VIN# on 1934 Ford 5 Window Coupe Std.

mike42

mike42

Well-known member
A friend of mine is going to look at a '34 5 Window. The VIN number off the frame starts out as follows.....18-F97......

Does anyone know what the F stands for ? Online there is nothing relating to this. Everything is 40A to start.

What I can tell you is that the car was "assembled" in Argentina in '34. It was made asa kit in Dearborn and shipped there and put together.

Any info is appreciated.

Thx...Mike
 
I believe that the number should be 18F-97xxxx. The "F" indicates that the car was manufactured in the USA for export to a foreign country.

In answer to Bob C's posting...V8 powered cars manufactured in the US from 1932 thru 1942 carried the "18" prefix in their serial/vin numbers.
 
The serial number (VIN) for all Ford V8's starts with 18.. If they were V8's in lieu of 4's and/or sixes...
The "F" in the serial number in question, most likely has something to do with the vehicle being an export model...
Since the serial numbers were assigned to the engine/trans assembly when they were mated at the engine plant, I would surmise that when the number was stamped into the chassis they added the "F" to track the vehicle since it was a knock-down model..
 
Hmmmmm? Two comments with close to the same info within three minutes, would/could indicate two great minds running in the same direction.. :D
 
BluCar....well spoken. That's why I'm on here to learn this stuff.

I kind of thought it had something to do with export, but really had no clue.

Thx to all.

Mike
 
Blucar, you statement about the use of "18" as a prefix is correct only for the "85" cars. The V-8 "60" cars had a prefix of "54".
 
Alan and Don,

With the greatest respect, the F was only added to the 18 (or B) when the chassis was RHD, not when it was LHD. The F designates RHD, not export. In the specific case at the top of the thread, it is appropriately 18F because Argentina was a RHD country at that time.

The same applies to the Canadian engine number prefixes, namely that the F was added only if the destination of the engine/chassis was a RHD country.
 
You're right Dave. I should have known that. I have many drawings
With F designations and they are all right hand drives.

Sorry for the misinformation.
 
TJ said:
Blucar, you statement about the use of "18" as a prefix is correct only for the "85" cars. The V-8 "60" cars had a prefix of "54".
Click to expand...

I knew that I had neglected to include the V8 60's which is a variant from '37-40, having a serial number prefix of 54.. The whole game changed in '41 do to the three engines in the the Ford line. Limited applications of the 4 cylinder and the introduction of the 6 cylinder...
Many people identify the '32 Ford as being the Model "B" however the '32 is actually model B if it has the 4 cyln engine.. The serial number prefix is AB0000.. The V8 cars are model 18 having the serial number prefix "18". Rarely are the '32's referred to as being model 18. From time to time the '32's are referred to as model C. Ford discontinued their long line of letter cars in '33.
I'm gonna go stand in the corner for awhile...:o
 
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Don and Alan,

Likely the only reason that I know that is because all the period cars that I brought back from Brazil (a LHD country) during my two tours of duty with Ford in South America had engine numbers just like those of cars in the U.S., whereas those that I brought back from Argentina and Uruguay (both RHD countries before 1948) had the F designation ending the prefix. It was later when looking for some RHD part engineering drawings that it further dawned on me about the addition of the F to a part number being exclusively for RHD parts.

One has to have access to either Ford of Britain or Ford of Canada (or one of the Ford of Canada subsidiary companies such as Ford Australia) parts catalogues to see listings of RHD parts. Obviously some version of the period U.S. catalogues must have existed with RHD parts listings for use in those U.S.-sourced RHD countries such as Argentina, Japan, Paraguay, and Uruguay, but I've failed to find one despite years of trying. (For the super observant, there are two exceptions to the above in the '32 U.S. chassis parts catalogue, namely BF-11450, the early Model B starter switch, and BF-13471, the right side tail lamp bracket offered through service.)
 
David G....when were you in SA for Ford ? Argentina or Brazil ? I visited both plants in my day.

Mike
 
With respect, I believe the V-8 60 part number prefix was 52. The AB prefix for U.S.-produced '32 fours was used until AB5062386 at which point the letter A was dropped and only the letter B was used as a prefix thereafter. All U.S. and British produced fours during this period used a seven digit number beginning with the number 5.
 
Once I thought I was wrong, but I was mistaken.. I use to have a placard sitting on my desk with the afore-mentioned saying...
The books I have clearly show "54" as the serial number prefix for all '37-40 V8 60 vehicles..
 
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