Ford 641, do I have the first one made ?

[Dennis 1895]

Ford 641, 4 speed, with the serial number of 1 D, Therefore, it's a 1957, right ? And.... what is the FIRST Diesel Ford 641 doing in a small town in Iowa ? I bought it over yonder several years ago, and just assumed it didn't have a serial number on it. Well... low and behold... 1 D. It's still running and I use it when the weather is nice. And, if indeed I'm correct, I may have something that relatively valuable ?

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

my old ford book says the first 641 made carries the serial number 1001 and it was made in 1957 at their Michigan factory.

 

[Dennis 1895]

It's a little hard to see, but that's what is says: 1 D

 

[Dennis 1895]

Sooooo... if the serial number is indeed 1 D, then perhaps this is a "Demonstration Model", BEFORE production started ? Possible ? And, if it's a "Demonstration Model", then it could be a 1956, or a VERY EARLY 1957 ?

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

could you be confusing a casting number for a serial number?
back in the old days ford used a rotated box kinda looking like a diamond at the start and end of the serial number on much of their stuff when in the castings. Something like this I pulled off the internet.
Forgive my free hand drawing.

 

[TractorTech]

Looks like a stamped number. Casting numbers are usually raised