- This format is digits only, and many makers used plain numeric serials in these years. A match here does not by itself show the car is this make; check the make on the car and its paperwork.
Plate prefix 57548 followed by the serial; written 57548-119540 on the plate. The model year is fixed by the serial range 119540 to 134747 (the prefix does not carry a year). Plate: under the hood on the right side of the firewall (CJ3BINFO).
Willys Service Bulletin 328 (18 October 1956), as quoted by CJ3B.info, explains the 5-digit prefix: 57 is the Universal Jeep line, the third digit the body type (3 CJ-3B open body, 4 CJ-3B stripped chassis, 5 CJ-5 open body, 6 CJ-5 stripped chassis, 7 CJ-6 open body), the fourth the engine (2 six 161, 4 four 134, 6 six 226) and the fifth the drive (7 2WD, 8 4WD) (CJ3BOB).
Numbers come from the Kaiser Willys serial reference (KWSERIAL).
Stripped-chassis (57448, 57648), fire-engine (57048-01, 57048-02), CJ-6 and diesel (57558) numbers have their own short ranges and are not encoded.
Example is built from the published range start, not a recorded vehicle.
The Kaiser Willys reference lists these CJ-5 ranges by model year 1955 to 1961. The Olsen PDF prints the same ranges in a table whose year column is one row later in the extracted text; we follow the Kaiser Willys year labels; Service Bulletin 328 also lists 57548-10001 as the start of the 1955 CJ-5 open body (CJ3BOB).
Sources: [KWSERIAL] [OLSEN] [CJ3BOB]
1961
Looks like 6554823679 (10 characters)
| 1 Model prefix | 65548: Forward Control FC-150, cab [KWSERIAL] |
| 2 Serial number (the range fixes the model year) | 23679 [KWSERIAL] |
- This format is digits only, and many makers used plain numeric serials in these years. A match here does not by itself show the car is this make; check the make on the car and its paperwork.
Serial range 23679 to 24976 for the 1961 model year as printed in the Kaiser Willys reference (KWSERIAL). Other FC-150 numbers (stripped chassis, cowl and windshield, dual) have separate short ranges and are not encoded.
Example is built from the published range start, not a recorded vehicle.
Sources: [KWSERIAL]
1961
Looks like 6156819600 (10 characters)
| 1 Model prefix | 61568: Forward Control FC-170, cab [KWSERIAL] |
| 2 Serial number (the range fixes the model year) | 19600 [KWSERIAL] |
- This format is digits only, and many makers used plain numeric serials in these years. A match here does not by itself show the car is this make; check the make on the car and its paperwork.
Serial range 19600 to 21646 for the 1961 model year as printed in the Kaiser Willys reference (KWSERIAL). Other FC-170 numbers (stripped chassis, cowl and windshield, dual) have separate short ranges and are not encoded.
Example is built from the published range start, not a recorded vehicle.
Sources: [KWSERIAL]
What a serial number cannot tell you
It identifies what the factory recorded in the number: typically the model year, assembly plant, series or body and production sequence, and in some years the engine. It cannot confirm a car is original or numbers-matching. Compare stampings, body tags and documentation.
Sources
- [KWSERIAL] Kaiser Willys, 2012 Catalog: Willys Serial Numbers (Model & Serial# Reference), PDF copy
- [CJ3BINFO] CJ3B.info, CJ-3B Serial Numbers and Production Figures (Willys Service Bulletin 52-79 and 328 summaries)
- [CJ3BOB] CJ3B.info, 1954 OB Serial Numbers (Willys Service Bulletin 328, Identification of Willys Vehicles)
- [OLSEN] Mark Olsen (2006), Vehicle Identification (Willys, Kaiser and AMC Jeep CJ5), hosted by Jeep Willys World