Is it a 55 or a 56? Little help please.

A couple years back I acquired the 269th Cj6 to roll off the line. (the same time I joined the forum)
I was told by the PO it was a 55. My title says it's a 56. I would think it was built in 55, sold in 55 as a new 1956. Most everything I read states that 1956 was the first year of the Cj6. Every now and then I read there were Cj6's that were 55's.

I'm confused.

And ,,, I would like to acquire some correct vintage plates. Now my thinking is, it would have been sold and plate'd in 55, so do I go with those or just some 56's.
I might forgo the vintage plates for some vanity plates, with a play on the 5556CJ6, 55CJ6, 56CJ6....

The plan is; I'm not doing a accurate restoration, more of a resto-mod trying to keep the looks of a early Cj6 but doing it the way a 55 year old fat guy wants it today. 4.3ltr, 4l60e, D300TS, 86'D44/30/4340WT, 285/75/17, 4"SUSR, Tilt, Warn 8274.
The jeep will see usage to the lake, shooting range, up and down the San Diego coast in the summer time.

Build to start shortly, the past few years have been playing cowboy, "Round em up" parts that is.

Thanks for your insight, replies & comments. Greg

 

Realize that the 1956 model year for American car manufacturers started in Fall 1955. So it could have been built and sold in 1955, and still be officially a 1956 model.

 

I agree with the above posts.
I would consider it a 1956 vintage actually built in late 1955.