I just purchased some farm acreage, and tossed in with a bunch of other equipment was an old Ford grain truck. I *believe* it is a C610, but hoping someone here can help me decode the VIN plate so I know just what I've got!

The plate reads:

WARRANTY NUMBER
C61AUS41768 (Not sure about that 'S')

W.B COLOR MODEL BODY TRANS
135 L C610 691A A F7

MAX. G.V.W. LBS. CERT. NET H.P R.P.M D.S.O
21000 160 3800 71

So.... can anyone tell me what I've got here?

 

Welcome to FTE

The S in the VIN cannot be correct. It's 1973 related, but there is no MODEL code of C610, no AXLE code of F7, no 21,000 GVW listed for a 1973.

1973: The A VIN engine code refers to a diesel engine.

The last 6 digits of the VIN define the year, so until I know what the first digit is, there's nothing I can do, because some of the Warranty Plate codes are year specific.

The VIN engine code of A refers to the 330 2V Medium Duty FT (V8) engine in 1964/65, to the 240 I-6 from 1966 thru 1972.

Because of the 160 net HP and 3,800 RPM figures, it has to be the 330 2V M/D.

So, the first digit of the serial number will have to be a number .. not a letter. Letters were introduced in 1967.

No such thing as a C610. The SERIES code of C61, MODEL code of C610 define a C600 with a specific GVW, in this case, 21,000 lbs.

If the SERIES code was C60, MODEL code was C600 = C600 w/a 20,000 lb. GVW.

 

If I could figure out how to post a picture I'd do that. Barring that, I looked again at the pictures I took and what I originally thought was a "S" is perhaps a "5". Does that help?

 

C61AU541768 // 135 / L / C610 / 691A / A / F7 / 21000 / 160 / 3800 / 71

C61 = C600 (gas).

A = 330 2V Medium Duty FT engine.

U = Louisville KY Assembly Plant.

541768 = 1964, assembled May 1964.

135" Wheelbase.

L = Holly Green.

C610 = C600 (gas), 21,000 lbs. GVWR

691A: 6 = Black all Vinyl / 91A = C Series Tilt 'Standard' Cab.

A = New Process 435 4 Speed Manual Transmission.

F7 = Eaton model 13802 Two Speed Rear Axle / 5.83/8.11-1 / 15,000 lb. Rear Axle Capacity.

21,000 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.

160 net HP @ 3,800 RPM

71 = Los Angeles (SoCal) Ford District Sales Office, where the original selling dealer ordered the truck from.

 

That's great!!! Much appreciation!!!

Rick