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1971 Ford F-series Pickup Data

Decoding the 1971 VIN data plate
 

Sample VIN data plate
The information contained on the data plate includes the vehicle identification number (VIN), wheelbase, exterior color, model type, body type, transmission type, rear axle, maximum gross vehicle weight in lbs., certified net horsepower, RPM and D.S.O. numbers.
   
The first three digits
identify the series:
Series Code
F-100 2WD F10
F-100 4WD F11
F-250 2WD F25
F-250 4WD F26
F-350 2WD F35

The fourth digit identifies
the engine:
Engine Code
240 cid, 6-cyl. A
300 cid, 6-cyl. B
330 cid, 8-cyl. C
330 cid, 8-cyl. D
361 cid, 8-cyl. E
302 cid, 8-cyl. G
390 cid, 8-cyl. H
360 cid, 8-cyl. Y
240 cid, 6-cyl. 1
300 cid, 6-cyl. 2
360 cid, 8-cyl. 8

See Engine Specifications chart below

   
The fifth digit identifies the assembly plant:
Assembly Plant Code
Ontario, CAN C
Mawah, NJ E
Lorain, OH H
Kansas City K
Michigan Truck L
Norfolk, VA N
Twin Cities, MN P
San Jose, CA R
Allen Park, MI (Pilot plant) S
Kentucky Truck V

The remaining six digits are the consecutive unit numbers:
Jul. 1970 -   J70,000 thru J79,999
Aug. 1970 -  J80,000 thru J99,999
Sep. 1970 -  K00,000 thru K19,999
Oct. 1970 -  K20,000 thru K39,000
Nov. 1970 -  K40,000 thru K59,000
Dec. 1970 -  K60,000 thru K79,000
Jan. 1971 -  K80,000 thru K99,999
Feb. 1971 -  L00,000 thru L19,999
Mar. 1971 -  L20,000 thru L39,999
Apr. 1971 -  L40,000 thru L59,999
May. 1971 -  L60,000 thru L79,999
Jun. 1971 -  L80,000 thru L99,999
Jul. 1971 -  M00,000 thru M19,999
Aug. 1971 -   M20,000 thru M29,999

NOTE 1: The consecutive numbers for trucks were assigned just like Ford cars in the period, IE each assembly plant started with the same sequential number. Thus, the first truck in Kansas City production in 1971 would be assigned J70,000, as the first truck assigned to San Jose would also be J70,000. The unique serial number identifier would be the plant code.

NOTE 2: While researching these VIN pages, there have been many conflicting sets of numbers discovered. The numbers listed above are those listed in the 'Catalog of Ford Truck ID Numbers 1946-1972'. However, the Oct. 1972 issue of Ford's technical bulletin 'Shop Tips' lists the consecutive numbers for 1971 as J90,000 thru M39,999. The 1975 Ford Master Parts Catalog shows J70,001 thru M30,000 (starting one unit earlier and ending one unit later than those listed above). In addition, reportedly the figures in the shop manuals are off some because they were printed at the beginning of the production year run. I've also heard from several truck owners who report higher unit numbers than either set listed here...so the research will continue. Stay tuned!

The W.B. (Wheelbase) code indicates the wheelbase in inches:
115" is a short wheelbase truck, while a long wheelbase truck is 131".		 The Exterior color code indicates the paint color:
Color Code
Raven Black A
Pure White C
Sky View Blue E
Mohave Tan F
Chrome Yellow G
Boxwood Green K
Wimbledon White M
Diamond Blue N
Seafoam Green 0
Lime Gold Metallic S
Candyapple Red T
Mallard Green V
Calypso Coral 1
Prairie Yellow 2
Swiss Aqua 3
Regis Red 4
Bahama Blue 6
Prime 9


Truck Tu-Tones
Interior Trim Regular Tu-Tone Deluxe or Combination of Regular & Deluxe Tu-Tone
Blue M6, 6M, ME, EM, 6E, E6, 6N, N6, EN, NE 6M, M6, EM, ME, E6, 6E, N6, 6N, NE, EN
Parchment or Black AM, MA, MT, TM, M1, 1M, M4, 4M, AF, FA, M3, 3M, M2, 2M, MF, FM, TF, FT, 1F, F1, 4F, F4, VF, FV, 6E, E6, 6N, N6, EN, NE, VK, KV, VO, OV, KO, OK, TA, 1A, 4A, 6M, EM, 3A, VA, VM, KA, KM, OA, OM, 2A MA, AM, TM, MT, 1M, M1, 4M, M4, FA, AF, 3M, M3, 2M, M2, FM, MF, FT, TF, F1, 1F, F4, 4F, FV, VF, E6, 6E, N6, 6N, NE, EN, KV, VK, OV, VO, OK, KO, AT, A1, A4, M6, ME, A3, AV, MV, AK, MK, AO, MO, A2
Red AF, FA, M4, 4M, MF, FM, TF, FT, 4F, F4, AM, M2, TA, TM, 4A FA, AF, 4M, M4, FM, MF, FT, TF, F4, 4F, MA, 2M, AT, MT, A4
Green MV, VM, MK, KM, MO, OM, VK, KV, VO, OV, VF, FV, KO, OK, AM, AF, VA, KA, OA VM, MV, KM, MK, OM, MO, KV, VK, OV, VO, FV, VF, OK, KO, MA, FA, AV, AK, AO
A total of 54 different tu-tone combinations were available for cab-and-chassis models and 162 different combinations for Styleside models. (Flareside models were not available with tu-tone.)
Regular: Roof only is painted the second code color
Deluxe: Lower body side is painted the first code color
Combination: Lower body side and roof are painted the first code color.
  Click the thumbnails at left to see scans of the '1971 Ford Light Truck Color Selections' tri-fold brochure.
(NOTE: These are large files.)

The Model code indicates the model type and the gross vehicle weight in lbs.:
Model GVW
F-100 5,000
F-101 4,200
F-102 (1) 5,000
F-103 4,500
F-104 4,800
F-110 (4x4) 5,600
F-111 (4x4) 5,000
F-112  (4x4)(1) 5,600
F-113 (4x4) 4,600
F-250 7,500
F-252 (1) 7,500
F-253 6,100
F-254 6,900
Model GVW
F-255 (1) 6,100
F-256 (1) 6,900
F-260 (4x4) 6,800
F-262 (4x4) 7,700
F-263 (4x4) 6,300
F-264 (4x4)(1) 7,700
F-350 8,000
F-351 10,000
F-352 (1) 8,000
F-353 6,600
F-354 8,300
F-355 9,000
(1) - Reference Pennsylvania registration data

  
The Body code: The first two digits are the interior trim code (listed below). The third digit is the body style (listed in table at right). If only two characters are needed for the trim code, there will be a space between the first and third digits. In the example pictured at right (click to enlarge), you can see the three-digit body code, where the second digit is blank. "D-4" would indicate a Sport Custom cab with styleside box..

BODY STYLE

  CODE
Parcel 0
Flareside Pickup 3
Styleside Pickup 4
Platform Stake 5
Windshield 6
Cowl 7
Chassis Cab 8
Platform 9

TRIM

CODES

APPLICATION
Black Vinyl 4, 4B, 4C, 4D Custom
D, DB Sport Custom
M3, MB Ranger
UB Ranger XLT
Black Cloth
and Vinyl		 M Ranger
U Ranger XLT
Lt. Blue/Med. Blue Vinyl K Ranger
S Ranger XLT
Black with
Blue Vinyl		 2B, 2C Custom
BB Sport Custom
KB Ranger
SB Ranger XLT
Red/Dark Red Vinyl 5, 53 Custom
E Sport Custom
N3 Ranger
Dark Red Cloth
and Vinyl		 N Ranger
V Ranger XLT
Black with
Red Vinyl		 5B, 5C Custom
EB Sport Custom
NB Ranger
VB Ranger XLT
Lt. Green/Med Green Vinyl 6, 63 Custom
F Sport Custom
O3 Ranger

TRIM

CODES

APPLICATION
Med. Green Cloth and Vinyl O Ranger
W Ranger XLT
Black with
Green Vinyl		 6B, 6C Custom
FB Sport Custom
OB Ranger
WB Ranger XLT
Pastel Parchment Vinyl 3, 33 Custom
C, C4 Sport Custom
L3, L4 Ranger
T4 Ranger XLT
Light and Pastel Parchment Cloth and Vinyl L Ranger
T Ranger XLT
Black with Parchment Vinyl 3B, 3C Custom
CB Sport Custom
LB Ranger
TB Ranger XLT
Explorer Blue 1 Custom
A Sport Custom
Explorer Green 7 Custom
G Sport Custom
Explorer Ginger 8 Custom
H Sport Custom

Source: 1971 Ford Truck Shop Manual

The Transmission code indicates the transmission installed on the vehicle:


TYPE CODE
4-Speed New Process 435 A
3-speed overdrive Warner T-85 B
3-speed - Ford - manual C
3-speed Warner T89C D
3-speed Warner T87G E
4-speed Syn. Warner T-18 F
Automatic G
4-speed Warner T-19 P

The Rear Axle code: The first two digits represent the rear axle and the third represents the front axle, if applicable.
Front Axle Code

Capacity

 Code
2,500# (locking) Dana 30 J
3,500# Dana 44F K
REAR AXLE CODES
Ratio Code
3.54 - Dana 5050# 71
3.73 - Dana 5050# 72
4.10 - Dana 5050# 73
4.56 - Dana 5050# 74
3.54 - Limited Slip Dana 5050# G1
3.73 - Limited Slip Dana 5050# G2
4.10 - Limited Slip Dana 5050# G3
3.25 - 3300# Ford 17
3.50 - 3300# Ford 08
3.70 - 3300# Ford 09
4.11 - 3300# Ford 05
3.00 - 3300# Ford 02
3.25 - 3300# Ford Limited Slip A1
3.50 - 3300# No. Ford Limited Slip B9
REAR AXLE CODES
Ratio Code
4.11 - 3300#. Ford Limited Slip A5
3.70 - 3300# Ford Limited Slip A2
3.25 - 3600# Ford H1
3.50 - 3600# Ford H2
4.09 - 3600# Ford H3
4.10 - 5200# Dana 60 24
4.56 - 5200# Dana 60 25
3.54 - 5200# Dana 60 37
3.73 - 5200# Dana 60 38
4.10 - 5200# Dana 60 Limited Slip B4
4.56 - 5200# Dana 60 Limited Slip B5
3.54 - 5200# Dana 60 Limited Slip C7
3.73 - 5200# Dana 60 Limited Slip

C8

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