Where's my serial number?
- Late 1960s and later: usually on a small plate on the dashboard, visible through the windshield on the driver's side.
- Earlier cars: it varies by make and year. Common places are the driver's door pillar or hinge post, the steering column, the firewall, or near the glove box. Each make's page lists what our sources say.
- Paperwork: your title and registration also show it.
Example: FC501 (an example International Harvester serial).
Years we cover
1961-1966, 1968-1980. Not covered yet: 1967.
What a International Harvester serial looks like, by year
Each example below is split into numbered groups of characters, with what each group means. Example numbers show the layout; they are not a specific car.
1961
Looks like FC501 (5 characters)
| 1 Prefix | FC: Scout 80 / 800 chassis serial prefix (Super Scout Specialists, parts catalog MT113) [SSS] |
| 2 Serial number (range 501 to 28864 = 1961) | 501 [SSS] |
- 1961 end printed as FC08865 in the source; this pattern uses 28864, inferred from the next year's start.
Chassis serial range 501 to 28864 for 1961 from the Super Scout Specialists parts-catalog list (SSS).
Through model year 1965 only a serial number was used, not a VIN; the number is also stamped on the driver-side frame rail in the front wheel well (IHPA6228).
Line-setting tickets (build sheets) are the reliable source for build date and options (IHPA6228).
The list prints the 1961 range as FC501 to FC08865, which does not fit the 1962 start of FC28865; the upper bound used here (28864) is inferred from the 1962 start and is unconfirmed.
Example is the first number of the range, not a recorded vehicle.
Sources: [SSS] [IHPA6228] [DUGAN]
1962
Looks like FC28865 (7 characters)
| 1 Prefix | FC: Scout 80 / 800 chassis serial prefix (Super Scout Specialists, parts catalog MT113) [SSS] |
| 2 Serial number (range 28865 to 58142 = 1962) | 28865 [SSS] |
Chassis serial range 28865 to 58142 for 1962 from the Super Scout Specialists parts-catalog list (SSS).
Through model year 1965 only a serial number was used, not a VIN; the number is also stamped on the driver-side frame rail in the front wheel well (IHPA6228).
Line-setting tickets (build sheets) are the reliable source for build date and options (IHPA6228).
Example is the first number of the range, not a recorded vehicle.
Sources: [SSS] [IHPA6228] [DUGAN]
1963
Looks like FC58143 (7 characters)
| 1 Prefix | FC: Scout 80 / 800 chassis serial prefix (Super Scout Specialists, parts catalog MT113) [SSS] |
| 2 Serial number (range 58143 to 83951 = 1963) | 58143 [SSS] |
Chassis serial range 58143 to 83951 for 1963 from the Super Scout Specialists parts-catalog list (SSS).
Through model year 1965 only a serial number was used, not a VIN; the number is also stamped on the driver-side frame rail in the front wheel well (IHPA6228).
Line-setting tickets (build sheets) are the reliable source for build date and options (IHPA6228).
Example is the first number of the range, not a recorded vehicle.
Sources: [SSS] [IHPA6228] [DUGAN]
1964
Looks like FC83952 (7 characters)
| 1 Prefix | FC: Scout 80 / 800 chassis serial prefix (Super Scout Specialists, parts catalog MT113) [SSS] |
| 2 Serial number (range 83952 to 107760 = 1964) | 83952 [SSS] |
Chassis serial range 83952 to 107760 for 1964 from the Super Scout Specialists parts-catalog list (SSS).
Through model year 1965 only a serial number was used, not a VIN; the number is also stamped on the driver-side frame rail in the front wheel well (IHPA6228).
Line-setting tickets (build sheets) are the reliable source for build date and options (IHPA6228).
Example is the first number of the range, not a recorded vehicle.
Sources: [SSS] [IHPA6228] [DUGAN]
1965
Looks like FC107761 (8 characters)
| 1 Prefix | FC: Scout 80 / 800 chassis serial prefix (Super Scout Specialists, parts catalog MT113) [SSS] |
| 2 Serial number (range 107761 to 124894 = 1965) | 107761 [SSS] |
Chassis serial range 107761 to 124894 for 1965 from the Super Scout Specialists parts-catalog list (SSS).
Through model year 1965 only a serial number was used, not a VIN; the number is also stamped on the driver-side frame rail in the front wheel well (IHPA6228).
Line-setting tickets (build sheets) are the reliable source for build date and options (IHPA6228).
Example is the first number of the range, not a recorded vehicle.
Sources: [SSS] [IHPA6228] [DUGAN]
1965-1966
Looks like FC150220A (9 characters)
| 1 Prefix | FC: Scout 80 / 800 chassis serial prefix [SSS] |
| 2 Serial number (range 150000 to 160573) | 150220 [SSS] |
| 3 Trailing letter | A: Letter A seen after the number on owner-posted plates unconfirmed [DUGAN] |
The Super Scout Specialists list labels the range FC150000 to FC160573 '1965-1966'. The numbers FC124895 to FC149999 are not listed in the source and are not decoded. An owner-posted 1966 Scout with FC150220A is in this range.
Example is an owner-posted number.
1968
Looks like ABCDE0G280876 (13 characters)
| 1 Model, drive, engine and body characters (first six; not decoded by our sources) | ABCDE0 [DUGAN] [BP118468] |
| 2 Plant letter | G: Fort Wayne, Indiana (from a VIN-decoder output quoted in a BinderPlanet thread) unconfirmed [BP118468] |
| 3 Chassis serial (range 280876 to 329141 = 1968) | 280876 [SSS] |
Chassis serial range 280876 to 329141 for 1968 from the Super Scout Specialists list (Scout 800A/800B in parts catalog MT123 for 1969-71, Scout II in MT130 for 1971-73, Scout 80/800 in MT113 for 1968) (SSS).
The 13-character IH number began on 5 October 1965 at G165000 (BinderPlanet poster) and is not a federal VIN (same poster). The number is six characters, the plant letter G and six digits, so G173224 inside 780905G173224 is the plant letter and sequence; the frame carries the same eight-character run (Dugan: year, plant, line, serial for later cars).
The leading six characters are not decoded because no source we could read gives a code table for them.
This pattern fits any IH 13-character number with these characters; the range is a Scout chassis range, and International pickups and Travelalls also use a G plus six-digit run whose ranges the list does not give. Check the model with a line-setting ticket.
Example is built from the first serial of the range with placeholder leading characters; it is not a recorded vehicle.
Sources: [SSS] [DUGAN] [BP118468]
1969
Looks like ABCDE0G329142 (13 characters)
| 1 Model, drive, engine and body characters (first six; not decoded by our sources) | ABCDE0 [DUGAN] [BP118468] |
| 2 Plant letter | G: Fort Wayne, Indiana (from a VIN-decoder output quoted in a BinderPlanet thread) unconfirmed [BP118468] |
| 3 Chassis serial (range 329142 to 384198 = 1969) | 329142 [SSS] |
Chassis serial range 329142 to 384198 for 1969 from the Super Scout Specialists list (Scout 800A/800B in parts catalog MT123 for 1969-71, Scout II in MT130 for 1971-73, Scout 80/800 in MT113 for 1968) (SSS).
The 13-character IH number began on 5 October 1965 at G165000 (BinderPlanet poster) and is not a federal VIN (same poster). The number is six characters, the plant letter G and six digits, so G173224 inside 780905G173224 is the plant letter and sequence; the frame carries the same eight-character run (Dugan: year, plant, line, serial for later cars).
The leading six characters are not decoded because no source we could read gives a code table for them.
This pattern fits any IH 13-character number with these characters; the range is a Scout chassis range, and International pickups and Travelalls also use a G plus six-digit run whose ranges the list does not give. Check the model with a line-setting ticket.
Example is built from the first serial of the range with placeholder leading characters; it is not a recorded vehicle.
Sources: [SSS] [DUGAN] [BP118468]
1970
Looks like ABCDE0G384199 (13 characters)
| 1 Model, drive, engine and body characters (first six; not decoded by our sources) | ABCDE0 [DUGAN] [BP118468] |
| 2 Plant letter | G: Fort Wayne, Indiana (from a VIN-decoder output quoted in a BinderPlanet thread) unconfirmed [BP118468] |
| 3 Chassis serial (range 384199 to 421500 = 1970) | 384199 [SSS] |
Chassis serial range 384199 to 421500 for 1970 from the Super Scout Specialists list (Scout 800A/800B in parts catalog MT123 for 1969-71, Scout II in MT130 for 1971-73, Scout 80/800 in MT113 for 1968) (SSS).
The 13-character IH number began on 5 October 1965 at G165000 (BinderPlanet poster) and is not a federal VIN (same poster). The number is six characters, the plant letter G and six digits, so G173224 inside 780905G173224 is the plant letter and sequence; the frame carries the same eight-character run (Dugan: year, plant, line, serial for later cars).
The leading six characters are not decoded because no source we could read gives a code table for them.
This pattern fits any IH 13-character number with these characters; the range is a Scout chassis range, and International pickups and Travelalls also use a G plus six-digit run whose ranges the list does not give. Check the model with a line-setting ticket.
Example is built from the first serial of the range with placeholder leading characters; it is not a recorded vehicle.
Sources: [SSS] [DUGAN] [BP118468]
1971
Looks like ABCDE0G421501 (13 characters)
| 1 Model, drive, engine and body characters (first six; not decoded by our sources) | ABCDE0 [DUGAN] [BP118468] |
| 2 Plant letter | G: Fort Wayne, Indiana (from a VIN-decoder output quoted in a BinderPlanet thread) unconfirmed [BP118468] |
| 3 Chassis serial (range 421501 to 474896 = 1971) | 421501 [SSS] |
Chassis serial range 421501 to 474896 for 1971 from the Super Scout Specialists list (Scout 800A/800B in parts catalog MT123 for 1969-71, Scout II in MT130 for 1971-73, Scout 80/800 in MT113 for 1968) (SSS).
The 13-character IH number began on 5 October 1965 at G165000 (BinderPlanet poster) and is not a federal VIN (same poster). The number is six characters, the plant letter G and six digits, so G173224 inside 780905G173224 is the plant letter and sequence; the frame carries the same eight-character run (Dugan: year, plant, line, serial for later cars).
The leading six characters are not decoded because no source we could read gives a code table for them.
This pattern fits any IH 13-character number with these characters; the range is a Scout chassis range, and International pickups and Travelalls also use a G plus six-digit run whose ranges the list does not give. Check the model with a line-setting ticket.
Example is built from the first serial of the range with placeholder leading characters; it is not a recorded vehicle.
The 1971 range combines the Scout 800B list (G421501 to G445189) and the Scout II list (G425128 to G474896), which overlap.
Sources: [SSS] [DUGAN] [BP118468]
1972
Looks like ABCDE0G484897 (13 characters)
| 1 Model, drive, engine and body characters (first six; not decoded by our sources) | ABCDE0 [DUGAN] [BP118468] |
| 2 Plant letter | G: Fort Wayne, Indiana (from a VIN-decoder output quoted in a BinderPlanet thread) unconfirmed [BP118468] |
| 3 Chassis serial (range 484897 to 519977 = 1972) | 484897 [SSS] |
- 1972 start: the list leaves G474897 to G484896 unassigned; this pattern uses the printed 1972 range only (unconfirmed).
Chassis serial range 484897 to 519977 for 1972 from the Super Scout Specialists list (Scout 800A/800B in parts catalog MT123 for 1969-71, Scout II in MT130 for 1971-73, Scout 80/800 in MT113 for 1968) (SSS).
The 13-character IH number began on 5 October 1965 at G165000 (BinderPlanet poster) and is not a federal VIN (same poster). The number is six characters, the plant letter G and six digits, so G173224 inside 780905G173224 is the plant letter and sequence; the frame carries the same eight-character run (Dugan: year, plant, line, serial for later cars).
The leading six characters are not decoded because no source we could read gives a code table for them.
This pattern fits any IH 13-character number with these characters; the range is a Scout chassis range, and International pickups and Travelalls also use a G plus six-digit run whose ranges the list does not give. Check the model with a line-setting ticket.
Example is built from the first serial of the range with placeholder leading characters; it is not a recorded vehicle.
The list gives 1972 Scout II as G484897 to G519977, leaving G474897 to G484896 unaccounted for between 1971 and 1972; the start of 1972 may be misprinted.
Sources: [SSS] [DUGAN] [BP118468]
1973
Looks like ABCDE0G519978 (13 characters)
| 1 Model, drive, engine and body characters (first six; not decoded by our sources) | ABCDE0 [DUGAN] [BP118468] |
| 2 Plant letter | G: Fort Wayne, Indiana (from a VIN-decoder output quoted in a BinderPlanet thread) unconfirmed [BP118468] |
| 3 Chassis serial (range 519978 to 522965 = 1973) | 519978 [SSS] |
Chassis serial range 519978 to 522965 for 1973 from the Super Scout Specialists list (Scout 800A/800B in parts catalog MT123 for 1969-71, Scout II in MT130 for 1971-73, Scout 80/800 in MT113 for 1968) (SSS).
The 13-character IH number began on 5 October 1965 at G165000 (BinderPlanet poster) and is not a federal VIN (same poster). The number is six characters, the plant letter G and six digits, so G173224 inside 780905G173224 is the plant letter and sequence; the frame carries the same eight-character run (Dugan: year, plant, line, serial for later cars).
The leading six characters are not decoded because no source we could read gives a code table for them.
This pattern fits any IH 13-character number with these characters; the range is a Scout chassis range, and International pickups and Travelalls also use a G plus six-digit run whose ranges the list does not give. Check the model with a line-setting ticket.
Example is built from the first serial of the range with placeholder leading characters; it is not a recorded vehicle.
The 1973 G-series run is short (G519978 to G522965). The list says new frame numbers of the form CGD10001 began on 30 September 1972; see the 1973-1980 Scout II format.
Sources: [SSS] [DUGAN] [BP118468]
1973-1980
Looks like J0D62JGD50000 (13 characters)
| 1 Model year letter (first character) | J: 1979 [SSS] [DUGAN] |
| 2 Unused, model and engine characters (not decoded by our sources) | 0D62 [DUGAN] |
| 3 Frame year letter | J: 1979 [SSS] |
| 4 Plant letter | G: Fort Wayne, Indiana (from a decoder output quoted in a BinderPlanet thread) unconfirmed [BP118468] |
| 5 Line letter | D: Scout II chassis line (the list shows GD in every Scout II frame number from 1973 to 1980; the letter is not explained) unconfirmed [SSS] |
| 6 Frame serial (starts at 10001 each year) | 50000 [SSS] |
- 1973 Scout IIs were numbered both in the old G-series (G519978 to G522965) and, from 30 September 1972, in the CGD series (SSS); the 1973 CGD end figure is garbled in the source and is not used.
Scout II chassis (frame) numbers from Super Scout Specialists: 1973 CGD10001 and up (began 30 September 1972), 1974 DGD10001 to DGD41865, 1975 EGD10001 to EGD41866, 1976 FGD10001 to 47244 (printed with prefix EGD, probably a misprint), 1977 GGD10001 to GGD48284, 1978 HGD10001 to HGD49171, 1979 JGD10001 to JGD54434, 1980 KGD10001 to KGD23106 (SSS).
Bill Dugan: the frame carries eight characters (year, plant, line, serial) and the body VIN's first five characters are model year, unused, model, model, engine; joined they make the 13-character number (DUGAN).
The year letter is C for 1973 up to K for 1980, skipping I and the letters not listed (SSS).
Example is built from the published code layout, not a recorded car; the middle characters are placeholders.
All model year letter (first character) codes (8)
| C | 1973 [SSS] [DUGAN] |
| D | 1974 [SSS] [DUGAN] |
| E | 1975 [SSS] [DUGAN] |
| F | 1976 [SSS] [DUGAN] |
| G | 1977 [SSS] [DUGAN] |
| H | 1978 [SSS] [DUGAN] |
| J | 1979 [SSS] [DUGAN] |
| K | 1980 [SSS] [DUGAN] |
What a serial number cannot tell you
It identifies what the factory recorded in the number: typically the model year, assembly plant, series or body and production sequence, and in some years the engine. It cannot confirm a car is original or numbers-matching. Compare stampings, body tags and documentation.
Sources
- [SSS] Super Scout Specialists, IH Vehicle Chassis & Lineticket Code Reference (MT113, MT123, MT130 chassis serial ranges)
- [IHPA6228] IH Parts America forum, scout vin decoder (Scout 80 had no VIN, serial number only through model year 1965; 13-digit code from 1966)
- [DUGAN] Bill Dugan, Scout: VIN decoding (frame number = year, plant, line, serial; body VIN first five characters)
- [BP118468] BinderPlanet forum, Scout 800 Year ID with Serial # (13-character IH number began 5 October 1965 at G165000; decoder output quoted)