56 Rating Plate
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
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From: Simi Valley, CA
AFAIK, 12K refers to October 12th 1955 (EDIT: 1956 .. see post #9.) the date the truck was assembled / A = January; B = February and etc thru M = December. The letter I was skipped.
If the 6th digit of your VIN is a K, the 4th digit K of the production code may decode to the same thing: Kansas City MO Assembly Plant.
The other letters/numbers cannot be decoded.
btw: Do you live in Haven KS? I spend much of my time here on FTE searching for obsolete parts for members.
One of my most frequently listed FoMoCo Dealer sources of obsolete Ford parts is: Haven Ford.
If the 6th digit of your VIN is a K, the 4th digit K of the production code may decode to the same thing: Kansas City MO Assembly Plant.
The other letters/numbers cannot be decoded.
btw: Do you live in Haven KS? I spend much of my time here on FTE searching for obsolete parts for members.
One of my most frequently listed FoMoCo Dealer sources of obsolete Ford parts is: Haven Ford.
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2011
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From: Wichita, Kansas
Yes, the truck was built in K.C. and then shipped to wichita where it was bought by the man whose son I bought the truck from. I have the original registration paper which shows it was purchased on 3-30-57. Since it was assembled Oct. 12 of 56 it probably was one of the last ones off the line. It does have a 57 radio in it. I wonder if that was put in at the factory or an add-on at the dealer? I live about 60 miles from Haven, but that is where I bought the truck, where it spent it's whole life on the farm. It was always parked in the barn or a shed and never left outside. It still has the factory wood in the bed, no rot. Thanks for the info!
Lead Driver
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From: Rockingham, VA
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 68
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From: Wichita, Kansas
To NUMBERDUMMY: do you think it came off the line in 55 or 56? I forgot to say that I found a quality inspection tag dated october 55 What number in the production code determines 1955 or 1956?
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Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 785
From: Simi Valley, CA
FoMoCo had assembly line problems with the new 1957 models. So, it wasn't until January 1957 that FoMoCo began assembling them.
Meanwhile, 1956 trucks were still being assembled, so the dealers would have something new to sell. Usually the cut-off for end of model runs occurs in August, but if this had occurred...this time, the dealers woulda been PO'd.
Production code: Every one I've seen here on FTE begins with two numbers and a letter (day/month). Several years ago, I found a book that said the first three digits refer to the date the vehicle was assembled.
I guessed that the 4th digit of K refered to Kansas City, "Kansas City here I come, they got some crazy little women there and I'm gonna get me some" ...as the old song goes.
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