M38 Canadian

[David Dunlop]

That heater setup is unlike any other I have seen for the M38, which has typically been a windshield defroster box with a rectangular cross section, complete removal of the data plate assembly and that position occupied by a large plenum with an air defector lever to switch air either down to the floor or up to the defroster box. Heater mounted on cowl in front of the driver in a special box.

David

[David Dunlop]

John.

Sadly, with little or no paint to work with in the key areas, your CAR Number quest may have run its course.

One other long shot possibility would be trying to backtrack through previous owners to see if any have pictures of it in better days. You could also try asking your provincial vehicle registrar if the serial number you have shows up with any earlier owners.

David

[jdmcm]

Hi David

no previous owners I can find, and I did search the serial number, near as we can tell it has never had an assigned VIN nor been registered in BC under its original serial number.

John

[David Dunlop]

John.

Most, if not all provincial vehicle registration systems, should be able to take basic serial numbers that predate the modern VIN. Otherwise, you would have thousands of antique vehicles in a bit of a pickle. Most issues here in Manitoba getting older military stuff licensed I have heard about has related to individual twits, not the system.

That being said, however, it is also possible your M38 spent most of its civilian life as an unregistered rural ‘hack’ on private property. A former neighbour across the lane from us here had an unregistered MB/GPW on his farm for over 30 years to haul hay bails around as needed, when needed.

You may have to rely on the available register of known M38CDN’s to select a close CAR. My old M38CDN was serialed in the upper F100170’s and had CAR 52-30196. Brian Asbury should be able to help you there.

David

[rob love]

There is also the possibility that a previous owner may have registered it under it's CFR number for the serial number. I have seen that happen a few times over the years. Still doesn't help you though.

[rob love]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

That heater setup is unlike any other I have seen for the M38, which has typically been a windshield defroster box with a rectangular cross section, complete removal of the data plate assembly and that position occupied by a large plenum with an air defector lever to switch air either down to the floor or up to the defroster box. Heater mounted on cowl in front of the driver in a special box.

David

The heater shown in the photo is the smaller 15,000 BTU hot water type heater as was used in the M151. The setup looks a little ad-hoc, and may have been someone's solution to continually trying to repair the gas fired Stewart Warner heater that should have been on the cowl.

Seems to me the ambulance also had a heater squeezed into the floor in a similar location.