M38CDN Ambulance

[rob love]

The 4 digits on the bumperette are the census code. I have the list of codes at home and that would verify it as an ambulance, but all the existing holes pretty much already make that a certainty.

[donjunior]

Originally Posted by rob love

The 4 digits on the bumperette are the census code. I have the list of codes at home and that would verify it as an ambulance, but all the existing holes pretty much already make that a certainty.

It would be pretty neat to have that confirmation, thanks Rob.

[Ed Storey]

Not to get too deep into the weeds with respect to Canadian post-SWW vehicle markings but from my list, the ECC for a M38CDN with Stretcher Rack Kit was 121106 and 121107 for a M38CDN w/winch. So 2236 on the bumperette would be ECC 122236 which falls within the ¾ ton M series of vehicles and could indicate a replacement from another vehicle.

I think I am seeing black behind the 2236 which leads me to believe that this is actually a pair of arm of service markings painted on top of each other. According to the 1963 list of AoS codes, a white 22 on a black square designates a RCAMC Feild Ambulance which fits for an Ambulance Jeep.
If the background is a dark blue, then from the 1949 list of AoC codes, then 36 designated an Engineer Regiment.

It also appears to me that the other bumperette has the remains of a yellow maple leaf on red square formation sign of the 1st Canadian Division.

There is always a bit of vehicle archeology involved when trying to decypher the markings provided they are athentic and have not been altered by previous owners.

[rob love]

Ed, you are talking about the newer census code, later revised to equipment configuration code. The correlation between the old code and the new configuration code isn't that direct.
I just checked my manual from 1960 and can confirm that the old census code for the 1/4 ton ambulance (both M38 and M38A1) is 2236. There are also 2238 (121106) and 2239 (121107) which have a different stock code for the kit, and the 2239 is with an interim radio adapter kit. The ECC for the old census 2236 amb is 121103.

[Ed Storey]

Ah, so not only is tracking the AoS markings a challenge but at some point in the early 1960s there was a change from the Census Code to the Equipment Configuration Code for military vehicles. It is good to see that 2236 does relate to the Ambulance and yes, I misread my ECC list as ECC 121103 is for the M38CDN Ambulance.