date codes
Moderator: ABQTBird
date codes
My date code for my 63 hardtop is Z06 . When I look at table 4 in my I.D. decoder manual it has Z is december of 2nd yr made . Does that mean it was made in 64? IT SHOWS 42806 63 2 doors made . Is that correct? Thanks for any help.
- Alan H. Tast
- Posts: 4257
- Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2003 10:52 pm
- Location: Omaha, NE
Re: date codes
Post a photo of your data plate, please. I suspect you're misreading the stamped characters. Production of 63s ended in mid-1963 before August to allow for changeover to 1964 models. Will post exact date and update when time and resources permit.
Alan H. Tast, AIA
Technical Director/Past President,
Vintage Thunderbird Club Int'l.
Author, "Thunderbird 1955-1966" & "Thunderbird 50 Years"
1963 Hardtop & 1963 Sports Roadster
Technical Director/Past President,
Vintage Thunderbird Club Int'l.
Author, "Thunderbird 1955-1966" & "Thunderbird 50 Years"
1963 Hardtop & 1963 Sports Roadster
Re: date codes
My number is 3Y83Z147799. I hope this helps because I think I may be reading it wrong. If they only made 45,000+ and I am at 47, I don't know what is going on. The door plate matches the fender number so it is what it is Thanks for your effort.
- Alan H. Tast
- Posts: 4257
- Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2003 10:52 pm
- Location: Omaha, NE
Re: date codes
Yes, you're reading it wrong. 63,313 '63 T-birds were built in 1963. The 6-digit number at the end was a consecutive unit number and used for all cars, regardless of body style - it started at 100001 and continued up to 163313 or higher, as many times numbers were vacated during production but the tally kept growing). The second two digits, '83', indicate the car's a T-bird hardtop and is the only designation in the VIN as to body style.
Again, please a photo of the data plate that's riveted to the driver's door below the latch -THAT's where the production date code is.
Last edited by Alan H. Tast on Mon Apr 22, 2024 5:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Alan H. Tast, AIA
Technical Director/Past President,
Vintage Thunderbird Club Int'l.
Author, "Thunderbird 1955-1966" & "Thunderbird 50 Years"
1963 Hardtop & 1963 Sports Roadster
Technical Director/Past President,
Vintage Thunderbird Club Int'l.
Author, "Thunderbird 1955-1966" & "Thunderbird 50 Years"
1963 Hardtop & 1963 Sports Roadster
Re: date codes
Thanks, got the plates confused. My wife looked at it too and it seems as if the date code is 20 C which would translate to March 20. Is that what you see too? Thanks for your help.
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- Posts: 134
- Joined: Sun Apr 02, 2017 12:42 pm
Re: date codes
Yes that would be March of 1963, March of 1962 they would still be making the 1962 models,,,