Page 1 of 1

WC57 HOOD NUMBERS

Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2017 5:47 pm
by randal
Hi folks
I have a 1943 WC-57 Command Car that I am restoring.
Can anyone help me to figure out the hood numbers?
The frame number is 81670629
Built Card
https://goo.gl/photos/sjddaMgsMARoFNB76

Thanks a lot!!!
Randal

Re: WC57 HOOD NUMBERS

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2017 1:05 pm
by Andersun
Someone else correct me if I'm wrong but here is what I come up with.

4594 WC-57s were produced using hood numbers from 20291158 to 20295751 and they started with serial number 81601050. It looked the the last group to be built.

Since your serial number is 81670629, it falls in that group so it's safe to say you had one of those 2029 numbers. Total production (all CCs) was 21697 and your Budd body number is 20517. The subtraction of those two numbers is 1180. Take 4594-1180 = 3414.

Add 20291158 + 3414 = 20294572

This would be correct if they built them like they build them today. But, back then they didn't have body numbers exactly aligning up with contract numbers on the assembly line so if your anywhere in the 2029 series as listed above you should be good.

I have a list of the 2029 numbers I have seen being used now and they are:


20295743
20295561
20295359
20295358
20294867
20294705
20294641
20294536
20294476
20292211
20291374
20291319
20290868
2029516


One of Pattons CC was 20295359 which somebody is using today.....

http://www.pattonthirdarmy.com/pattoncommandcar.shtml

Re: WC57 HOOD NUMBERS

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2017 5:09 pm
by GoranWC51
Hi Steve,

Can you guesstimate the hood number for my Febr 12th 1945 Dodge WC51?

Frame no: 8174144

From the photo shoot for an article about my Dodge:
Image

Build card: Image

Someone even suggested that my WC51 might even share the same number as with this Dodge WC51 ambulance from a very well known photograph: 2 2 5 5 9 0 4

Image

Thanks,

Goran N

Re: WC57 HOOD NUMBERS

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2017 6:11 pm
by Andersun
Your serial number is 81741448

Starting with serial number 81601050 the last batch, which was a quantity of 15,114 of WC-51s, were built. The hood numbers of that batch ranged from 2110000 to 2125113. That's about all I can say for the weapons carriers because the WC-51 and WC-52s had shared frame numbers.

It lists a quantity of 38,154 WC-52s also starting from serial number 81601050.

So I would say that your hood number should be between 2110000 and 2125113.

If it's a KD, I don't have registration number ranges for those.

Re: WC57 HOOD NUMBERS

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2017 9:52 pm
by TimS
My WC57 has the following info:
Frame # 81674456
Engine# T214-118263
Budd Body Tag# 4219-18029
DOD 5-27-1943
Hood# 20292211 (original #'s and stars, found on the tailgate as well)

Re: WC57 HOOD NUMBERS

Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2017 6:41 am
by juan15
Hola TimS,

Your car is WC-56 and no WC-57.

B.R., Juan.

Re: WC57 HOOD NUMBERS

Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2017 5:56 pm
by randal
Dear friends
Accordingly to the build card (attatched to the first post above), my WC-57 was buil in OCT 29 1943.
Is it possible to discover the date of delivery (DOD) to the US Army?
And how to decifrate all the informations registered on this build card?
Some info is easy to understand, but many others not.
Thank you!