Since the late seventies I’ve been looking for a 1957-60 Ford Panel truck. I finally found one, but it’s not clear exactly what I have. Like the Johnny Cash song, he’s a “57, 58, 60, 61 Ford Automobile…”. The fenders are 57/58, the grill and hood are 60; but here’s the kicker, the ID number and plate are 1961 Canadian format. Apparently they changed from a 9-5 format with serial number trailing, to a 6-9 format with the serial number leading.

Here are links to the relavant Canadian VIN data pages on mercurypickup.com:
1960 model year page
1961 model year page
(Thanks to whoever posted the link to mercurypickup!)

And a photo of my ID plate, which is riveted to the inside of the glove box door:


I’m familiar with US-built trucks of this vintage and this plate is definitely not one of those. When I saw that the glove box door was attached with sheet metal screws, I got real nervous and started doing some digging here. I had expected to find that the glove box door came from another vehicle, perhaps a pickup and did not belong with the chassis. Thanks to posts in the frame-stamped-serial-numbers thread, I found the frame number and it matches the number on the glove box plate. Very, very odd indeed! The only reason I can think of to detach the glove box door from the body is if you were changing bodies. Unlike the US ID plates, the Canadian plate and ID number actually tells me that the plate belongs on a panel truck: the “82” in the second half of the number means panel; a pickup would have had either an “83” or a “99”. Unless someone took the body from one panel truck and put it on my frame, which originally had a panel truck body, this must be the original body. But why detach the glove box door??

Are there any numbers on the body that would tell if the body belongs on that frame?

Then there is the odd fact that this ID plate is 1961 vintage. Based on my research to date, I can only conclude that my truck was built in Canada in 1961, yet it’s clearly a 1960 (or earlier) model year. Paul McLaughlin, in “Ford Pickups – 1957-67” says:
But this is not a “similar” vehicle, this is the real deal, as far as I can tell. McLaughlin doesn’t say anything about Canadian production, but does list 28,932 standard and 2,228 custom panels produced in 1961! That’s only slightly less than the total production he lists for 1957-60 combined! If they weren’t made in the US, where were the built? Canada? The problem with that is that (according to mercurytrucks), Canada produced a total of 16,630 Ford and Mercury trucks in 1961, of which perhaps 1,300 to 1,700 were panels. Anybody??

I don’t understand the year code in the Canadian VIN. The 1960 VIN page indicates that the code for 1960 was “Z”; the 1961 page indicates that the code for 1961 was “N”. Now that makes no sense whatsoever. I could believe going from Z to A, but Z to N? My year code is “Z” not “N”, so that makes my truck a 1960, right? But if that’s the case, it should have a 1960 format, 9-5 serial number, not the 6-9 that I have. I’m confused!

Does anyone know how to decode the Canadian VIN year character?

(If it turns out that my truck was built in 1961, do I have to stop posting here?)

How about the “999” paint code? All of the paint codes seem to be number-letter-letter, where the number is either 1 or 2. I don’t find any reference to a 999 paint code.

Does anyone know what the 999 paint code means?

Cal

 

Doesn't anybody know about Canadian VINs or have a truck made in Canada around 1960?

Cal

 

I've been attempting for years to locate ones for the Merc trucks w/ no luck.
And the ones that I Have found Stop @ '56 & pick up in '61.

 

Cal, this is a bit "off topic" but along the lines of what you are asking. I have a Canadian 1956 Ford F100 and my VIN doesn't match what the Canadian Trucks are supposed to look like at all. The VIN is 4831010TK25750 The best I can figure out the 83 means Pick up. K is for Oakville Ontario Plant and the T is the model year 56. One of the "10"'s is for F100. The other could be the colour "Raven Black" but I know my truck was originall yellow which is 13 but not in my VIN. This VIN is on my frame on the driver's side infront of the firewall. I have been told that it is usually on the passenger side of the frame. My truck didn't have the VIN tag on the door pillar like the 56s did (it was missing when i bought it). They were attached with screws for the year 56 not riveted. I am trying to get this info to have a replacement plate done up.

I have found a phone # for the Historical Department at Ford Canada and the man to talk to is John Elbano. The # is (905) 845-2511 Extension 1428. I just left him a message today but I think he works part-time so not sure if/when I will get a call back.

Maybe you could get some help from this guy??

Kevin

 

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the information.

Hi Kevin,

Not off topic at all. Great information, in fact.

If we just add a dash to your VIN number, it seems to match the 1960 "5-9" format:So, if your truck has (had) a V8 engine and a short wheelbase, narrow box, it all makes sense. The year codes even makes sense through 1956, based on the codes at mercurypickup:I would guess that R = 1954. Again according to mercurypickup, they used a two digit year code through 1951, so maybe P=1952.

But between 1957 and 1960, something odd happens, if they continued the 1953-1956 sequence we would have:But apparently Z = 1960 and N = 1961.

The nine digit part of your VIN and mine seems to be in the same format. Mine is:The first 7 digits of the 9 character part seems to be the same from your 1956 up to at least 1964.

Maybe the difference between your VIN and the 1956 information on mercurypickup has to do with the plant? Your truck, like mine, was built at Oakville, Ontario. The 1953,5,6 info at mercurypickup is for Windsor, Ontario. They're not the same plant are they? Maybe they used a different VIN format at the Oakville plant?

Also, my frame number is on the top of the driver's side frame, just in front of the axle. Two digits, 68 are omitted from the stamped VIN and the serial number digits are stamped with a different, slightly larger stamp. On my US build 1960 F-100 pickup, the VIN is on the passenger's side, directly above the axle. All the characters are in the same "font".

Why don't we wait a week or so and see if John gets back to you. Would you be kind enough to let me know if you hear anything?

I've also e-mailed a few inquires to some promising leads that came up during my research.

Cal

 

I won't be much help since I only can decode 46-52 canadian vins (they used the 2 digit code through 52). You vin style is very similar to my Dad's 65 M-350.

If you could find a 57-60 Canadian chassis parts manual it will tell you how to break down the vin. I don't know if the shop manual would or not.

Ford probably changed the vin mid 1960 and is why you have a 1961 type vin but 1960 date code.

 

VIN plate was originally on the inside of the glovebox door. Color not in VIN actual number, but elsewhere on the plate. I have a 1953 Canadian Mercury parts book, but nothing you listed is in there.

 

Cal,

I just heard back from John at Ford and he is going to decode my VIN from "internal" literature and mail me the results. He did confirm that from their records the pattern of my VIN is definitely correct for a Canadian truck. He said the "4" signifies an F100, "83" is the pickup/express as already determined, "10" is also F100, as you mentioned the other "10" is the wheelbase, "T" is 1956 and "K" is Oakville plant.

My truck doesn't look like it ever had a V8. I took the 6 cyl out and everything looked to me that it was stock. Not sure if this helps or not for you. The Mercury website info only shows a code for one plant for my year so not sure about Windsor plant. Also not sure if there were differences between Ford and Mercurys made in Canada but I wouldn't be surprised.

Numberdummy,

"VIN plate was originally on the inside of the glovebox door. Color not in VIN actual number, but elsewhere on the plate. I have a 1953 Canadian Mercury parts book, but nothing you listed is in there." Thank you for clarifying that the colour does not appear in the VIN. This makes a lot more sense when I look at it now. As far as where the VIN plate belongs, I think the 53-55 plates were on the glove box and in 56 it was moved to the door jamb on the drivers side in between the hinges. I have four perfectly placed holes in this area and have been told by a guy in Alberta that owns several 56's that this is where the plate is/was. I also have the original glove box door that matches (paint colour wise) and it does not have any holes in it at all. Now that I have said this someone (with more knowledge) will probably come along and prove me wrong.

I also have another plate that is located on the firewall inside the engine compartment on the passenger side that gives other rating info. I don't have a copy of it with me at work but will try and get the info off it to see if that is where the colour and interior info is.

Thanks for helping me clear this up somewhat for me as well.

P.S. I was told by John at Ford that they have literature that explains all of this but when I asked if he could forward me a copy with the "decode" he is sending he told me it was for "internal" use only. I was also told I am on my own trying to get a new plate (At least where Ford is concerned). They are not assisting to get a replacement made.

Kevin

 

The 1964/72 Ford truck parts book can decode the 64/65 Canadian VINS, but the 57/63 parts book can't. I looked in both of them for your VIN info. I decoded a 65 VIN for a member a while back. First I told him...no way...then I looked in the general info section again, and felt like an azz...just when you think you've read the entire book, something new pops up.


From the 64/72 parts book-64/65-Canadian VIN.

The A *after the last sequence of numbers stands for the range of the GVW (A = 0M to 6000M), the L at the end of the first sequence of numbers refers to LHD.

4 is shown as 8 cylinder, but...did it in 1960 or 61? In the example of the VIN, the next two digits are the body style = 99 for Styleside, 83 for Flareside, etc.

Next there is 10 (in this case), for F (M) 100. Next..14 (in this case) 114" wheelbase. The L comes last. The next sequence of numbers are the numerical sequence of assembly with the A coming last.

There is no year date shown on the VIN, so it must go by the serial number, just like the US versions did till the mid 70's.

*A thru H are the GVW weight code ranges.

 

Hi Kevin,

I'll give John a call and see if he can help me with my list of questions. Too bad they won't publish the "internal" data.

If your truck origionally had a V-8, there should be some evidence. I know some years had a seperate V-8 badge (I don't know about 1956). There might be a different radiator as well. My pickup has the radiator out of a 1956ish Ford V-8 truck and I had to have the lower hose fitting moved to the passenger's side. You might look for that (if you still have the radiator).

My Father's 1957 F-100 also had the VIN plate on the door post. Somewhere between 1957 and 1960 it moved back to the glove box door. Both my 1960 F-100 pickup and the 1960 panel truck have the ID plate on the glove box door.

ND,
Thanks for the help. Your decode meshes nicely with what I found. Do you show anything about a 999 paint code?

Cal

 

Hi Kevin

You can get a replacement Rating Plate from Mid Fifty for your truck. You can get it not stamped but if you want them to stamp it, they will if you provide a copy of proof of ownership. They have plates for the years 53 to 56 according to their catalog.

Rick

 

Rick, thanks for the info. I knew they had them but I believe they only have the "Made in the USA" ones. Not that it is that big of a deal. I am not doing a stock restoration anyway. As my truck is a Canadian truck I didn't want to run into trouble with our Provincial Insurer here. I have replaced the engine and made other "mods" that require me to have my truck inspected. That's what made me realize I would have to have the VIN plate on my truck. No one would probably notice that the plate is for an American truck so that is probably what I will do. I guess I could also repaint one to look like a Canadian rating plate.

Kevin

 

Couldn't find anything on the paint code.

From the 1957/63 parts book: "The Rating Plate is installed on the left front cab pillar or glove box door depending on model."

I'd better remember that...

 

Cal, I received a reply from Ford Canada about my VIN decode. I tried to put the letter in my gallery but the resolution is so low on the site it wasn't very legible. Here is a portion of the letter referencing my VIN. I think if you contact John at the number I gave you it will be very helpful. It was nice to receive a reply this time. I have contacted them several times over the last couple of years and whoever was working there assured me they would get right on it and John was the only person so far that was true to his word.

Here it is.... "Thank you for your recent contact with the Ford Motor Company of Canada Ltd, Archives Department.

You asked us to decode the Vehicle Identification Number for your 1956 Ford F-100, VIN 4831010TK 25750.


The VIN decodes as follows:


4 Ford
83 Express
10 F-100
10 110" Wheelbase
T 1956 Model Year
K Left-Hand Drive, Unit Built at the Oakville, ON Assembly Plant
25750 Unit Built in the Week of May 21st - May 25th, 1956


I hope this information helps you."

Kevin

 

Kevin,

Thanks for the update. I have not called John yet. Glad to see that he followed through. Looks like I had the decode almost right, I guess leading 4 just means Ford in your year and does not include the engine size.

Did you find the full VIN stamped on the frame? Mine was missing the first two digits of the model code, the "68".

Cal