Data plate decoding help 1955 - 1957

[doug7740]

If you attached a picture of your VIN plate I'll be happy to decode the VIN for you.

doug7740
1955 Thunderbird Blue

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[Ward 57]

It's apparent that is not just a rumor. Probably to simplify the top end and better gas milage not realizing they are loosing the originality. If even available what would the manifold & carbs go for now? Almost priceless like parts for the 'F' birds.

What I've learned here, the valley pan was also different to accommodate the shallower intake manifold on the dual carb set up. When we got ahold of our gems most have been messed with. My car was 20yo when I bought it 40+ years ago and at that time people just considered it was 'just an old car' not knowing it's potential value.

 

[D Jones]

Looking at purchasing a 57 with the following data plate codes, could not find anything in the earlier posts: 40 NE XH 6M710936P. Get the first three; 40 tbird, NE Gunmetal Grey/white top, interior Red. its the 6M710936P I can't figure out as M would be the 13th month. Any help is appreciated, Thanks

 

[Ward 57]

Hills catalog has a pretty good data plate decoder. From what I can tell the production was the 6th of Dec. It's interesting as that is about the time they started to introduce '58 trim in the interior and there was another suffix on the interior code to indicate as such. Well documented. You may have one of the last before they ran out of '57 trim as they sold better than expected and ran out of regular trim.

 

[D Jones]

Thanks Ward57! Was not paying attention that Ford skipped the letter 'I' when counting off the months...
So no trans or axle code in this number, correct?

 

[jgarydilaura]

Sorry...I''m new guy, figured how to post photo of tag , hope you can blow up bottom # is 40 E XH 1B4301263 can someone explain numbers or put me in the right direction...I'm sure there's probably a chart of some sort .THKS Gary

 

[TBR]

Confused a bit by my 1957 data plate

Code is : 40 FF XK 24 E 3 1

My question is on the date. 24 for day of the month, E for May. However A-M supposedly designates 1955-56 with N-Z designating vehicles from 1957.

My car is definitely a 1957, not 1955. Any ideas on why the data plate doesn't seem to line up?

My first post here, thank you in advance for your answers!

You have some incorrect assumptions. A-M is used for the first 12 months of production, regardless of year. We see starting months usually as J (September) so a typical year with 12 months or less of production runs J-K-L-M-A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H. Letters I and O are never used in date codes. If a model year goes into the 13th month, then the second set of letters N-Z is used, starting with whatever month is the 13th. In the case of 1957, the 13th month was September 1957, so the letter W was used; the last month of production was December 1957 so the letter Z was used. The complete run of month letters for 1957 in order is J-K-L-M-A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-W-X-Y-Z. In any event the date stamped on the plate is a scheduled date, it was not meant to represent the actual build day although in some cases the actual build date fell on the scheduled date. That run of 1957 month letters is just that, 1957. It cannot be applied to every year or Ford product. You always have to consider the year of the car, the start of production, and how long production lasted. Lesson #2 will be about the integration of 1968 Lincolns and 1969 Mark IIIs from the same assembly plant, with different start dates, with an engine changeover, using the same set of "last six" of the VIN. As far as the data plate, these things were produced 1 at a time, with a hand-operated press. It's called human inconsistency.

 

[StevoWilson]

Gathering info for my late father-in-law's 1956 Thunderbird. I have decoded the data plate except the production code has me baffled. The code is 9HNU33. That tells me it was scheduled for production on August 9th. But I can't find a reference for the NU sales district. In 1957 there was a Newark district (15). Any chance NU was Newark in 1956?

 

[Rust]

Attached document will explain the month codes.

 

[farmerdick]

My production code is: 5K240015P. I know the 5K to be Oct 5th. What is the rest mean?
Thank you
farmerdick

 

[doug7740]

5K = Production Date Code – October 5th

24 = Jacksonville

0015 = The 15th Thunderbird shipped to the Jacksonville district

P = The "P" at the end is a code for regular production (not special ordered). The Special ordered cars had the letters A, B, or C depending on several things such as factory discount, etc.

doug7740
1955 Thunderbird Blue

 

[mrboy909]

I need some help decoding the last part of this data plate, 40 QE XK 3K450006P.

I know the first half - 1957/Bronze exterior/Colonial White interior, but the second half (3K450006P) has me stumped.

UPDATE-

I think I’ve got it… 3K = build date (3 October)… 45 = Sales Area (Davenport Iowa)… 00006 = sixth scheduled vehicle to be built that day… P = normal production.

If you have anything to add, I’d appreciate it, thanks.

 

[doug7740]

0006 is not the sixth scheduled vehicle to be built that day; it’s the sixth Thunderbird to be shipped to the Davenport sales area district for the 1957 model year. The numbers 111787 on the top line of your data plate is the consecutive unit number of all Ford cars assembled.

Here is the breakdown of your data plate​

D7FH111787
40 QE XK 3K450006P

D = Engine Code - 312 Cubic Inch Displacement (245 HP)
7 = Model Year - 1957
F = Assembly Plant - Dearborn
H = Body Style - Thunderbird
111787 = The Consecutive Unit Number of all Ford Cars Assembled

40 = Body Type
QE = Body Color - Q indicates Thunderbird Bronze and E indicates a Colonial White Hardtop
XK = Trim Color - White interior, with a tan canvas convertible top
3 = Day of the month
K = October
45 = Sales Area District - Davenport
0006 = The 6th Thunderbird shipped to the Davenport sales area district for the 1957 model year
P = Regular Production

The Special ordered cars had the letters A, B, or C depending on several things such as factory discount, etc.

I also noticed that your car is listed in the Thunderbird Registry.

doug7740
1955 Thunderbird Blue

 

[TbirdFan76]

Looking to buy my first 1957 tbird. I'm also having trouble decoding the data
plate. One of the cars I'm considering has following info

BODY: 40
COLOR: AA
TRIM: XA
PRODUCTION CODE: 6M130508P

I understand 40 is Thunderbird
Can't find a color code AA or trim code XA
Can't find list for Production Code: 6M130508P

Please help decode or if possible provide links to good references.

Thanks!

 

[doug7740]

Looking to buy my first 1957 tbird. I'm also having trouble decoding the data
plate. One of the cars I'm considering has following info

BODY: 40
COLOR: AA
TRIM: XA
PRODUCTION CODE: 6M130508P

40 = Body
AA = Body Color - A indicates Raven Black and the second A indicates a Raven Black hardtop.
XA = Trim Color – Black/White interior with a Black canvas convertible top.

Production Code

6 = Day of the month
M = Month - December
13 = Sales Area District – New York
0508 = The 508th Thunderbird shipped to the New York sales area district for the 1957 model year
P = Regular Production

doug7740
1955 Thunderbird Blue

 

[Frameman]

Hello everyone,
New member here. I’m trying to figure out the dealer code for my car the data plate is showing a code of S1. I can’t seem to find any listing for that code. Any help is appreciated
Frameman

 

[Lefthander]

I have always assumed that my '55 was a late '54, as it has the little copper pipe on the power steering ram.
After 34 years of ownership I finally got around to checking my serial plate and this includes 5 as the year
code and a date of 8th Dec.

So my question is: was the 5 the 'official' date (i.e. 1954 TBird was not a sales name) - and therefore my car
is indeed an 8th Dec 1954 as the very early copper pipe indicates. Or did the factory ignore such things and
mine is just a December '55?

If I might be permitted a follow-up: my sales district is HO - I thought Houston? but elsewhere a member has
said that Houston was SU. The pdf that was posted just shows big areas, not city name codes. Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Rust]

Code HO is for FMC Transportation and Equipment Department. I think this means the car was sent to Ford Motor Co to be used by them to evaluate the car. Post a photo of your plate.

 

[iburyem73]

If you attached a picture of your VIN plate I'll be happy to decode the VIN for you.

doug7740
1955 Thunderbird Blue

 

[Lefthander]

In terms of my 'late 54 or 55?' question: The trim code B instead of XB firmly identifies my red
car with red & white interior as an 'Early Bird' (with white hard top)? That goes with the small
copper pipe on the steering ram.

This now answers my question on the 'model year or actual year?' on the plate. The Tbird Int.
chart's 'first and last model no.' box shows that 5 was used, even though it was made in 1954.

So thanks again, I had decided that maybe mine was a Dec '55 with a swapped in PS ram - parts
aren't necessarily original! But you have led me to check the chart again and yes, it is an early one.

Btw, thanks to Rust for the area code info.

Cheers doug7740 (as we say in the UK)