Serial Plate Location (For 1947 - 1955 1st Series Chevy & GMC Trucks)

All 1947 through 1955 1st Chevrolet & GMC truck identification plates are located on the driver's side door jam, on the cab pillar, between the upper & lower door hinges. The only difference between the years are that the 1947 through 1952 identification plate is black & silver with vertical writing, while the 1953 through 1955 1st series identification plate is blue & silver with horizontal writing (Thanks to Hedgehog from the Stovebolt Forum, for the isolated serial plate image).

Serial plates are often incorrectly called VIN plates. VINs are only found on more modern vehicles where the auto manufactures standardized the identification number. In fact, many states used the engine serial number* as the registered title VIN through 1955 & not the vehicle's serial number. Going to the VIN standard, allowed those (other then the manufacture) to lookup a vehicle's information without having to go to the manufacture to decipher the vehicle's identification number. If your serial plate number does not match your registered title VIN...then either the engine and/or serial plate has been swapped or the engine serial number was used as the VIN.

* For Chevrolet 235 babbit bearing motors, the engine serial number is located on a raised boss behind the distributor. For Chevrolet 216 motors, the engine serial number is embosed to the right of the distributor, toward the right front & near the engine block ridge (just above the oil pan).