M38 Canadian

[BCA]

John, The lack of a CAR/CFR on the top of front left frame is typical of the first 300 or so M38CDN jeeps. Your serial number F-100296 has not been previously reported although an early MVPA Directory lists F-100297 as owned by a Mr. Watkins in BC. There will be holes for the patent plate but the Ford M38CDNs never had a patent plate installed. The only clue to its CAR/CFR would be from residual stencilling on the side of the body or hood or perhaps ownership papers. I suspect the inspector was number 102 (see the serial plate) and his tiny stamp probably appears on the top of the front left frame where later M38CDN's would have had their CAR number stamped. ....... Brian

[jdmcm]

Unfortunately not much left for paint on the vehicle. I will try to see if I can raise anything off the side of the body, hood has no paint left and is in tough shape. The poor thing was definitely used hard on the farm after it's service life but I am going to make some attempt to bring it back to life. Will have a closer look for the inspection stamp and will confirm the inspectors number from the data plate. So far the only history I have is anecdotal involving the Kamloops area and the Mt. Lolo radar station.

John

[Robert Bergeron]

John,

Funny thing , Mt- Lolo radar station ? Never heard of it. Was it Pine tree line or Mid-Canada line ?

Also, lolo in French is slang for a woman's breasts...Hey , she has got nice lolo's but I would never use that kind of language in front of the ladies..

[Grant Bowker]

http://wikimapia.org/1246321/Mount-Lolo seems related to RCAF Station Kamloops

[jdmcm]

Well it seems this thread has gone sideways...lol...or Lolo...as the case may be!

John

[David Dunlop]

John.

Best place to look on the sides is roughly centred below the door cutouts. The earliest stenciling will be in a large Roman Font. Later in life the Army switched to slightly smaller Gothic Font numbers. Sometimes, but not always, the CFR Number was stenciled in a small, Gothic font on a flat portion of the lower dash, or on the inside of the glove box lid.

For unit markings, check the rear bumpers if still present, or anywhere along the left and right rear rounded corners.

Army base colour was initially the factory OD Green, with the Roman fonts. The base colour went to a darker kind of black/green around the same time the Gothic fonts became common, later in service.

All of the above assumes the vehicle served in the Canadian Army. If it was RCAF issue, I have only ever seen them marked along the sides of the hood, either in RCAF initials or spelled out completely, but it could have Air Force markings in other locations. Early Air Force colour was very likely factory green. No idea when the RCAF adopted the colour blue on their vehicles, or even if that was a standard at all.

Might also be worth checking for Tire Pressure markings top dead center above the rear wheels. They show up there on some Army M38 CDN’s.

David

[super dave]

The CAR/CFR might be on the glove box door as my Cousin had an M38 years ago.

[jdmcm]

Hi David

will try some light sanding in a couple weeks, or sooner if I can convince my farm hand to lend me a hand yet again

Dave

sadly no glove box door remaining...

John