Position #1 is the Country of Manufacture Identification

1 = United States  2 = Canada  3 = Mexico

Position #2 is the Manufacturer's Identification

F = Ford Motor Company, Ford Division

 L, M or Z = Lincoln - Mercury Division

Position #3 is the Make Identification

A = Ford

E = Mercury

N or R = Lincoln

Position #4 is the Vehicle Restraint System Identification

B = Active Belts

C  = Driver Airbag and Active Belts

F = Driver and Passenger Airbags and Active Belts

H = Driver and Passenger Front and Side Airbags and Active Belts

L = Passenger and Driver Airbags

P = Passive Belts

Position #5  is the Vehicle Type Identification

N, M, or P = Passenger car

The Check Digit is used by governmental agencies (DMV, law enforcement) and insurance companies to ensure that the VIN has been recorded properly. The Check Digit is derived from a formula that takes into account all of the other characters in the VIN. The Check Digit takes the form of the numerals 0 through 9 and the letter X. More information on the Check Digit is here.

1981 through 2000 Fords, Mercurys, and Lincolns use a letter to identify the year.

5 = Flat Rock, Michigan

A = Atlanta, Georgia

B = Oakville, Ontario

 F = Dearborn, Michigan

G = Chicago, Illinois

H = Lorain, Ohio

J = Los Angeles, California

K = Kansas City, Missouri

M = Cuautitan, Mexico

P = St. Paul, Minnesota

R = Hermosillo, Mexico

T = Metuchen, New Jersey

U = Louisville, Kentucky

W = Wayne, Michigan

X = St. Thomas, Ontario

Y = Wixom, Michigan

Z = St. Louis, Missouri

Consecutive Unit Numbers begin at 100001 at each Ford Motor Company assembly plant. This number represents the scheduled sequence order. When a car was ordered, it was immediately assigned a VIN with a Consecutive Unit Number. It was then assigned a scheduled production date based on availability of trim, parts, other components, and taking into account downtime and production workloads at the assembly plant.

A scheduled production date was very often out of sequence with the Consecutive Unit Number. And more often than not, the actual production date (the day the car rolled off the line) was earlier or later than what was originally planned. Therefore, a Thunderbird with a Consecutive Unit Number of 105678 may have actually been produced and ready for shipping before a Thunderbird with a Consecutive Unit Number of 105432. The Consecutive Unit Number should be considered to be a unique identification that shows when the order was received and when it was planned for production.

 Location of the Data Plate which contains the Vehicle Identification Number:

 1981 and newer: On the driver's door lock pillar (body) or door lock face.

The Data Plate is also referred to as the "Patent Plate" and the "Warranty Plate"

1981 and newer cars also have the VIN on a metal tab that is attached to the left end of the top of the instrument panel. This tab is visible through the windshield.

For more detailed information about your VIN, please write to director@lovefords.org Include your VIN and production codes, a brief description of the vehicle, and your name. Kindly allow a 24-hour turnaround time to answer your question. Questions on Ford trucks are welcome, too.