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: 55WA5170H (an example Lincoln serial).
Years we cover
1950-1958, 1967, 1970-1971, 1975-1976. Not covered yet: 1959-1966, 1968-1969, 1972-1974.
What a Lincoln 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.
1950-1957
Looks like 55WA5170H (9 characters)
| 1 Model year (two digits) | 55: 1955 unconfirmed [OCW] |
| 2 Assembly plant (two letters) | WA: not a code our sources list [OCW] |
| 3 Consecutive unit number | 5170 [OCW] |
| 4 Make letter | H: Lincoln (make letter H from 1950) [OCW] |
- 1949 Mercury plates (series prefix 9CM, 1950 prefix 0CM per club forum posts) use a different layout and are not encoded.
Old Cars Weekly: the Mercury and Lincoln system from 1950 is model year, assembly plant, unit number, then a make letter (M Mercury, H Lincoln). Lincoln units started at 5001 and Mercury at 10001 in 1950. Lincoln used a suffix letter L in 1956 and 1957. The Continental Mark II had its own serial composition (not encoded). Mercury and Lincoln adopted Ford's ten-character system in 1958.
The article gives no plant codes or engine letters for these years, so only the structure is decoded.
The example is constructed from the layout (year, two plant letters, unit number, make letter); it is not a recorded vehicle. One seller described a 1955 Mercury plate as "55 WA 65170 M" with WA read as Wayne; that reading is not encoded.
All model year (two digits) codes (8)
| 50 | 1950 unconfirmed Old Cars Weekly says the 1950 system continued through 1957 and begins with the model year; a two-digit year was seen in examples for 1955 only. [OCW] |
| 51 | 1951 unconfirmed Old Cars Weekly says the 1950 system continued through 1957 and begins with the model year; a two-digit year was seen in examples for 1955 only. [OCW] |
| 52 | 1952 unconfirmed Old Cars Weekly says the 1950 system continued through 1957 and begins with the model year; a two-digit year was seen in examples for 1955 only. [OCW] |
| 53 | 1953 unconfirmed Old Cars Weekly says the 1950 system continued through 1957 and begins with the model year; a two-digit year was seen in examples for 1955 only. [OCW] |
| 54 | 1954 unconfirmed Old Cars Weekly says the 1950 system continued through 1957 and begins with the model year; a two-digit year was seen in examples for 1955 only. [OCW] |
| 55 | 1955 unconfirmed Old Cars Weekly says the 1950 system continued through 1957 and begins with the model year; a two-digit year was seen in examples for 1955 only. [OCW] |
| 56 | 1956 unconfirmed Old Cars Weekly says the 1950 system continued through 1957 and begins with the model year; a two-digit year was seen in examples for 1955 only. [OCW] |
| 57 | 1957 unconfirmed Old Cars Weekly says the 1950 system continued through 1957 and begins with the model year; a two-digit year was seen in examples for 1955 only. [OCW] |
All make letter codes (2)
| H | Lincoln (make letter H from 1950) [OCW] |
| L | Lincoln (suffix letter L used in 1956 and 1957) [OCW] |
Sources: [OCW]
1958
Looks like H8YB400001 (10 characters)
| 1 Engine | H: 430 cu in V8, 4-barrel unconfirmed [OLD58] |
| 2 Model year digit | 8: 1958 [OLD58] |
| 3 Assembly plant | Y: Wixom, Michigan unconfirmed [OLD58] |
| 4 Body series letter | B: Capri 4-door hardtop unconfirmed [OLD58] |
| 5 Division digit 4 (Lincoln) | 4: Lincoln [OLD58] |
| 6 Production sequence (five digits, starting 00001) | 00001 [OLD58] |
Single hobby source. The 1958 pattern has a Lincoln division digit and a five-digit sequence. The same source also lists 1959 body letters (A, B, D) but no 1959 year digit, engine or plant codes, so 1959 Lincoln is a gap.
All engine codes (2)
| H | 430 cu in V8, 4-barrel unconfirmed [OLD58] |
| J | 430 cu in V8, three 2-barrel carburetors (Continental Mark III) unconfirmed [OLD58] |
All body series letter codes (7)
| A | Capri 2-door hardtop unconfirmed [OLD58] |
| B | Capri 4-door hardtop unconfirmed [OLD58] |
| K | Capri 4-door sedan unconfirmed [OLD58] |
| L | Premiere 4-door sedan unconfirmed [OLD58] |
| M | Continental 4-door sedan unconfirmed [OLD58] |
| E | Continental 2-door hardtop (source: E or F) unconfirmed [OLD58] |
| F | Continental 2-door hardtop (source: E or F) unconfirmed [OLD58] |
1967
Looks like 7Y82G00001 (10 characters)
| 1 Model year digit | 7: 1967 [MS67L] |
| 2 Assembly plant | Y: Wixom, Michigan [MS67L] |
| 3 Body serial (model) code | 82: Continental 4-door sedan (style 53A) [MS67L] |
| 4 Engine | G: 462 cu in V8 4-barrel [MS67L] |
| 5 Consecutive unit number | 00001 [MS67L] |
The page says each plant starts the unit number at 00001, so the number is ten characters (five-digit sequence), unlike Ford and Mercury. The page does not give a complete sample number; the example is built from its rules. The official VIN is on the right front fender apron above the upper suspension arm opening.
All body serial (model) code codes (3)
| 82 | Continental 4-door sedan (style 53A) [MS67L] |
| 86 | Continental 4-door convertible (style 74A) [MS67L] |
| 89 | Continental 2-door hardtop (style 65A) [MS67L] |
Sources: [MS67L]
1970
Looks like 0Y82A800001 (11 characters)
| 1 Model year digit | 0: 1970 [MS70] |
| 2 Assembly plant | Y: Wixom [MS70] |
| 3 Engine | A: 8 cyl 460 cu in 4V [MS70] |
| 4 Consecutive unit number | 800001 [MS70] |
- Engine H: 1970 shop manual OCR reads 351 cu in 2V; the Classic Industries Mustang decoder lists 1970 H as 351 4V (250 hp) and M as 351 4V (300 hp). Not resolved.
- Plant D (Dallas) appears in the 1970 manual but is absent from the 1971 manual list.
- Ford, Mercury and Lincoln numbers share this layout; the make is told apart by the sequence number range. Sources give the starting numbers (Ford 100001, Mercury 500001, Lincoln and Comet 800001); where each range ends is our assumption. Check the make on the car itself.
From the 1970 Car Shop Manual page (scanned, read by OCR; plant and engine lists legible, body tables too garbled to use, so body codes are a gap for 1970 except Mustang). Manual: year digit, assembly plant letter, two-digit body serial code, engine letter, six-digit consecutive unit number. Starting numbers: 100001 Ford, Fairlane, Falcon, Mustang, Thunderbird, Maverick; 500001 Mercury, Meteor, Montego, Cougar; 800001 Lincoln Continental and Mark III. The official VIN is on an aluminum tab on the instrument panel near the windshield, driver's side.
Sequence ranges used to tell makes apart: sources say each plant starts a model year at 100001 for Ford, 500001 for Mercury and 800001 for Lincoln/Comet. The upper bound of the Ford range [1-4] is our assumption, not a sourced limit.
All assembly plant codes (18)
| A | Atlanta [MS70] |
| B | Oakville (Canada) [MS70] |
| D | Dallas [MS70] |
| E | Mahwah [MS70] |
| F | Dearborn [MS70] |
| G | Chicago [MS70] |
| H | Lorain [MS70] |
| J | Los Angeles [MS70] |
| K | Kansas City [MS70] |
| N | Norfolk [MS70] |
| P | Twin Cities [MS70] |
| R | San Jose [MS70] |
| S | Allen Park [MS70] |
| T | Metuchen [MS70] |
| U | Louisville [MS70] |
| W | Wayne [MS70] |
| X | St. Thomas [MS70] |
| Y | Wixom [MS70] |
All engine codes (22)
| 2 | 6 cyl 200 cu in 1V, low compression [MS70] |
| 3 | 6 cyl 250 cu in 1V, low compression [MS70] |
| 5 | 6 cyl 240 cu in 1V, low compression [MS70] |
| 6 | 8 cyl 302 cu in 2V, low compression [MS70] |
| U | 6 cyl 170 cu in 1V [MS70] |
| T | 6 cyl 200 cu in 1V [MS70] |
| L | 6 cyl 250 cu in 1V [MS70] |
| V | 6 cyl 240 cu in 1V [MS70] |
| B | 6 cyl 240 cu in 1V, police [MS70] |
| E | 6 cyl 240 cu in 1V, taxi [MS70] |
| F | 8 cyl 302 cu in 2V [MS70] |
| G | 8 cyl 302 cu in 4V, high output (Boss 302) [MS70] |
| H | 8 cyl 351 cu in 2V (Mustang source CI says 4V; see disputes) [MS70] |
| M | 8 cyl 351 cu in 4V [MS70] |
| Y | 8 cyl 390 cu in 2V, regular fuel [MS70] |
| Q | 8 cyl 428 cu in 4V Cobra Jet The OCR of the shop-manual line is partly garbled; Q/R as Cobra Jet / Ram Air agrees with the Mustang decoder. [MS70] [CI] |
| R | 8 cyl 428 cu in 4V Cobra Jet Ram Air The OCR of the shop-manual line is partly garbled; Q/R as Cobra Jet / Ram Air agrees with the Mustang decoder. [MS70] [CI] |
| P | 8 cyl 428 cu in 4V, police [MS70] |
| K | 8 cyl 429 cu in 2V [MS70] |
| N | 8 cyl 429 cu in 4V [MS70] |
| C | 8 cyl 429 cu in 4V Cobra Jet [MS70] |
| A | 8 cyl 460 cu in 4V [MS70] |
Sources: [MS70]
1971
Looks like 1Y82A800001 (11 characters)
| 1 Model year digit | 1: 1971 [MS71] |
| 2 Assembly plant | Y: Wixom [MS71] |
| 3 Body serial (model) code | 82: Continental 4-door sedan (53A) [MS71] |
| 4 Engine | A: 8 cyl 460 cu in 4V [MS71] |
| 5 Consecutive unit number | 800001 [MS71] |
- The Cougar owner decoder (FordMercuryCougarXR7.com) reads 1971 engine G as a 429 Cobra Jet 4V; the 1971 shop manual lists G as the 302 4V Boss and C as the 429 4V Cobra Jet. We show the shop manual.
- The Classic Industries Mustang decoder reads 1971 engine R as the 351 Boss and Q as the 351 Cobra Jet (after May); the shop manual lists neither R nor those readings (it lists Q as 351 4V GT). Mustang owners should note this when decoding Q and R.
- Ford, Mercury and Lincoln numbers share this layout; the make is told apart by the sequence number range. Sources give the starting numbers (Ford 100001, Mercury 500001, Lincoln and Comet 800001); where each range ends is our assumption. Check the make on the car itself.
From the 1971 warranty-plate page (U.S.). Layout: year digit, plant letter, two-digit body serial code, engine letter, six-digit consecutive unit number; plants start each model year at 100001 (Ford), 500001 (Mercury) or 800001 (Lincoln and Mark III). The official VIN is on a metal tab on the instrument panel near the windshield, driver's side; the Vehicle Certification label is on the rear face of the driver's door.
Codes marked with two style codes (Thunderbird 83, 84, 87) appear twice in the source table with different style codes; both readings are given.
All assembly plant codes (18)
| A | Atlanta [MS71] |
| B | Oakville (Canada) [MS71] |
| E | Mahwah [MS71] |
| F | Dearborn [MS71] |
| G | Chicago [MS71] |
| H | Lorain [MS71] |
| J | Los Angeles [MS71] |
| K | Kansas City [MS71] |
| N | Norfolk [MS71] |
| P | Twin Cities [MS71] |
| R | San Jose [MS71] |
| S | Allen Park [MS71] |
| T | Metuchen [MS71] |
| U | Louisville [MS71] |
| W | Wayne [MS71] |
| X | St. Thomas [MS71] |
| Y | Wixom [MS71] |
| Z | St. Louis [MS71] |
All body serial (model) code codes (3)
| 81 | Continental 2-door hardtop (65A) [MS71] |
| 82 | Continental 4-door sedan (53A) [MS71] |
| 89 | Mark III 2-door hardtop (65A) [MS71] |
All engine codes (23)
| 2 | 6 cyl 200 cu in 1V, low compression export [MS71] |
| 3 | 6 cyl 250 cu in 1V, low compression export [MS71] |
| 6 | 8 cyl 302 cu in 2V, low compression export [MS71] |
| U | 6 cyl 170 cu in 1V [MS71] |
| T | 6 cyl 200 cu in 1V [MS71] |
| L | 6 cyl 250 cu in 1V [MS71] |
| V | 6 cyl 240 cu in 1V [MS71] |
| B | 6 cyl 240 cu in 1V, police [MS71] |
| E | 6 cyl 240 cu in 1V, taxi [MS71] |
| F | 8 cyl 302 cu in 2V [MS71] |
| D | 8 cyl 302 cu in 2V, taxi [MS71] |
| G | 8 cyl 302 cu in 4V Boss [MS71] |
| H | 8 cyl 351 cu in 2V [MS71] |
| M | 8 cyl 351 cu in 4V [MS71] |
| Q | 8 cyl 351 cu in 4V (GT) [MS71] |
| Y | 8 cyl 390 cu in 2V [MS71] |
| S | 8 cyl 400 cu in 2V [MS71] |
| K | 8 cyl 429 cu in 2V [MS71] |
| N | 8 cyl 429 cu in 4V [MS71] |
| C | 8 cyl 429 cu in 4V Cobra Jet [MS71] |
| J | 8 cyl 429 cu in 4V Cobra Jet Ram Air [MS71] |
| P | 8 cyl 429 cu in 4V, police [MS71] |
| A | 8 cyl 460 cu in 4V [MS71] |
Sources: [MS71]
1975-1976
Looks like 6Y82A800001 (11 characters)
| 1 Model year digit | 6: 1976 [SM75] |
| 2 Assembly plant | Y: Wixom [SM75] |
| 3 Body serial code (two digits; not decoded here) | 82 [SM75] |
| 4 Engine letter | A: 8-cylinder 460 cu in 4V [SM75] |
| 5 Consecutive unit number | 800001 [SM75] |
- The manual prints Y as 139 cu in (2.3 L) and Z as 169 cu in (2.8 L); a third-party decoder cited in ford.json gives 140 and 171 cu in. Printed values kept.
Source: Ford 1975-1976 Car Shop Manual, Part 10-01 (Vehicle Identification), which says the information applies to both model years. The official VIN is on a metal tab on the driver's side of the instrument panel, visible from outside, and the Vehicle Certification Label on the left front door lock face or pillar carries the same number.
Unit numbers begin at 100,001 for Lincoln Continental and Continental Mark IV (Lincoln lines per this format's leading digit) as the manual groups them: 100,001 for Ford, Torino, Elite, Mustang, Thunderbird, Granada, Maverick and Pinto; 500,001 for Mercury, Meteor, Montego, Cougar, Comet, Monarch and Bobcat; 800,001 for Lincoln Continental and Continental Mark IV. The leading-digit ranges in the patterns are derived from those starts and are an assumption.
The manual has a Body Serial and Style Code table, but the two-column scan text is too garbled to align codes with models reliably, so body codes are shown raw. The engine table is one list for all makes; which engines each make offered is not stated.
The example is built from the code tables (not a recorded vehicle).
All assembly plant codes (17)
| A | Atlanta [SM75] |
| B | Oakville (Canada) [SM75] |
| E | Mahwah [SM75] |
| F | Dearborn [SM75] |
| G | Chicago [SM75] |
| H | Lorain [SM75] |
| J | Los Angeles [SM75] |
| K | Kansas City [SM75] |
| P | Twin Cities [SM75] |
| R | San Jose [SM75] |
| S | Allen Park (Pilot Plant) [SM75] |
| T | Metuchen [SM75] |
| U | Louisville [SM75] |
| W | Wayne [SM75] |
| X | St. Thomas (Canada) [SM75] |
| Y | Wixom [SM75] |
| Z | St. Louis [SM75] |
All engine letter codes (9)
| A | 8-cylinder 460 cu in 4V [SM75] |
| C | 8-cylinder 460 cu in 4V (Police) [SM75] |
| F | 8-cylinder 302 cu in 2V [SM75] |
| H | 8-cylinder 351 cu in 2V [SM75] |
| L | 6-cylinder 250 cu in 1V [SM75] |
| S | 8-cylinder 400 cu in 2V [SM75] |
| T | 6-cylinder 200 cu in 1V [SM75] |
| Y | 4-cylinder 2.3 litre 2V (printed as 139-2V) The shop manual prints the displacement as 139 cu in; 2.3 L is about 140 cu in. Printed value kept. [SM75] |
| Z | 6-cylinder 2.8 litre 2V (printed as 169-2V) The shop manual prints 169 cu in; 2.8 L is about 171 cu in, which is what a third-party decoder uses for Mustang II. Printed value kept. [SM75] |
Sources: [SM75]
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
- [OCW] Old Cars Weekly, It's all in the numbers: Ford's serial numbers 1950-1980
- [OLD58] OldRide.com library, 1958 Lincoln Continental (VIN structure)
- [MS67L] MercuryStuff.com, 1967 Lincoln Continental identification
- [MS70] MercuryStuff.com, 1970 Ford Lincoln Mercury identification (1970 Car Shop Manual 7098-70-1, scanned PDF; text read by OCR)
- [MS71] MercuryStuff.com, 1971 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury identification
- [SM75] Ford Motor Company, 1975-1976 Car Shop Manual, Part 10-01 Vehicle Identification (Internet Archive scan, OCR)