[MV] More on markings!

JRONEY@elotouch.com
Thu, 18 Feb 1999 10:13:15 -0800


So I started sanding down the hood on my M38, and was disturbed to
find that there were a couple of coats of white paint between the
layers of OD. That didn't make much sense, since the rest of the body
sanded red / OD / primer / bare metal. (a single coat of fire engine
red over the original Olive Drab and primer)

I decided that rather than continue with my power sander, I'd try to
see what the white was. After careful hand sanding, I found red /
white / OD / white / od / primer / bare metal. Delicate sanding
further revealed that the top coat of white was stencilled digits, and
under that were more (and different!) digits. On top of the hood, the
letters "US Army" were painted 3 different times. It felt more like
archaeology than restoration.

Now my question:

According to AR 850-5 (sect.3, 7E) "...the registration number
assigned to a motor vehicle establishes its permanent identity..."

If that's true, and assuming the hood is original, Why would anyone
anyone change the number? Does it make sense to steal from the Army
to give to... the Army???

Second, the registration number is 20907176. Is there any way to
learn anything about the vehicle from the registration number?

thanks,

james roney
Fremont, CA.

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