How to Read Your Ford Mustang VIN – 1965 through 1973

If you take a look at the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on your Ford Mustang that was produced between 1965 and 1973, you can get a great deal of information. In fact, you just might be surprised at what you can learn.

From the VIN you can find out the model year, the plant where it was assembled, the body code that tells the original body style, the engine code that indicates the type of engine that was originally installed and the unit number which is the production number for a particular model year in a certain plant. The unit number begins with 100001.

Let us use a hypothetical VIN:  9T03R123456

9 – Model Year
The model year is indicated by a single digit number. The code is as follows: 5 for 1965, 6 for 1966, 7 1967, 8 for 1968, 9 for 1969, 0 for 1979, 1 for 1971, 2 for 1972 and 3 for 1973.

T – Plant Code
The plant code, the assembly plant where the car was produced, is indicated by a letter. The plant code is:  F is for the assembly plant in Dearborn for the dates 4-9-64 to present, R is for the assembly plant in San Jose for the dates 7/1364 to 6/30/70 and T is for the assembly plant in Metuchen NJ for the dates 2/1/65 to 12/31/70.

03 – Body Code
The body code, the body style of the car, is indicated by a two-digit number. The body code is as follows:  07 is the body style for the hardtop for the years 1965-1966, 08 is the body style for the convertible for the years 1965-1966, 09 is the body style for the fastback for the years 1965-1966, 01 is the body style for the hardtop for the years 1967-1973, 02 is the body style for the fastback for the years 1967-1973, 03 is the body style for the convertible for the years 1967-1973, 04 is the body style for the grande for the years 1967-1973, 05 is the body style for the mach I for the years 1970-1973.

R – Engine Code
The engine code is indicated by a letter. The engine codes are: A is for the 1965-1967 289-4V; C is for the 1965-1968 289-2V & 1971 429CJ; D is for the 1964½ 289-4V (low compression); F is for the 1964½ 260-2V & 1969-1973 302-2V; G is for the 1969-1970 Boss 302; H is for the 1969-1973 351-2V; I is for the 1968 302-4V & 1971 429CJ Ram Air; K is for the 1965-1967 289-4V High Performance; L is for the 1968-1973 250-1V; M is for the 1969-1971 351-4V; Q is for the 1969-1970 428CJ & 1972-1973 351-4V; R 1969-1970 428CJ Ram Air & 1971 Boss 351; S is for the 1967-1969 390-4V; T is for the 1965-1970 200-1V; U is for the 1964½ 170-1V; W is for the 1968-1969 427; X is for the 1968 390-2V; and Z is for the 1969-1970 Boss 429.

12345 Unit Number
The unit number is a six-digit production number that represents the model year at a certain plant. It begins with 100001. In this case, unit number 12345 is vehicle number 23,456.