Let's Talk Production Periods by Months

[cobra3073]

An interesting bit of information was developed as a result of the most recent Weekly Fun Question (WFQ) as it relates to data in Marti's "tagbook" or the interpretation of that data. THANKS again to CZ-75 for raising this issue.

To recap the WFQ:

Based on VIN 3F03Q124842, please identify when this 1973 351CJ Convertible would have been built.

 


a. October 1972

 


b. December 1972

 


c. January 1973

 


d. March 1973




Here is the information from the Tagbook as it relates to the 1973 Mustang production period:

For the 1973:

Jul 1972, VIN 100000 - 100100

Aug 1972, VIN 100000 - 119300

Sep 1972, VIN 100100 - 125200

Oct 1972, VIN 100200 - 143200

Nov 1972, VIN 100200 - 157800

Dec 1972, VIN 100800 - 169900

Jan 1973, VIN 111900 - 187700

Feb 1973, VIN 148200 - 205200

Mar 1973, VIN 170700 - 220400

Apr 1973, VIN 203600 - 238600

May 1973, VIN 214400 - 253000

Jun 1973, VIN 231700 - 263900

Jul 1973, VIN 247600 - 263900

When looking at the assigned beginning sequence numbers for the months of July - November 1972, one gets the impression that less than 200 mustangs were developed during this period. However we have irrefutable proof (in the form of Member "GRAVY" Marti Report) that there were Mustangs built during this period that had a higher sequence number in a prior month than the beginning number in some subsequent months.

This means NONE of the choices in the WFQ were correct as the "correct" response should have been September 1972. Since CZ-75 was the FIRST with the closest answer and the fact that he surfaced the "issue", I declared CZ-75 the winner.

This situation does not detract from the FACT that for any given month, the data (in the Tagbook) is correct, i.e. if one has a 1973 Mustang with a sequence number of 110481, it would have been built in August 1972 even though the starting assigned numbers for September 1972 is 100100.

Hope this makes sense.

Just for "grins" and possible information for future responses to WFQ and/or VIP WFQ, the following is also taken from the Tagbook.

In 1971, ALL Mustangs were produced either at the Metuchen or Dearborn Plant. Contrary to what some have said, the numbers were not interspersed with other lines. In short, there was NOT a number assigned to a Mustang and the next number assigned to a Pinto. The next number would also go to a Mustang.

In Aug 1970, VIN 100000 - 111400 were assigned @ Dearborn

In Aug 1970, VIN 100100 - 106700 were assigned @ Metuchen

In Sep 1970, VIN 100000 - 122900 were assigned @ Dearborn

In Sep 1970, VIN 100200 - 121900 were assigned @ Metuchen

In Oct 1970, VIN 103200 - 137400 were assigned @ Dearborn

In Oct 1970, VIN 102600 - 139600 were assigned @ Metuchen

In Nov 1970, VIN 120800 - 149100 were assigned @ Dearborn

In Nov 1970, VIN 129700 - 159600 were assigned @ Metuchen

In Dec 1970, VIN 134000 - 158800 were assigned @ Dearborn

In Dec 1970, VIN 140600 - 169400 were assigned @ Metuchen

*As of January 1971, ALL Mustangs were developed at Dearborn

In Jan 1971, VIN 146400 - 169900 were assigned @ Dearborn

In Feb 1971, VIN 158900 - 181000 were assigned @ Dearborn

In Mar 1971, VIN 169700 - 191600 were assigned @ Dearborn

In Apr 1971, VIN 181100 - 201500 Were assigned @ Dearborn

In May 1971, VIN 193800 - 213000 were assigned @ Dearborn

In Jun 1971, VIN 204500 - 222500 were assigned @ Dearborn

In Jul 1971, VIN 212200 - 230500 were assigned @ Dearborn

In Aug 1971, VIN 215700 - 230600 were assigned @ Dearborn

For the 1972:

Aug 1971, VIN 100000 - 114900

Sep 1971, VIN 100100 - 128000

Oct 1971, VIN 100100 - 141800

Nov 1971, VIN 101400 - 152900

Dec 1971, VIN 110300 - 161500

Jan 1972, VIN 150400 - 170200

Feb 1972, VIN 157700 - 179400

Mar 1972, VIN 161800 - 192200

Apr 1972, VIN 179600 - 205500

May 1972, VIN 187200 - 219200

Jun 1972, VIN 205300 - 230800

Jul 1972, VIN 217200 - 240900

Aug 1972, VIN 224800 - 241100

*Let the comments/conversations begin!

BT

 

[CZ-75]

Wow... On the surface, that seems overly complicated... Like it was developed by a German automaker or something... Overly complex, but yet still somewhat logical.

 

[bkdunha]

Coincides with my 72 vin ending in 160867. What happens in those cases when cars are produced either behind schedule or ahead of schedule and it crosses over into a different month?

I guess to answer my own question the vin is assigned when the car is serialized by ford and then everything thereafter really does not matter.

My car was serialized on my Marti on 12/17/71, bucked 12/23/71, but actually built on 01/05/72.

 

[cobra3073]

Coincides with my 72 vin ending in 160867. What happens in those cases when cars are produced either behind schedule or ahead of schedule and it crosses over into a different month?

I guess to answer my own question the vin is assigned when the car is serialized by ford and then everything thereafter really does not matter.

My car was serialized on my Marti on 12/17/71, bucked 12/23/71, but actually built on 01/05/72.

Another GREAT point for the discussion, Brian!

Since your VIN falls within the "assigned" ranges for both December 1971 and January 1972, is the assignment of the VIN really when it was serialized?

Everything I have seen seen seems to suggest this is the case but I really am curious as to what others think. Perhaps those who had a SIGNIFICANT delay in the production of their Mustang can help to clear up the matter as the sequence number assigned to their Mustang might not be duplicated from one month to another.

BT

 

[CZ-75]

I think your're right. One of the things I do is manage our company's fleet of vehicles. I ordered 2 Ford F150's at the same time last year. One with a special gear ratio to provide better towing capacity. There was a delay on that truck due to the Axle. We received the trucks 2 months apart, but the VIN numbers are sequential.

 

[Tnfastbk]

Looks like mine falls in Sep 70

 

[midlife]

VINs were assigned in the order the order was received. The cars were built according to when all of the various parts were available, and even then, delayed such that similarly equipped and colored cars were sent down the line.

 

[Mister 4x4]

Looks like mine falls in Sep 70

Mine, too. ::thumb::