50 = 1950, 51 = 1951, 52 = 1952, 53 = 1953

54 = 1954, 55 = 1955, 56 = 1956, 57 = 1957

Positions #3 and #4 are the Assembly Plant Identification

DA = Dearborn, Michigan

LA = Los Angeles, California

LP = Lincoln Plant, Detroit, Michigan

ME = Metuchen, New Jersey

SL = St. Louis, Missouri

WA = Wayne, Michigan

Consecutive Unit Numbers begin at 10001 for 1950-1957 Mercurys at each Ford Motor Company assembly plant, and begin at 5001 for 1950-1957 Lincolns. 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 Mercury with a Consecutive Unit Number of 95678 may have actually been produced and ready for shipping before a Mercury with a Consecutive Unit Number of 95432. 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.

Positions #11  indicate the car series:

H - Lincoln Cosmopolitan series (1950-1951)

L - Lincoln series (1950-1951)

L - Lincoln (1952-1957)

M - Mercury (1950-1957)

1950 and 1951 Lincoln (except Cosmopolitan models): Located on the right front body hinge pillar

1950 and 1951 Lincoln Cosmopolitan models: Located to the left of the windshield wiper motor

1952 - 1954 Lincoln: Located on the right front body pillar

1950 - 1952 Mercury: Located on the right front body pillar

1953 - 1957 Mercury: Located on the left front body pillar

1955 - 1957 Lincoln - Located on the left front body pillar

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.