Ford

1961-1980

Early Ford VINs are maddening...both due to the lack of a model year character, and the lack of consistent and detailed reference information readily available to decode them.

B70KVS30555

Positions 1-3: Model

Not an exhaustive list:

Position 4: Engine

Take this list with a massive dash of salt. Ford was notorious for playing fast and loose with engine codes, using the same letter to denote different engine types in different years (or possibly even the same year).

Position 5: Assembly plant

Positions 6-11: Production sequence

Again: Ford VINs of the 1960s and 1970s did not contain a model year code, and serials simply continued in sequence from one year to the next. Different assembly plants built trucks at different rates; however, it seems that Ford periodically reset serials to a common starting number across all plants, so the cutoffs are consistent across all lines.

Initially, sequential serials were all-numeric. This was followed by a 1-alpha series from 1967 on. Numbering got extremely squirrelly during 1976 and 1977, with serials first duplicating 1967-68 numbers and then backfilling unused sequences. Finally, Ford adopted a 2-alpha format in 1978 with letters A-K in the second serial position.

1981-1998

In 1981, Ford adopted the uniform 17-digit VIN format being imposed throughout the industry. To the relief of all, this was also the point at which Ford began including a model year code, as well as explicit gross vehicle weight rating and brake system information:

1FDXB70HXBVA03710

Positions 1-3 and 11: Manufacturer and assembly plant

Position 4: Gross vehicle weight rating and brake system

Positions 5-7: Model

Both the B-600 and B-700 were produced through 1994. With the 1995 facelift, the chassis line was consolidated into a single model designated B-800 and badged simply "B-series."

Position 8: Engine

Position 9: Checksum

0-9 or X, calculated from the other digits.

Position 10: Model year

Ford's model years traditionally began in August of the preceding calendar year. The cutoff started creeping forward in the early 1990s, ultimately culminating with the 1995, 1997, and 1998 model years beginning in March. All "1998" chassis were in fact built in 1997, as Ford discontinued the production of medium- and heavy-duty trucks in Kentucky before the end of the year.

Positions 12-17: Production sequence

The sequence started at A00001, resetting at the start of each model year. As in 1967-77, the leading letter was a serial character that could theoretically advance as far as necessary; however, the Kentucky Truck Plant in this timeframe never proceeded beyond "A." A few 1981 chassis have the letter "J" in this position; the significance of this is unknown.

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©2021 Andrew Turnbull.