1955 VIN location on Frame of 4 Door Suburban Wagon

[36 Ply]

I have NATB (National Auto Theft Bureau) books covering the years 1954-1992, and I can decode many Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) from those years.

Anyone interested can post here or email me at        If you wish privacy, or don't want strangers knowing your VIN, you can substitute "xxx" for the last 3 digits of your VIN.

Pat O'Connor

[Jim Benjaminson]

In the "old days" the cars all had "serial numbers", nothing more than numerical sequences that indicated the model, i.e. Deluxe vs. Road King for example, with the numbering sequence assigned to a specific assembly plant.  Years later the Feds got involved and "serial numbers" became "Vehicle Identification Numbers" -- first 13 digits and now 17 digits.  The various letters/numbers are coded to indicate country of manufacture, location of the manufaturing plant where it was final assembled, engine size, whether equipped with passive restraints (air bags) and a host of other indicators including a "check digit" which is determined by a complicated mathematical forumula based on the other numbers in the sequence.  The 10th digit in the sequence indicates the model year of the vehicle.   The last 6 digits are the actual "serial number".  I had occassion to inspect a new 2011 Dodge 3500 yesterday at work -- a "pilot model" as it didn't have the normal door stickers, etc.....serial number 000045!  Lowest VIN number I've ever found was on a Dodge over-the-road semi-tractor that had serial number 000004.  The driver told me trucks 1, 2 and 3 were in use at the Dodge truc plant......

[TodFitch]

I have a 1955 Plymouth Belvedere. The vin number I needed to register the car in Florida that matched the vin number on my New York registration was stamped on the front of engine block drivers side just below the head.
I have a 6 cylinder. I hope this information helps.

That would be the engine number. Lots of states used the engine number for registration purposes. No such thing as a "Vehicle Identification Number" on your 1955. That came later...

[CHS]

I have a 1955 Plymouth Belvedere. The vin number I needed to register the car in Florida that matched the vin number on my New York registration was stamped on the front of engine block drivers side just below the head.
I have a 6 cylinder. I hope this information helps.

[RC Drown]

Thanks for sharing, some great looking cars, lots of hard work going into all of them

[jd2ksilver]

Some real nice cars on that site.

[EarlyRods]

the engine number is stamped on the frame just above the left rear axle on 49-52.  It may well be on the 55s but in any case it is hard to see as it is meant to be a hidden number

Thank to all you for such great info, I'll be crawling under rear axle very soon, thanks again.
www.EarlyRods.com   lots of photos

[David Pollock]

the engine number is stamped on the frame just above the left rear axle on 49-52.  It may well be on the 55s but in any case it is hard to see as it is meant to be a hidden number

[TodFitch]

not sure of the 55 year but earlier model Mopars had the number stamped on the left rear (drivers side) frame rail near where the rear axle arch started its upward curve..  do not confuse this withe actual rail part number stamped on the rail nearer the top of the curve..IF found, traditionally this number will match the engine....not the body..so if you have had an engine transplant..even this is of no help to you...most DMV's are not up to speed on the old cars numbers and such..convincing them you are still numbers correct may be a hassle..

Thanks, what your saying is that neither number at the rear of the wagon will not match the VIN which is on the door jam?

If it is like the 1930s and 1940s, which I think might be true as Plymouth did not start using VIN like sequences until 1958, they your serial number on the door jam is the closest think to a VIN on the car and that is the only place on the car that it is located.

VIN and multiple locations for putting the VIN on a vehicle all came later.

[EarlyRods]

not sure of the 55 year but earlier model Mopars had the number stamped on the left rear (drivers side) frame rail near where the rear axle arch started its upward curve..  do not confuse this withe actual rail part number stamped on the rail nearer the top of the curve..IF found, traditionally this number will match the engine....not the body..so if you have had an engine transplant..even this is of no help to you...most DMV's are not up to speed on the old cars numbers and such..convincing them you are still numbers correct may be a hassle..

Thanks, what your saying is that neither number at the rear of the wagon will not match the VIN which is on the door jam?

[bigaadams]

not sure of the 55 year but earlier model Mopars had the number stamped on the left rear (drivers side) frame rail near where the rear axle arch started its upward curve..  do not confuse this withe actual rail part number stamped on the rail nearer the top of the curve..IF found, traditionally this number will match the engine....not the body..so if you have had an engine transplant..even this is of no help to you...most DMV's are not up to speed on the old cars numbers and such..convincing them you are still numbers correct may be a hassle..

[EarlyRods]

Hello Plymouth Folks,

I recent purchased a 1955 four door Belvedere/Suburban Wagon from Arizona and I live in California.

I need to know where the VIN is on the Body and Frame to be able to register the wagon.

I've located the VIN on the Driver Side door jam, but I've not been able to find the one on the frame.

I've searched the frame around the engine compartment with no luck.

I located the Body Number on the Firewall, which of course in not the matching VIN .

I would greatly appriciate any information on where the Frame VIN is located on this 1955 Wagon.

Thank you