VIN Code Breakdown & Anniversary Car ID Tips
The Official 20th Anniversary Mustang Website & Registry
Heres how the Vin Codes Since 1980 breakdown !
Sample VIN is 1FABP28W1EF174663

1FA - World Manufacturer Identifier - (Ford Of America)
B - Restraint System (B = 3 point seat belts. C = Airbag (no airbags were available on Anniversary Mustangs))
P - Passenger Car
28 - Series / Body Style (28 = 3dr Hatchback , 27 = 2dr Sedan/Convertible)
W - Engine Code (W = 2.3 Turbo, M = Carbureted 5.0 or TBI/CFI 5.0)
1 - Check / Control Digit (for Ford internal use, can be 0 thru 9 or an "x")
E - Model Year (A=1980 B=81 C=82 D=83 E=84 F=85 G=86 H=87 J=88 K=89 L=90 M=91 N=92 P=93)
F - Assembly Plant / Factory (G = Chicago, F = Dearborn, E = Mahwah, D= Dallas, A = Atlanta / ALL Anniv. GT's were made in Dearborn)
174663 Consecutive Unit Number  (ALL but 5 or 6 (see below) - 1984 Anniversary Mustang unit numbers start with 17)

NOTE:Production numbers for ALL Mustangs started at 100,001 at the beginning of each model year

Build Sheet Information

How to Positively Identify Anniversary Mustangs from "Fakes"

Here is the "Buck" Tag, ALL Anniversary Mustangs will have "ANN" on it. Other Models will have appropriate ID markings as well, e.g. an SVO will say "SVO", a Cobra will say "Cobra", a 1979 Pace car will say "Indy" or "Pace".

Also notice that the consecutive unit number (last 6 digits of the VIN) are stamped here, verify that they match with the Door Data tag and the VIN Stamped on the top drivers side of the Dash. The VIN is also stanped on each side of the engine bay just under each of the fenders. ALL but the first few Anniv. Mustangs Consecutive unit numbers start with "17". There were 5 or 6 early Anniv cars produced with their consecutive unit numbers beginning with "16" and a few "late" Anniv. Stangs produced toward the end of production starting with "18".

  • Buck Tag Code Breakdown

Model - Mustang, Capri, Cougar etc...
Consecutive Build Order - last 6 digits from the VIN
Body Style - 61B = 3dr Hatchback, CVT = Convertible
Engine - W = 2.3 Turbo, M = 5.0 HO, F= 5.0 (1983 and earlier)
Paint shop rotation order - The numerical order in which each car was painted for that build day
Body Color Codes - Codes for the outer body colors
Top Color - (Convertibles only) BLK = Black, WHT= White
Door Frame Color - DF = Black
Bumpers - ST = Steel, ?? = Aluminum(1979 only), ?? = Fiberglass
Radio package - PS = Premium Sound Package
Air Conditioner - AC = Air Conditioner equipped
Windows - 03 = Power Windows, 04 = Manual Windows
Speed Control - S = Cruise Control equipped
Model Style - ANN = Anniversary, GT = GT, SVO = SVO, etc...
Rocker Mouldings - BR = Black, ?? = body color (apparently left blank on ANNIV. models)
Transmission - MBW = Manual Borg Warner ?? = Auto, ?? = AOD
Hood Type - 03 = Hood with Scoop, 01 = Hood without Scoop, 02 = (not known at this time)
Ford Testing Use Only - D = ????
Rear Louvers - NLR = No Lovers Rear

Please help us break down the rest of the Buck Tag !
Any information or corrections about the codes etc. is greatly appreciated !


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