vin decode

[Sid]

In 1960 when did ford do the change over to build the 1961 model? With a date code of 25K I know it is a 1961 built in October 25th in Dearborn but in what year? 139132 is the serial #. I am thinking it is one of the first 61's Not sure when they did the model year changes back then. It is a Starliner if that matters....

 

[raceron1120]

I'm pretty sure it would've been 1960. I think the model changeovers usually took place in August or September.

 

[Sid]

And that is what I thought but we have a 57 T-Bird built in Sept. and according to what I have read they stamped out 57 Birds until Dec. 13 1957 there about. Also I know the #'s start with 100001.Does each manufacturing plant have its own group of #'s and did Falcons & T Birds share the same # system with Galaxie and Fairlane. So in other words did each model for that year start with 100001 or did they start with that # being the first Ford built. Like if your car was 139500 and it was a Galaxie could 139501 possibly be a T Bird or a Falcon or whatever? As the body code like 63A or whatever dictates the body style.

 

[dmsfrr]

.....I think the model changeovers usually took place in August or September.

Sounds about right.
For 1961 the first digit of the serial number is the same as the model year, "1" = 1961.
http://www.tpocr.com/fordvin1.html

... Like if your car was 139500 and it was a Galaxie could 139501 possibly be a T Bird or a Falcon or whatever? As the body code like 63A or whatever dictates the body style.

That's how it normally works. Each model year started with 100001 for all Fords.

As with most rules there are exceptions but they shouldn't apply to your '61.
The '55 and '58 T-Birds were a bit late getting into production and the first batch of each were built together and had consecutive serial numbers.
http://www.tbirdregistry.com/first-1000-thunderbirds.aspx

The '57 T-Birds were held over for 3+ months into the '58 model year because the '58 Birds weren't ready.
http://automotivemileposts.com/tbird/prod1957tbird.html

'57 T-Birds built in Sept. of '56 (J) and Sept. of '57 (W) would also have vastly different 'consecutive unit' numbers (last six of the serial number).
https://www.ctci.org/decoder.php


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[pj's junkers]

Standard Catalog of Ford says 1961 models were introduced Sept. 29, 1960