How Ford Stamped Serial Numbers on Early Cars: Model A, Model B & Model T Guide (1928–1953)

If you're restoring an early Ford — a Model A, Model B, or Model T — or a flathead V8-powered Ford from the 1930s through early 1950s, one of the most searched and least understood topics is: how did Ford stamp serial numbers on their cars, where were those numbers stamped, and what stamps did they actually use? This guide digs into the factory documentation, Ford Service Bulletins, and the K.R. Wilson dealer tool catalog to give you a complete, historically accurate picture of Ford serial number stamp locations, Ford serial number stamping methods, and the K.R. Wilson A404 stamp set used by Ford dealers.

Where Ford Stamped Serial Numbers: The Factory Locations (1932–1948)

From 1932 through 1948, Ford Motor Company used a consistent system for stamping serial numbers on vehicles. Understanding these locations is critical for numbers-matching restorations, title verification, and concours judging. Ford stamped the serial number in three separate locations on the driver's side frame rail (top surface), as well as on the transmission housing.

This multi-location stamping system was specifically designed to make fraudulent alteration of Ford serial numbers as difficult as possible. Restorers doing frame-off restorations of 1932–1948 Fords — including Model A, Model B, Model T, and flathead V8 cars — need to be aware of all three frame locations, since only the front-most stamp is typically visible with the body on.

How Ford Stamped Serial Numbers: The Star Stamp System

The serial numbers on early Fords — Model A, Model B, Model T, and flathead V8 cars — were metal-stamped using hardened steel hand stamps producing characters approximately 1/4 inch (¼") in height. But it wasn't just numbers and letters — Ford used a distinctive star stamp (similar to an asterisk) both before and after every serial number.

This is one of the most commonly searched details among restorers: What is the star symbol on a Ford serial number? The answer, documented in period Ford Service Bulletins, is that the star was intentionally added to prevent someone from fraudulently adding a digit to the beginning or end of the serial number to alter its identity. Every authentic Ford serial number from this era reads: ★ [serial number] ★.

The 1938 Change: K.R. Wilson A404 Stamps and the New Ford Number Style

One of the most historically significant — and commonly searched — chapters in early Ford stamping history is the 1938 change to Ford's official stamp design. This is documented in a Ford Service Bulletin dated April 15, 1938 and cross-referenced in the 1940 K.R. Wilson Catalog of Service Tools & Garage Equipment.

The Ford Service Bulletin addressed the use of correct stamps when Ford dealers reconditioned and re-stamped cylinder assemblies on Model A, Model B, and Model T engines. Ford specified that dealers must use the K.R. Wilson A404B stamp set — an 11-piece set containing numbers 0 through 9 plus the star stamp. This was the official Ford dealer tool for engine number stamping.

But Ford didn't stop there. The 1940 K.R. Wilson catalog also introduced a new, separate stamp set — consisting of just three stamps: the 6, the 9, and the I (one). Why? Because Ford had deliberately redesigned the shapes of these three characters to make engine number alteration even more difficult. As the K.R. Wilson catalog stated directly: "The design of engine numbers has been changed to lessen the possibility of outside individuals attempting to change engine numbers. The figures I-6-9 have been changed. Dealers should immediately provide themselves with the new figures — One-Six-Nine."

The practical differences in the post-1938 Ford stamp style: the numbers 6 and 9 changed shape significantly, and the number 1 became more like a capital letter "I" in appearance. If you're restoring a 1938 or later Ford Model A, Model B, or Model T and want factory-correct serial number stamps, you need the updated K.R. Wilson style — not the older pre-1938 font.

Ford Serial Number Location Changes: 1949–1953

Ford changed its serial number placement as the company transitioned to newer models. Here is the quick guide restorers most often search for:

Decoding Ford Serial Number Prefixes

Another top search topic: How do I read an early Ford serial number on a Model A, Model B, or flathead V8? The prefix letters and numbers tell you the engine type, body style, and in later years the assembly plant. The number in the prefix indicates engine type: 18 = 85hp V8, 99 = 95hp V8, 54 = 60hp V8. The letter in the prefix identifies vehicle type: A = Passenger Car, C = Commercial Vehicle, T = Truck. G or H in the prefix indicates a six-cylinder engine.

Critically, Ford stamped serial numbers without commas or leading zeros. So a first-year 1939 Mercury would actually read 99-1 stamped on the frame — not "99-001" as it might appear in reference charts. This is an important detail for Ford serial number authentication and restoration accuracy on Model A, Model B, and flathead V8 cars alike.

K.R. Wilson Ford Stamp Kits Available at RestoStamps

We carry the K.R. Wilson-style Ford stamp kits specifically referenced in Ford's own dealer service literature, CNC-machined in the USA from hardened tool steel to match the exact factory font. Whether you're doing a frame-off restoration of a 1932–1948 Ford Model A, Model B, or Model T or restoring an engine block, these are the stamps you need for a show-correct, numbers-matching build.

All RestoStamps products are made to order in the USA from hardened tool steel. Each stamp is CNC-machined to match original factory character shapes and proportions. Lifetime warranty on every stamp.

Sources and Historical Documentation

The information in this post is drawn from the same primary sources used by leading Ford historians: MOTOR's Auto Repair Manual (1935–48 and 1946–56 editions), the Early Ford V8 Club of America 1938–39 Ford Reference Book, The Standard Catalog of Ford 1903–2003 by Krause Publications, Ford V-8 Service Bulletins (1938–1940 Complete) reprinted by Post Motor Books, and the 1940 K.R. Wilson Catalog of Service Tools and Garage Equipment. Additional serial number data and documentation sourced from VanPelt Sales (vanpeltsales.com), a leading flathead Ford resource. Restoration stamp kits, tools, and expertise provided by RestoStamps.com — specialists in factory-correct metal stamps for Ford Model A, Model B, Model T, and flathead V8 restorations.