CJ-3B Serial Numbers and
Production Figures

Our list of Surviving CJ-3B Jeeps includes Jeeps and their owners in order of serial number.

Vehicle Identification Numbers

The CJ-3B serial number (VIN) is found on a plate under the hood on the right side of the firewall. This plate is from a 1959 model. See also the plate from CJ-3B number 12 in 1953, and a 1965 Kaiser plate. Reproduction plates in various styles are available from dataplates4u.com.
 

In some cases at least, the VIN is also stamped on the frame. The numbers on the frame are difficult to find without sandblasting. Look on the top side of the frame rail right at the front of the body tub. See some photos of Stamped Numbers on CJ-3B Frames.

Willys Service Bulletin 52-79 dated December 26, 1952 explains the meaning of the serial number prefixes Willys used from November 15, 1950 through 1954, such as 453GB2. Bill Norris found the document and provides this information from it:

First number indicates the number of cylinders. Second and third indicate model year. First letter indicates basic chassis model. Second letter indicates body type. Fourth number indicates series in any one model year.

For example, the first 1953 CJ-3B, with VIN 453GB2 10001, was part of the second series of "GB" Universal Jeeps in that year. (It was produced before the final CJ-3A which had VIN 453GB1 20617.)

The 57348 prefix which was used starting in 1955 has the following meaning, according to Service Bulletin 328 dated October 18, 1956, provided by Todd Paisley and titled "Identification of Willys Vehicles":

First two digits 57 represent the Universal Jeep line. Third digit represents the body type (3. CJ-3B Open Body, 4. CJ-3B Stripped Chassis). Fourth number represents the engine type (4. 4 Cyl. 134 cu. in. F-head). Fifth number represents the drive (8. All 4WD). 

For more details from this document, see 1954 OB Serial Numbers.

For an interpretation of the mid-60's VIN series with prefix 8105, see 1960-1967 Serial Numbers.

Information Sources

Charlie Weaver of Winston-Salem, NC has transcribed a set of Willys-Overland Production Figures for 1945-61 handwritten by Willys employee Norton Young, and these figures are likely the most accurate available for those years. I have produced the CJ-3B figures below, by combining those Norton Young records with information from three other sources:

1. Kaiser Jeep records showing a monthly listing of 1960-1967 Serial Numbers. These appear to be accurate, and come from documents belongings to a collector in Michigan.
2. Production totals compiled by American Motors in 1977 and published on CJ3B.info by Jim Allen (see CJ-3B Production Figures from AMC, 1977) are in a separate column here. A variation of these figures was published by Arch Brown in Jeep: The Unstoppable Legend. The biggest differences are the much smaller total in 1961, and the larger totals in 1953-54, especially if an additional figure for units produced in late 1952 is included.
3. Figures published by the former Willys Club, which also appear in summary form in Sessler's Illustrated Jeep Buyer's Guide, generally correspond to Young's records. They also include the 1954 OB Serial Numbers which appear on approximately the first 2,600 1954 CJ-3Bs, but which are not mentioned by Mr. Young. Their VIN's for the early 1960s are clearly in error as they repeat some of the same numbers from the late 1950s.

Note: VIN's published in the Standard Catalog of 4X4's by Robert C. Ackerson, show smaller totals in the 1950s. Missing or duplicate numbers for some years throw their accuracy into question. Their source is unknown.

See also:

• Kaiser CJ-3B Serial Number Questions has a more detailed comparison of the production figures and serial numbers we have.
• Surviving CJ-3B Jeeps includes Jeeps and their owners in order of serial number, with some analysis of their significance.
• Where Are the CJ-3Bs? plots the location of surviving CJ-3Bs on a map of the United States.

Your Jeep

If you own a surviving CJ-3B, adding your VIN to our list can help verify the correct figures. Your information may not match the figures below, for several possible reasons:

• The figures are not entirely reliable.
• The correct model year may have been lost or changed over the years.
• Willys dealers would sometimes return the titles of unsold vehicles to the factory at the end of the model year, to have them updated to the new year, if the model was substantially unchanged.

Note: the easiest way to date your serial number may be to find its position in our list of Surviving CJ-3B Jeeps.

Engine numbers may help to establish the year of a Jeep, but only if it still has the original engine. The number is found on the front of the engine block. See Plotting Engine Numbers for details on identifying original engines.

The axle assembly dates, if you can find them stamped on the raised area around the axle shafts, are a more reliable indication of the age of a vehicle.
 

CJ-3B Serial Numbers and Production Totals

Year	Serial No. Prefix	Serial No. Range	Total Production	AMC Records
1952				2,360
1953	453 GB2	10001 to 37551	27,751	33,047
1953 Stripped Chassis	453 GA2	10001 to 12267	2,267
1953 FJ Farm Jeep	454 GC2	10001 to 10065	65
1954	OB-54 or 454 GB2	10001 to 41292	31,292	35,972
1954 Stripped Chassis	454 GA2	10001 to 13105	3,105
1954 FJ Farm Jeep	454 GC2	10001 to 10012	12
1955	57348	10001 to 22952	12,952	12,567
1955 Stripped Chassis	57448	10001 to 11667	1,667
1955 Fire Engine	57048-01	10001 to 10007	7
1956	57348	22953 to 34371	11,419	10,145
1956 Stripped Chassis	57448	11668 to 11716	49
1956 Fire Engine	57048-01	10008 to 10018	11
1957	57348	34372 to 41591	7,220	5,756
1957 Stripped Chassis	57448	11717	1
1957 Fire Engine	57048-01	10019 to 10025	7
1958	57348	41592 to 48247	6,656	6,178
1958 Stripped Chassis	57448	11718 to 11719	2
1958 Fire Engine	57048-01	10026 to 10032	7
1959	57348	48248 to 57547	9,300	5,420
1959 Stripped Chassis	57448	11720 to 11727	8
1959 Fire Engine	57048-01	10032 to 10035	4
1960	57348	57548 to 67473	9,926	6,139
1960 Fire Engine	57048-01	10036	1
1961	57348	67474 to 85317	17,844	8,510
1961 Fire Engine	57048-01	10037 to 10101	65
1961 Stripped Chassis	57448	11728 to 11800	73
1962	57348	85318 to 91464	6,147	9,416
1963	57348	91465-117202	25,738	9,801
1964	57348 or 8105	117203-127686	10,484	5,271
1965	57348 or 8105	127687-131201	3,392	2,847
1966	8105	131202-135888	4,687	5,459
1967	8105	135889-139773+	3,884+	2,523
1968	8105			1,446

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