Topic: build date ?

[Brian Conway]

I Have a friend with a 65 Fastback VIN 5RO9A148699.  No Door data tag or other info.  The front fenders are dated 9 26 D3 and 10 2 D3 the hood is 9 ? D2.  I don't have enough background to date this car by the build sequence so based on the fenders:  My guess is Nov. 15, 1965.  Can any of you guys tighten that up ?  Thanks,  Brian

[bluestang65]

You'll never really know what was on the tag.  Ford didn't even do them sequentially all the time.  Unit 5R09T148658 lists a build date of 14K.  But unit 5R08K148548 lists 17K as the scheduled build date.  Just in time inventory wasn't even a thought in the 1960s so some parts would sit around for months and some were assembled into a car before they were even cooled off.  Pick a date that makes the most sense to you and go with it. 
PS. there's a searchable registry database on www.early-mustang.com.  It helps out a lot in determining this stuff.
743 is 16K
879 and 880 are 19K

[ChrisV289]

Brian,

My SJ car was built 29K and begins with 5R09A152xxx.  The car was sold new on 11/6/64

[Brian Conway]

Thanks for the help and info.  I had no idea the numbers would run all over the place.  Always a shame when you run into a dead end on one of these cars.  Thanks,  Brian

[J_Speegle]

No real reason IMHO to tighten the date down closer since it means little, other than the date Ford guessed it would be completed

Take a shot and stick with it LOL

[Brian Conway]

Thanks.  My friend was just wondering how early in 1965 his car was built.  So we will just say early.  The door data build date for my car is June 1/65 and sequence number 228188.  The date on the Owners ID card is May 28/65.    Thanks  Brian