The Ford Barn

signsup · 01-06-2025, 10:24 PM

Acquiring a 42 Mercury Series 8 Town Sedan this weekend and have not picked up the car yet. It may be a 42 blackout car. Design features indicate Jan/Feb 42 production. Seller gave me serial number as M9733 which I know is not a valid number, probably off a serial tag on the firewall.
My 42 GPW has the serial number stamped on the drivers frame rail between the motor mount and shock mount. Is this the same location for this car?
I will post pics when I get it home.
Game plan will be to replicate Gregory Peck's staff car in the 1949 film, Twelve O"Clock High. I know that car was a Ford, but this Mercury with a Ford body is the closest that I can get with my budget.
I'll hang up and listen, but sure to be back for guideance. Shop manual on order.

rockfla · 01-07-2025, 08:10 AM

Not sure about 42 Mercury's BUT my 39 Mercury is stamped in the location you stated above, left front frame rail "around" where the shock is mounted OR just aft about 6 or so inches of the core support of the radiator. My 41 Ford GP isn't stamped at all, which I found out is not uncommon!!!

signsup · 01-08-2025, 11:05 AM

Anyone know what that M9733 number represents? I'll see it when I lay my hands on the Merc but presume it is off a tag on the firewall. Not model number. Body serial number? I'll be looking for a 99A1-455xxx number stamped in the frame rail when I get to see it. Talking snow this weekend in GA and AL, so might have to wait until next week to go get it.

rockfla · 01-09-2025, 09:27 AM

M9733, nothing I am familiar with. A lot has transpired, repaired, changed an upgraded (potentially) in the past 83 years and these cars. One other point IS, it would not be out of place IF you do not find your number on the left front frame, to look beyond the "general" left front frame location. As stated before, my 41 GP has NO number on the frame, no where, which is the case for several other.....AS WELL as some have the number stamped on the "right" side frame rail.....more than what would be considered coincidence. There have been similar cases for early V8 cars SO don't just lock in your search on the left front of the frame, especially IF you don't see anything. ALSO, the stamp on my 39 Merc is very light so it took a little more effort than normal to find it!!!!

signsup · 01-19-2025, 12:41 PM

Could never find numbers on either front frame rail, but did pull floor boards and find this stamping on trans inspection cover. Appears to be correct for late January, early February 1942. 99A 598 192 *

As the law enforcement officers need to come to the house to verify this number for title and registration purposes, I'm tempted to stamp this number on a period correct blank data plate and attach it to a door panel or on the cowl somewhere. I'm not makeing the serial number up or using someone elses, it is the one for the car, just making it more accessable. Anyone else do something similar?

rotorwrench · 01-19-2025, 01:26 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

The states are all different but few recognize a non-factory ID associated with a motor vehicle. If you have the original transmission case with the unit serial number still there then that is as good as it gets. The number on the frame is likely there but not always legible without a lot of elbow grease to see it. A state assigned title might have any type of number depending on the state. The state then requires their tag to be fixed in a location of their choosing.

Military contract numbers generally started with a year prefix such as 42- for contractual purchases. The Mercury paint codes start with M followed by a number but I don't know otherwise.

01-06-2025, 10:24 PM	#1
signsup Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 201	Locating serial number on 42 Mercury Acquiring a 42 Mercury Series 8 Town Sedan this weekend and have not picked up the car yet. It may be a 42 blackout car. Design features indicate Jan/Feb 42 production. Seller gave me serial number as M9733 which I know is not a valid number, probably off a serial tag on the firewall. My 42 GPW has the serial number stamped on the drivers frame rail between the motor mount and shock mount. Is this the same location for this car? I will post pics when I get it home. Game plan will be to replicate Gregory Peck's staff car in the 1949 film, Twelve O"Clock High. I know that car was a Ford, but this Mercury with a Ford body is the closest that I can get with my budget. I'll hang up and listen, but sure to be back for guideance. Shop manual on order.

01-07-2025, 08:10 AM	#2
rockfla Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Jacksonville FL Posts: 4,806	Re: Locating serial number on 42 Mercury Not sure about 42 Mercury's BUT my 39 Mercury is stamped in the location you stated above, left front frame rail "around" where the shock is mounted OR just aft about 6 or so inches of the core support of the radiator. My 41 Ford GP isn't stamped at all, which I found out is not uncommon!!!

01-08-2025, 11:05 AM	#3
signsup Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 201	Re: Locating serial number on 42 Mercury Anyone know what that M9733 number represents? I'll see it when I lay my hands on the Merc but presume it is off a tag on the firewall. Not model number. Body serial number? I'll be looking for a 99A1-455xxx number stamped in the frame rail when I get to see it. Talking snow this weekend in GA and AL, so might have to wait until next week to go get it.

01-09-2025, 09:27 AM	#4
rockfla Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Jacksonville FL Posts: 4,806	Re: Locating serial number on 42 Mercury M9733, nothing I am familiar with. A lot has transpired, repaired, changed an upgraded (potentially) in the past 83 years and these cars. One other point IS, it would not be out of place IF you do not find your number on the left front frame, to look beyond the "general" left front frame location. As stated before, my 41 GP has NO number on the frame, no where, which is the case for several other.....AS WELL as some have the number stamped on the "right" side frame rail.....more than what would be considered coincidence. There have been similar cases for early V8 cars SO don't just lock in your search on the left front of the frame, especially IF you don't see anything. ALSO, the stamp on my 39 Merc is very light so it took a little more effort than normal to find it!!!!

01-19-2025, 12:41 PM	#5
signsup Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 201	Re: Locating serial number on 42 Mercury Could never find numbers on either front frame rail, but did pull floor boards and find this stamping on trans inspection cover. Appears to be correct for late January, early February 1942. 99A 598 192 * As the law enforcement officers need to come to the house to verify this number for title and registration purposes, I'm tempted to stamp this number on a period correct blank data plate and attach it to a door panel or on the cowl somewhere. I'm not makeing the serial number up or using someone elses, it is the one for the car, just making it more accessable. Anyone else do something similar?

01-19-2025, 01:26 PM	#6
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 17,410	Re: Locating serial number on 42 Mercury Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) The states are all different but few recognize a non-factory ID associated with a motor vehicle. If you have the original transmission case with the unit serial number still there then that is as good as it gets. The number on the frame is likely there but not always legible without a lot of elbow grease to see it. A state assigned title might have any type of number depending on the state. The state then requires their tag to be fixed in a location of their choosing. Military contract numbers generally started with a year prefix such as 42- for contractual purchases. The Mercury paint codes start with M followed by a number but I don't know otherwise.