Early M3 info search

[A National Acrobat]

Hi guys

Just seeking knowledge from those more "in the know" than me. A friend of mine has an early M3 that he's trying to find out more about. Original rear armour and bed, no data plates, it has fender mounted lights, "narrow" idler tension springs, roller front end.

The confusing bits . . .

It has an aluminium rear bed (I thought only the really early M2's had aluminum rear beds).
And the frame number is 30473 . . . that's it, no model prefix or anything, just the number 30473. It's in the right place but that's it.

Any help with manufacturer or year of manufacture would be greatly appreciated.

[8683jb]

Is there any chance there’s a faint “2” in front of the 30473?

[A National Acrobat]

Apparently not (I've not seen the numbers myself) he says the numbers are really clear but that's all that there is, 30473. But assuming it's missing a 2 off the start would you think it was a late 1941 White?

[8683jb]

I don't know anything about the dates of certain number ranges, but if it was 230xxx it would be consistent with a White-manufactured vehicle. You might PM col.halftrack. He's very knowledgeable on the serial numbers. Good luck.

[col.halftrack]

Posted on a Facebook thread. Assuming the owner knows it is a M3 (long chassis) than it must be a Diamond T M3 serial #M30xxx. A White 230XXX would be a M2 chassis.