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By texasmark1 - 7 Years Ago
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my 57 Fairlane has a 10 digit VIN...
searching for it, I keep getting "VIN must have 17 digits.
is my title missing something?
thanks,Mark
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By texasmark1 - 7 Years Ago
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that title should be "VIN"...
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By NoShortcuts - 7 Years Ago
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Mark. I think that 10 characters is the correct number. Click the link below for an example on data plate decoding.
http://www.ctci.org/decoder.php
Hope this helps. 
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By crownvic55 - 7 Years Ago
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Back then they weren't VIN numbers. Not sure when they came into use.
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By 62bigwindow - 7 Years Ago
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I'm pretty sure the 17 digit VIN is a more modern thing. My 56 has 10 also if I'm remembering correctly.
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By paul2748 - 7 Years Ago
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VIN's have been on Fords back to the Model T's
crownvic55 (1/21/2017)
Back then they weren't VIN numbers. Not sure when they came into use.
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By NoShortcuts - 7 Years Ago
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Yesterday's terminology was 'vehicle serial number' found on the vehicle data plate. I don't know about other makes, but on our vintage y-block Fords, that vehicle serial number is stamped on the vehicle frame in three specific locations.
More recent terminology for the vehicle serial number is VIN which is simply the acronym for 'vehicle identification number'.
Here's the link to the data plate decoder for our vintage Fords that decodes your vehicle serial number.
http://www.ctci.org/decoder.php
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By Ted - 7 Years Ago
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For the Fifties’ Fords, it’s normal for the VIN (serial number) on the data plate to only be ten digits long. Here’s an excerpt from a page out of a VIN decoding book for the 1957 Ford showing the ten digits. You’ll have to keep in mind that Ford put the identification number on the body and the frame but not on the engine.
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By 62bigwindow - 7 Years Ago
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One thing that always makes me chuckle is when you hear a vintage Ford as being numbers matching engine and transmission.
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By NoShortcuts - 7 Years Ago
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62bigwindow. At first blush your statement is totally correct. -There is no serial number on the y-block Ford engines or transmissions that corresponds to the vehicle serial number that it came out of.
For the purist however, there are engine component casting numbers AND some components have casting dates that are 'correct' for the vehicle the engine or transmission came from. This also comes into play with transmissions.
I am not a numbers guy, but for someone putting together something like an E code or F code car, this information can affect the value of what they are restoring.
You are totally correct that the purists working on the restoration of something like a Corvette, this serial number stuff has got to be hard. 
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By texasmark1 - 7 Years Ago
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thanks to all!
Mark
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By paul2748 - 7 Years Ago
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Vehicle Serial Number and Vehicle Identification Number are the same thing. Just different nominclature. The early numbers identified the year as well as the serial number just as the later numbers did. Model T's may have had only the "T" before the number so the year ID started with the Model A or the 32. Over the years Ford added additional info to the number, such as an engine code, most likely because they were using different engines in the same model year. The engine code may have started with 1932, when the V8 and 4 cylinder were both offered (not sure).
NoShortcuts (1/21/2017)
Yesterday's terminology was 'vehicle serial number' found on the vehicle data plate. I don't know about other makes, but on our vintage y-block Fords, that vehicle serial number is stamped on the vehicle frame in three specific locations. More recent terminology for the vehicle serial number is VIN which is simply the acronym for 'vehicle identification number'. Here's the link to the data plate decoder for our vintage Fords that decodes your vehicle serial number. http://www.ctci.org/decoder.php
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By snowcone - 7 Years Ago
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NoShortcuts (1/21/2017)
62bigwindow. At first blush your statement is totally correct. -There is no serial number on the y-block Ford engines or transmissions that corresponds to the vehicle serial number that it came out of. For the purist however, there are engine component casting numbers AND some components have casting dates that are 'correct' for the vehicle the engine or transmission came from. This also comes into play with transmissions. I am not a numbers guy, but for someone putting together something like an E code or F code car, this information can affect the value of what they are restoring. You are totally correct that the purists working on the restoration of something like a Corvette, this serial number stuff has got to be hard.
And then you watch Fast and Loud or Overhaulin etc and they get a car in and exclaim how good it is as it is a numbers matching car, and then cut the whole front off and put a crate motor and gearbox in it.
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By texasmark1 - 7 Years Ago
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yeah... "Fast and Loud" should be "Fast-talking Loud-mouth". Sorry that Texas has been the backdrop of such a one as RR!
anyway... back to my VIN, here goes:
D7ET165631
Body: 64B
Color: AE%
Trim: R
production code: 14A0256P
interpretations welcomed...!
thanks, Mark
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By Ted - 7 Years Ago
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texasmark1 (1/23/2017)
D7ET165631
Body: 64B
Color: AE%
Trim: R
production code: 14A0256P
interpretations welcomed...!
thanks, Mark
Decodes as a 312 245HP 4V engine, 1957, built in Mahwah NJ, Fairlane 500 tudor, 65,631 production number, Raven Black and Colonial White exterior color, Gray cloth interior, scheduled production day January 14th, 256th car produced.
No information on the % sign but could indicate a reversal of the colors on the exterior. No information on the P at the end of the production code.
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By texasmark1 - 7 Years Ago
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thanks Ted; the car is now red and white (always been my favorite color combo from the 50's) and with a 272 2V under the hood! Wonder where the 312 went??!!
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By Lou - 7 Years Ago
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The "P" at the end of the plate means the car was shipped out of the Mahwah, NJ assembly plant sales district, the 256 means it was the 256th 57 ford car shipped to that sales district that month.
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By texasmark1 - 7 Years Ago
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... just wonder where my 4V 312 ended up...!
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