Mustang VIN Decoder, 1964½–1973

Type the 11-character VIN from a 1964½ to 1973 Mustang to see its model year, assembly plant, body style and original engine. Each position decodes as you type, and every code is in the tables below, year by year.

How to Read a 1965–1973 Mustang VIN

Before 1981, Ford VINs were 11 characters, not 17. A first-generation Mustang VIN has five parts, always in the same order. The body serial code changed in 1967 and again in 1970, and engine letters were reused for different engines from year to year, so a code only means something next to its model year.

Position	Means	In 7F02C123456
1	Model year (last digit)	7: 1967
2	Assembly plant	F: Dearborn, Michigan
3–4	Body serial code	02: fastback
5	Engine	C: 289 V8, 2-barrel
6–11	Consecutive unit number	123456: the 23,456th car from that plant

Where to Find the VIN

The door plate or label repeats the VIN and adds the body, color, trim, build date, sales district, axle and transmission codes. The Mustang data plate decoder reads the rest of it.

Model years	Where it is
1965–1967	Stamped into the top of the driver-side inner fender apron, under the hood, and on the data plate on the driver door.
1968	On a plate riveted to the top of the dash, read through the windshield, plus partial VINs stamped on the fender aprons and the warranty plate on the driver door.
1969–1973	On a plate on the driver side of the dash, read through the windshield, and on the certification label on the driver door.

1964½ or 1965?

Mustang production started in March 1964, and Ford titled every car as a 1965, so all of them have a 5 VIN. Cars built before the changeover in August 1964 are the ones collectors call 1964½. The VIN can't say which on its own, but two things can:

The engine code. U (170 six), F (260 V8) and D (289 four-barrel, premium fuel) were only used before August 1964; T (200 six), C (289 two-barrel) and A (289 four-barrel) replaced them. K (the 271 hp High Performance 289) spans both.
The build date on the door data plate. A date letter for March to July 1964 is a 1964½. The decoder reads it, along with the paint and trim codes that changed at the same time.

Model Year Digits

The first character is the last digit of the model year, not the year the car was built. A 4 is a 1974 Mustang II.

First character	Model year
5	1965, including 1964½ cars
6	1966
7	1967
8	1968
9	1969
0	1970
1	1971
2	1972
3	1973

Assembly Plant Codes

Code	Model years	Plant
F	1965–1973	Dearborn, Michigan
R	1965–1970	San Jose, California
T	1965–1972	Metuchen, New Jersey

Body Serial Codes

Positions 3 and 4 give the body style only. The trim level and seats are in the body code on the door plate (65A, 63B, 76C).

Code	Model years	Body	Notes
01	1967–1969	Hardtop	Including the 1969 Grandé.
01	1970–1973	Hardtop
02	1967–1969	Fastback (SportsRoof from 1969)	Including the 1969 Mach 1 and Boss.
02	1970–1973	SportsRoof	Including the Boss 302 and Boss 351.
03	1967–1969	Convertible
03	1970–1973	Convertible
04	1970–1973	Grandé hardtop
05	1970–1973	Mach 1 SportsRoof
07	1965–1966	Hardtop
08	1965–1966	Convertible
09	1965–1966	Fastback (2+2)	From August 1964; no 1964½ fastbacks.

Engine Codes by Year

Advertised gross horsepower, as Ford rated it when new. 1972 and 1973 ratings were SAE net and changed during the year, so they aren't listed. The same letter can mean different engines in different years: C was a 289 two-barrel through 1968 and a 429 Cobra Jet in 1971.

Code	Model years	Engine	Carburetor	Horsepower	Notes
A	1965–1967 (later 1965 cars)	289 V8	4-barrel	225 hp
C	1965–1967 (later 1965 cars)	289 V8	2-barrel	200 hp
C	1968	289 V8	2-barrel	195 hp
C	1971	429 V8 Cobra Jet	4-barrel	370 hp
D	1965 (1964½ cars)	289 V8	4-barrel	210 hp	Premium-fuel 289, replaced by the A code.
F	1965 (1964½ cars)	260 V8	2-barrel	164 hp
F	1968	302 V8	2-barrel	210 hp
F	1969–1970	302 V8	2-barrel	220 hp
F	1971	302 V8	2-barrel	210 hp
F	1972–1973	302 V8	2-barrel	SAE net, not listed
G	1969–1970	302 V8 Boss 302	4-barrel	290 hp
H	1969	351 V8 Windsor	2-barrel	250 hp
H	1970	351 V8 Cleveland	2-barrel	250 hp
H	1971	351 V8 Cleveland	2-barrel	240 hp
H	1972–1973	351 V8 Cleveland	2-barrel	SAE net, not listed
J	1968	302 V8	4-barrel	230 hp
J	1971	429 V8 Cobra Jet Ram Air	4-barrel	370 hp	Super Cobra Jet with the Drag Pack, 375 hp.
K	1965–1967	289 V8 High Performance	4-barrel	271 hp
L	1969–1971	250 six	1-barrel	155 hp
L	1972–1973	250 six	1-barrel	SAE net, not listed
M	1969	351 V8 Windsor	4-barrel	290 hp
M	1970	351 V8 Cleveland	4-barrel	300 hp
M	1971	351 V8 Cleveland	4-barrel	285 hp	Early 1971, replaced by the Q code.
Q	1969–1970	428 V8 Cobra Jet	4-barrel	335 hp
Q	1971	351 V8 Cobra Jet	4-barrel	280 hp	From May 1971.
Q	1972–1973	351 V8 Cobra Jet	4-barrel	SAE net, not listed
R	1968	428 V8 Cobra Jet Ram Air	4-barrel	335 hp	From April 1968. Some references list the 1968 428 as Q or P.
R	1969–1970	428 V8 Cobra Jet Ram Air	4-barrel	335 hp
R	1971	351 V8 Boss 351	4-barrel	330 hp
R	1972	351 V8 High Output	4-barrel	SAE net, not listed
S	1967	390 V8 GT	4-barrel	320 hp
S	1968–1969	390 V8 GT	4-barrel	325 hp
T	1965–1967 (later 1965 cars)	200 six	1-barrel	120 hp
T	1968–1969	200 six	1-barrel	115 hp
T	1970	200 six	1-barrel	120 hp
U	1965 (1964½ cars)	170 six	1-barrel	101 hp
W	1968	427 V8	4-barrel	390 hp
X	1968	390 V8	2-barrel		Listed in some references only; others list the 390 2-barrel as Y.
Z	1969–1970	429 V8 Boss 429	4-barrel	375 hp