FALCON VIN DATA PLATE CODES

 

The 1970s Ford Falcon range carried a small Vehicle Identification Plate mounted
on the upper left hand firewall panel under the bonnet. Up to December, 1972
it was single plate format and from January, 1973 it was changed to
two separate plates for additional information.
These plates carry the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) made up of twelve
letters and numbers. Other information includes the vehicle model number,
engine, transmission, interior trim and paint codes.

Supplied on this website in the side menu is a downloadable pdf file of all
the Data Plate Codes which is A4 paper printer friendly. Also included
in this file are the Paint Codes.
 
The single Vehicle Identification Plate used until December, 1972.
 

The double set Vehicle Identification Plates used from January, 1973.
 

 

VIN NUMBERS
The twelve letter and number Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), sometimes called the
'chassis number' or 'factory serial number' is the primary means of identifying a car.
Ford Falcon / Fairlane VIN numbers are made up of three distinct sections:
Positions 1 thru 6: Prefix Body
Positions 7 thru 11: Serial Number
Position 12: Engine Configuration
Using the codes on this page the example below can be translated as an
Australia - Broadmeadows Fairmont Hardtop built in August, 1972
(making it an XA model) with an 8 cylinder engine.
                         
Position: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Example: J G 6 7 M E 1 7 3 1 3 K
PREFIX BODY
A six character block made up of two letters, two numbers and two more letters. The first two Letters
are country of origin and build plant location; the two digit number is the model code defining body
style and series; the last two letters are firstly the year then month of manufacture.
 
(Position 1) Country of Origin
All Falcon parts were produced in Australia and then fully built there or exported as CKD Kits
in containers to New Zealand (NZ) and South Africa (SA) where they were locally assembled.
J Australia  
M Australia CKD (Complete-Knock-Down) Kits for export to NZ and SA
     
(Position 2) Build Location
CKD Kits were supplied for assembly in New Zealand (NZ) and South Africa (SA) and so have the
codes: ML and MS respectively. Production in NZ switched from the Seaview plant to the newly
built Wiri plant in June, 1973. The Hardtop and GT series were only produced at Broadmeadows
so they only carry the code: JG.
G Broadmeadows
 1735 Sydney Road, Campbellfield, Melbourne, VIC 3061, Australia
H Eagle Farm
 31 Schneider Road, Eagle Farm, Brisbane, QND 4009, Australia
L Seaview
 43 Seaview Road, Seaview, Lower Hutt 5010, New Zealand
Wiri
 70 Plunkett Avenue, Manukau, Auckland 2104, New Zealand
S Port Elizabeth Struan Way, Struandale, Gqeberha 6001, South Africa
     
(Position 3 & 4) Numerical Model Code
This number denotes the basic body style - Hardtop (Coupe), Sedan, Station Wagon, Utility or Panel
Van in connection with the basic Falcon series range - Falcon Standard, Falcon 500, Futura, Fairmont
and GT. Codes were also used for Taxi models and some later Ford marketing series like the XC
Fairmont GXL and Sundowner. The Fairlane, LTD and Landau product lines also had individual
codes. Also included in the list below are the build plant codes denoting what was built where.
11 Futura Sedan JG / JH built
12 Futura Taxi JG / JH built
21 Falcon Sedan JG / JH built / ML assembled
22 Falcon Taxi JG / JH built
23 Falcon 500 Sedan JG / JH built / ML assembled
24 Falcon 500 Taxi JG / JH built
30 Falcon Wagon JG / JH built / ML assembled
31 Falcon 500 Wagon JG / JH built / ML assembled
32 Fairmont GXL Sedan JG / JH built
33 Falcon GT Sedan JG  built
34 Fairmont Sedan JG / JH built / ML assembled
35 Fairmont Wagon JG / JH built
36 Fairlane Custom JG / JH built
37 Fairlane 500 JG / JH built
38 Fairlane Custom Taxi JG / JH built
39 Fairlane 500 Taxi JG / JH built
40 Falcon Ute JG / JH built / MS assembled
41 Falcon  500 Ute JG / JH built / MS assembled
42 Falcon Van JG / JH built
45 Falcon 500 Van JG / JH built
47 Falcon Sundowner Van JG / JH built
63 Fairlane Marquis JG / JH built
65 Falcon 500 Hardtop JG built
66 GT Hardtop JG built
67 Fairmont Hardtop JG built
70 Landau JG built
71 LTD JG / JH built
     
(Position 5 & 6) Date of Manufacture Code
The first letter denotes the factory build year and the second letter the build month. Every five years
the month codes repeat but since the year code is different there are no repetitions. The dates codes,
it should be noted, reflect the VIN number date of issue not the completion, roll out or delivery date.
The table below are the dates of manufacture for the Falcon / Fairlane from Dec71 to Mar79.
1971 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
L C K D E L Y S T J U M P
1972 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
M B R A G C K D E L Y S T
1973 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
N J U M P B R A G C K D E
1974 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
P L Y S T J U M P B R A G
1975 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
R C K D E L Y S T J U M P
1976 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
S B R A G C K D E L Y S T
1977 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
T J U M P B R A G C K D E
1978 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
U L Y S T J U M P B R A G
1979 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
W C K D E L Y S T J U M P
SERIAL NUMBERS
(Positions 7 thru 11)
This is the individual vehicle serial number unique to each car. They are all 5-digit numbers starting
at 10000 running consecutively through to 99999 after which the numbering starts again at 10000 so
they repeat every 90,000 cars. With almost 597,000 cars built in the Falcon / Fairlane / LTD range,
these numbers could have been duplicated six to seven times throughout the production run from
1972 to 1979. But since the Prefix Body, used in conjunction with the serial number, is always unique
due to the date codes there are no repetitions. There was one special allotment made for the 400 XC
Falcon Cobras in 1978 which were assigned serials: 00001 thru 00400.
 
ENGINE CONFIGURATION
(Position 12)
This denotes that the vehicle is either a 6 or 8 cylinder type vehicle for registration purposes.
It should not to be confused with the Engine Code, in particular the 'K' code for the 351ci V8.
C 6 Cylinder
K 8 Cylinder
   

 

SIDO NUMBERS
This is an acronym for Single Item Dealer Order (SIDO) which is a six digit number uniquely
applied to a car that has been ordered by a Ford dealer. The SIDO number stays with that car,
hence why it is on the data plate, as a way of tracking progress from factory to dealership.
The six digit numbers run from 100000 to 999999 and although there are repetitions, since the
number is tied to the VIN number it remains unique.
 

 

MODEL CODES
(& BODY TYPES)
The Model Code is a five digit number which translates as the following:
Digit 1 & 2 - Product Line Digit 3 - Model Year Digit 4 - Body Style Digit 5 - Series
18 - Falcon / Fairmont 2 - XA 1972 1 - Hardtop 1 - Standard
24 - Fairlane 3 - XB 1973 3 - Sedan 3 - 500 / Fairlane Custom
26 - LTD / Landau 6 - XC 1976 4 - Taxi Sedan 4 - Sundowner
45 - Commercial   6 - Station Wagon 5 - Futura




7 - Utility
8 - space		 7 - Fairmont / Fairlane 500 /
      LTD / Landau
    8 - Panel Van 8 - GT / GXL / Marquis
The Body Type is a short code that is not found on the data plate but is included
here as it is often quoted along with the Model Code in various parts manuals.
The two-part three-character codes are defined as follows:
Digit 1 & 2 - Body Style Single Letter - Series    
54 - Sedan A - Falcon Standard G - Fairlane 500  
65 - Hardtop B - Falcon 500 H - Falcon GT
66 - Utility C - Futura  J - LTD / Landau  
71 - Station Wagon D - Fairmont M - Fairlane Marquis  
78 - Panel Van E - Fairlane Custom    
18213 65B XA Falcon 500 Hardtop
18217 65D XA Fairmont Hardtop
18218 65H XA Falcon GT Hardtop
18231 54A XA Falcon Std Sedan
18233 54B XA Falcon 500 Sedan
18235 54C XA Futura Sedan
18237 54D XA Fairmont Sedan
18238 54H XA Falcon GT Sedan
18261 71A XA Falcon Std Wagon
18263 71B XA Falcon 500 Wagon
18267 71D XA Fairmont Wagon
24133 54E ZF Fairlane Custom Sedan
24237 54G ZF Fairlane 500 Sedan
45271 66A XA Falcon Std Ute
45273 66B XA Falcon 500 Ute
45281 78A XA Falcon Panel Van
 
18313 65B XB Falcon 500 Hardtop
18317 65D XB Fairmont Hardtop
18318 65H XB Falcon GT Hardtop
18331 54A XB Falcon Std Sedan
18333 54B XB Falcon 500 Sedan
18335 54C XB Futura Sedan
18337 54D XB Fairmont Sedan
18338 54H XB Falcon GT Sedan
18341 54A XB Falcon Std Taxi Sedan
18343 54B XB Falcon 500 Taxi Sedan
18345 54C XB Futura Taxi Sedan
18361 71A XB Falcon Std Wagon
18363 71B XB Falcon 500 Wagon
18367 71D XB Fairmont Wagon
24333 54E ZG Fairlane Custom Sedan
24337 54G ZG Fairlane 500 Sedan
24343 54E ZG Fairlane Custom Taxi Sedan
24347 54G ZG Fairlane 500 Taxi Sedan
26317 65J P5 LTD Landau
26337 54J P5 LTD Sedan
45371 66A XB Falcon Std Ute
45373 66B XB Falcon 500 Ute
45381 78A XB Falcon Panel Van
45383 78B XB Falcon 500 Panel Van
 
18613 65B XC Falcon 500 GS Hardtop
18617 65D XC Fairmont Hardtop
18631 54A XC Falcon Std Sedan
18633 54B XC Falcon 500 Sedan
18637 54D XC Fairmont Sedan
18638 54D XC Fairmont GXL Sedan
18641 54A XC Falcon Std Taxi Sedan
18643 54B XC Falcon 500 Taxi Sedan
18661 71A XC Falcon Std Wagon
18663 71B XC Falcon 500 Wagon
18667 71D XC Fairmont Wagon
24637 54G ZH Fairlane 500 Sedan
24638 54M ZH Fairlane Marquis Sedan
24647 54G ZH Fairlane 500 Taxi Sedan
26637 54J P6 LTD Sedan
45671 66A XC Falcon Std Ute
45673 66B XC Falcon 500 Ute
45681 78A XC Falcon Std Panel Van
45683 78B XC Falcon 500 Panel Van
45684 78B XC Falcon 500 Sundowner Van

 

ENGINE CODES
 
E 6 cyl 200ci / 3.3L 1V LC XA, XB, XC
G 6 cyl 200ci / 3.3L 1V HC XA, XB
           
J 6 cyl 250ci / 4.1L 1V LC XA, XB, XC
L 6 cyl 250ci / 4.1L 1V HC XA, XB
N 6 cyl 250ci / 4.1L 1V HC XC
F 6 cyl 250ci / 4.1L 1V HC XC (from 1979)
M 6 cyl 250ci / 4.1L 2V HC XA
           
Y 8 cyl 302ci / 4.9L 2V HC XA, XB
P 8 cyl 302ci / 4.9L 4V HC XC
           
K 8 cyl 351ci / 5.8L 2V HC XA, XB
T 8 cyl 351ci / 5.8L 4V HC XA, XB, XC
H 8 cyl 351ci / 5.8L 4V HC-HO XA Phase IV
xxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxx xxxx xxxxxxx

 

TRANSMISSION CODES
       
J Manual 3-spd column shift Partial synchro
N Manual 3-spd column shift All synchro
L Manual 4-spd floor shift All synchro
R Automatic 3-spd column shift Cruisomatic
B Automatic 3-spd floor shift T-Bar Cruisomatic
       

 

TRIM CODES
       
XA FALCON
ZF FAIRLANE
A Blue vinyl  
B Black vinyl  
P Parchment vinyl  
S Saddle vinyl  
U Dark Grey vinyl Fleet / Corporate option only.
W White vinyl  
Y Burgundy vinyl  
A2 Blue vinyl & cloth  
B2 Black vinyl & cloth  
P2 Parchment vinyl & cloth  
S2 Saddle vinyl & cloth  
W2 White vinyl & cloth  
Y2 Burgundy vinyl & cloth  
Note: Trim colours Chamois (C), Green (G) and Red (R) have been quoted
anecdotally but as yet not sighted in any official Ford documents or manuals.
       
XB FALCON
ZG FAIRLANE
B Black vinyl  
C Chamois vinyl  
K Brown vinyl  
P Parchment vinyl  
S Saddle vinyl  
W White vinyl  
B2 Black vinyl & cloth  
C2 Chamois vinyl & cloth  
K2 Brown vinyl & cloth  
P2 Parchment vinyl & cloth  
S2 Saddle vinyl & cloth  
W2 White vinyl & cloth  
       
XC FALCON
ZH FAIRLANE
B Black vinyl  
C Cream vinyl n/a for ZH Fairlane.
D Doeskin vinyl  
E Terracotta vinyl n/a for ZH Fairlane.
G Ginger vinyl  
J Jade vinyl n/a for ZH Fairlane.
U Dusk vinyl  
Z Ochre/Saddle vinyl  
B2 Black vinyl & cloth  
C2 Cream vinyl & cloth n/a for ZH Fairlane.
D2 Doeskin vinyl & cloth  
E2 Terracotta vinyl & cloth n/a for ZH Fairlane.
G2 Ginger vinyl & cloth  
J2 Jade vinyl & cloth n/a for ZH Fairlane.
U2 Dusk vinyl & cloth  
Z2 Ochre/Saddle vinyl & cloth  
Note: '2' coded trim are termed as Houndstooth vinyl & cloth.
       
P5 LTD
B Black vinyl  
C Chamois vinyl  
P Parchment vinyl  
S Saddle vinyl  
B4 Black leather  
C4 Chamois leather  
P4 Parchment leather  
Note: Trim code W (White) was incorrectly published at the
time in some Ford brochures and was not actually available.
       
P6 LTD
B Black vinyl Also a LTD Town Car option.
D Doeskin vinyl  
G Ginger vinyl  
R Red velour Silver Monarch edition only.
U Dusk vinyl Also a LTD Town Car option.
Z Saddle vinyl Also a LTD Town Car option.
B2 Black vinyl & cloth  
C2 Cream vinyl & cloth  
D2 Doeskin vinyl & cloth  
G2 Ginger vinyl & cloth  
Note: Trim code R (correctly named Cranberry Red Crushed Velour) is only available
with the Silver Monarch edition. However there have been recorded factory P6 LTD
cars built with this trim which are not Silver Monarchs. Two are known to have paint
code 9 (Sno White).

PAINT CODES
See under Paint Code headings in the Side Menu.

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