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Canadian car identification here: Serial Numbers 1935-1964 | 1965-1966
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Thread: Vin 1938

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
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    Vin 1938

    I have 1938 Buick Special Business Coupe imported from California.
    To be able to inspect it here in Sweden I have to find the VIN or engine number.
    In the title I have 43426454. But I can only find a plate on the passenger side on the frame
    behind the battery towards the back of the car. And the number of the plate is 3378814.
    Has the engine been replaced and were is the engine number on the new engine ?

    Pcool

  2. #2
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    When better Automobiles were built, Buick built Straight 8's

    Buick Club of America
    and Buick Club of Australia

  3. #3
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    The frame serial number and the engine serial number are not the same thing, but either can be used as the "VIN" in the US. The engine serial number and frame serial number don't match for 1956 and earlier Buicks, so 1957 is the first year for "numbers matching" in Buicks. 3378814 is the frame serial number, but the number you listed is one digit short as it should be 8 digits long.


    43426454 is the engine serial number and decodes as follows:


    4 = Series 40 (Special)
    3426454 = sequential number, range for 1938 was 3,396,937 to 3,572,651




    The engine number should be on the passenger side as well. I've attached a picture showing the location.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Sean Smith
    BCA# 42746
    MBCC# 2122
    SAH# 4186
    Buickman Award 2015

    1957 Special 4-door Riviera (hardtop) model 43

  4. #4
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    vin 1938

    Thanx
    I found it.

    Now next Q. Can you find out size and year by knowing the engine number ?
    Also what can I find out by the frame number 13378814 ( I did find the eight digit, 1 at the front of numbers)

    pcoool

  5. #5
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    Based on the decode of the engine number I did above, the engine is a 1938 from a Series 40 (Special). Only the 248 c.i. I8 was available in the Special. The frame serial number decodes like this:


    13378814


    1 = built at Flint, MI
    3378814 = sequential number, range for Flint was 3,219,848 to 3,388,546
    Sean Smith
    BCA# 42746
    MBCC# 2122
    SAH# 4186
    Buickman Award 2015

    1957 Special 4-door Riviera (hardtop) model 43

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