Topic: VIN and build date

[ChrisV289]

I was looking on ebay today and saw a mustang with a VIN number that is after mine by like 3000 (i have 5R09A152, and he had 5R09C155) but the build date was like a month before mine (mine = 29K, his 08J).  Is that normal?

[J_Speegle]

Two responses/possibilities.

1- First 3000 numbers is not that far off considering the process IMHO. Remember cars were assigned VIN's when the order was received at the plant so your order got there first. From there they looked at what the options were and the type of order and assigned a guesstimate (s?) of when they might complete the car. Same thing goes with the other car. Order came in and they moved it in front of your car for some reason (on paper), Maybe his was one that was paid for and the customer was waiting for and possibly yours was just a dealer order for the lot. The majority of cars during this period were typically ordered and then the customer waited for the car to be built. I remember the family waiting months for the new car to arrive.

2- Second possibility is that one of the two cars compared has a replacement door tag and whom ever made or ordered it made guessed the date incorrectly since no original documentation is available

[thefordshow]

In the "mustang production guide", vin's 152074 [dated 24k] up to 152715 [dated 30k]. I would guess the date on vin #155XXX would be more out of the norm.

[Brett]

FWIW, my 65 San Jose fastback is an 09J build.  The VIN is 5R09C135xxx.

I have not seen very many early September 64 fastbacks. In the past 20 or so years, I have only run across a few cars with builds in the 01J-15J range.

Brett

[J_Speegle]

One of the first Mustangs we purchased was a very early fastback built at San Jose of course. Unfortunately it was stolen and totaled - didn't keep the VIN.

It was such an early car it had the fabric seat inserts - really odd and never seen or heard of another.