Thanks to a great bunch of members I was able to locate the VIN on my Canadian F1 - BDA83AHN-429863. Found it on the Drivers side frame rail just above the steering box. Now, what does it all mean?

 

Let me try... 'cause I had a truck with almost the same VIN:


MD model: M1 (D= 114” wheelbase)
A unit type: standard
83 Body code: Pickup (114“ wheelbase)
A cab style: standard
H built at “Home Office” Windsor, ON
N production year: 1951
-429863 sequential number

 

You were pretty Close. Also, this reveals that the cab is probably not original since the Serial number show a 'standard cab' (the 6th digit) yet the plate on the body (posted in another thread here) says it is a 'Deluxe cab' B

 

I'm a little confused. farmer123 gave the number as BDA83AHN-429863 not MDA83AHN-429863.

Is BD the code for an M1 or an F1?

 

Joe MD was a Mercury M1 and BD was the Ford F1
They sold both Ford and Mercury trucks in Canada.

 

Yeah, I missed the B...
Mine was an M, so Mercury. His is a B, so Ford.
They were both made in the same plant in Windsor.

 

OK, thanks Joe. So farmer123's truck is an F1.

 

I wondered what I had as I have many duplicate parts and one was glove boxes for an F1 and F3 so didn't know if things had been swapped out. Is that the VIN I use when I register it or is it a combination of that and the (Canadian) firewall plate?

 

Well since you are dealing with MPI, my guess is you are going to need to go to them with both the frame stamping you found, and the matching Ford of Canada data plate with the matching VIN. If they don't like that, they may make you get an assigned VIN. Biggest question is do you have the title for it? If not, that is what is going to have to be sorted first before they will think of registering it. At least you have a VIN to go to them with now.

 

Been at least 30 years since it was last licensed, no tod to transfer over to me so will have to go through the process of getting a title - wish me luck. Thanks a ton!

 

 

Chris, as I'm sure you are aware your truck is a 51 F1 originally equipped with 239 Flathead V8, it was built at the Dallas, TX plant. Based on the Rating plate (Glove box) it was built prior to September 1951. There should be some stampings on the upper firewall/cowl area that will give you the original color and build date. Post those here when you find them.

 

Joe, here's the VIN for my '52: F1D2RH20867, same on the frame and title. It does not have a glove box plate, and I cannot find a firewall stamp. It is red now, and all color traces in out of the way places are also red, so I am thinking the original color was probably Vermillion.

 

Chuck, being a 52 it would not have the firewall stampings as the 'new' style Data plate would have had that information on it.

 

Frame stamp matches. Original color matches K color code. Except the glove box where the data plate is. Are they all silver?