Ford Mustang · 1964½–1973
Mustang VIN decoder
Type the VIN of a first-generation Mustang. The decoder reads it against the code tables on our year pages, and every table is sourced below.
What the 11 characters mean
| Position | Meaning | Example (1968) |
|---|
| 1 | Last digit of the model year | 8 |
| 2 | Assembly plant | R |
| 3–4 | Body code | 02 |
| 5 | Engine code | S |
| 6–11 | Consecutive unit number, from 100001 | 125559 |
Example: The VIN of the Bullitt hero car: 1968, San Jose, fastback, 390 V8, unit 125559.142728
1964½ or 1965?
Ford sold the Mustangs built between March and 17 August 1964 as 1965 models.123 So both VINs start with 5.
The engine code can tell them apart: U, F, D appear only in our 1964½ table, and T, C, A only in the 1965 table1456. A body code 09 means a 1965: there was no 1964½ fastback (see the ruling). The shared code K does not settle it, and the decoder says so. How to spot a 1964½ lists the other signs.
The code tables, year by year
Each table is the one on the year page, with its sources.
1964½ · starts with 5 · 4 engines
| Position | Meaning |
|---|
| 5 | Model year (1965) |
| F · R · T | Plant: Dearborn · San Jose · Metuchen |
| 07 · 08 | Body: hardtop · convertible |
| U · F · D · K | Engine code (table above) |
| 100001 → | Consecutive unit number |
| Engine code | Engine | Rated |
|---|
| U | 170 cu in inline-six, 1-barrel | 101 hp |
| F | 260 cu in V8, 2-barrel | 164 hp |
| D | 289 cu in V8, 4-barrel | 210 hp |
| K | 289 cu in V8, 4-barrel, High Performance | 271 hp |
Where to find it: Under the hood, on top of the driver's-side fender apron, as on all 1965 models.7one source Sources for the codes145. The 1964½ page →
1965 · starts with 5 · 4 engines
| Position | Meaning |
|---|
| 5 | Model year (1965) |
| F · R · T | Plant: Dearborn · San Jose · Metuchen |
| 07 · 08 · 09 | Body: hardtop · convertible · fastback |
| T · C · A · K | Engine code (table above) |
| 100001 → | Consecutive unit number |
| Engine code | Engine | Rated |
|---|
| T | 200 cu in inline-six, 1-barrel | 120 hp |
| C | 289 cu in V8, 2-barrel | 200 hp |
| A | 289 cu in V8, 4-barrel | 225 hp |
| K | 289 cu in V8, 4-barrel, High Performance | 271 hp |
Where to find it: Under the hood, on top of the driver's-side fender apron.7one source Sources for the codes456. The 1965 page →
1966 · starts with 6 · 4 engines
| Position | Meaning |
|---|
| 6 | Model year (1966) |
| F · R · T | Plant: Dearborn · San Jose · Metuchen |
| 07 · 08 · 09 | Body: hardtop · convertible · fastback |
| T · C · A · K | Engine code (table above) |
| 100001 → | Consecutive unit number |
| Engine code | Engine | Rated |
|---|
| T | 200 cu in inline-six, 1-barrel | 120 hp |
| C | 289 cu in V8, 2-barrel | 200 hp |
| A | 289 cu in V8, 4-barrel | 225 hp |
| K | 289 cu in V8, 4-barrel, High Performance | 271 hp |
Where to find it: Under the hood, on top of the driver's-side fender apron.8one source Sources for the codes459. The 1966 page →
1967 · starts with 7 · 5 engines
| Position | Meaning |
|---|
| 7 | Model year (1967) |
| F · R · T | Plant: Dearborn · San Jose · Metuchen |
| 01 · 02 · 03 | Body: hardtop · fastback · convertible |
| T · C · A · K · S | Engine code (table above) |
| 100001 → | Consecutive unit number |
| Engine code | Engine | Rated |
|---|
| T | 200 cu in inline-six, 1-barrel | 120 hp |
| C | 289 cu in V8, 2-barrel | 200 hp |
| A | 289 cu in V8, 4-barrel | 225 hp |
| K | 289 cu in V8, 4-barrel, High Performance | 271 hp |
| S | 390 cu in V8, 4-barrel | 320 hp |
Where to find it: Under the hood, on top of the driver's-side fender apron. It moved to the dash for 1968.1011one source Sources for the codes41213. The 1967 page →
1968 · starts with 8 · 8 engines
| Position | Meaning |
|---|
| 8 | Model year (1968) |
| F · R · T | Plant: Dearborn · San Jose · Metuchen |
| 01 · 02 · 03 | Body: hardtop · fastback · convertible |
| T · C · F · J · X · S · W · R | Engine code (table above) |
| 100001 → | Consecutive unit number |
| Engine code | Engine | Rated |
|---|
| T | 200 cu in inline-six, 1-barrel | 115 or 120 hp |
| C | 289 cu in V8, 2-barrel | 195 hp |
| F | 302 cu in V8, 2-barrel | 210 hp |
| J | 302 cu in V8, 4-barrel | 230 hp |
| X | 390 cu in V8, 2-barrel | 270 or 280 hp |
| S | 390 cu in V8, 4-barrel | 325 hp |
| W | 427 cu in V8, 4-barrel (listed, no car confirmed) | 390 hp |
| R | 428 cu in V8, 4-barrel, Cobra Jet | 335 hp |
Where to find it: On the top edge of the dash, passenger side, visible through the windshield.11one source Sources for the codes41314. The 1968 page →
1969 · starts with 9 · 10 engines
| Position | Meaning |
|---|
| 9 | Model year (1969) |
| F · R · T | Plant: Dearborn · San Jose · Metuchen |
| 01 · 02 · 03 | Body: hardtop · fastback · convertible |
| T · L · F · G · H · M · S · Q · R · Z | Engine code (table above) |
| 100001 → | Consecutive unit number |
| Engine code | Engine | Rated |
|---|
| T | 200 cu in inline-six, 1-barrel | 115 hp |
| L | 250 cu in inline-six, 1-barrel | 155 hp |
| F | 302 cu in V8, 2-barrel | 210 or 220 hp |
| G | 302 cu in V8, 4-barrel, Boss | 290 hp |
| H | 351 cu in V8, 2-barrel | 250 hp |
| M | 351 cu in V8, 4-barrel | 290 hp |
| S | 390 cu in V8, 4-barrel | 320 hp |
| Q | 428 cu in V8, 4-barrel, Cobra Jet | 335 hp |
| R | 428 cu in V8, 4-barrel, Cobra Jet Ram Air | 335 hp |
| Z | 429 cu in V8, 4-barrel, Boss | 375 hp |
Where to find it: On the top edge of the dash, driver's side, visible through the windshield. Every Mustang since has it there.15one source Sources for the codes4516. The 1969 page →
1970 · starts with 0 · 9 engines
| Position | Meaning |
|---|
| 0 | Model year (1970) |
| F · R · T | Plant: Dearborn · San Jose · Metuchen |
| 01 – 05 | Body: hardtop · fastback · convertible · Grandé · Mach 1 |
| T · L · F · G · H · M · Q · R · Z | Engine code (table above) |
| 100001 → | Consecutive unit number |
| Engine code | Engine | Rated |
|---|
| T | 200 cu in inline-six, 1-barrel | 120 hp |
| L | 250 cu in inline-six, 1-barrel | 155 hp |
| F | 302 cu in V8, 2-barrel | 210 or 220 hp |
| G | 302 cu in V8, 4-barrel, Boss | 290 hp |
| H | 351 cu in V8, 2-barrel | 250 hp |
| M | 351 cu in V8, 4-barrel | 300 hp |
| Q | 428 cu in V8, 4-barrel, Cobra Jet | 335 hp |
| R | 428 cu in V8, 4-barrel, Cobra Jet Ram Air | 335 hp |
| Z | 429 cu in V8, 4-barrel, Boss | 375 hp |
Where to find it: On the top edge of the dash, driver's side, visible through the windshield.17one source Sources for the codes4518. The 1970 page →
1971 · starts with 1 · 8 engines
| Position | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Model year (1971) |
| F · T | Plant: Dearborn · Metuchen (San Jose disputed) |
| 01 – 05 | Body: hardtop · fastback · convertible · Grandé · Mach 1 |
| L · F · H · M · Q · R · C · J | Engine code (table above) |
| 100001 → | Consecutive unit number |
| Engine code | Engine | Rated |
|---|
| L | 250 cu in inline-six, 1-barrel | 145 hp |
| F | 302 cu in V8, 2-barrel | 210 hp |
| H | 351 cu in V8, 2-barrel | 240 hp |
| M | 351 cu in V8, 4-barrel | 285 hp |
| Q | 351 cu in V8, 4-barrel, Cobra Jet | 280 or 285 hp |
| R | 351 cu in V8, 4-barrel, Boss | 330 hp |
| C | 429 cu in V8, 4-barrel, Cobra Jet | 370 hp |
| J | 429 cu in V8, 4-barrel, Super Cobra Jet | 375 hp |
Where to find it: On the top edge of the dash, driver's side, visible through the windshield.19one source Sources for the codes520. The 1971 page →
1972 · starts with 2 · 5 engines
| Position | Meaning |
|---|
| 2 | Model year (1972) |
| F | Plant: Dearborn (others disputed) |
| 01 – 05 | Body: hardtop · fastback · convertible · Grandé · Mach 1 |
| L · F · H · Q · R | Engine code (table above) |
| 100001 → | Consecutive unit number |
| Engine code | Engine | Rated |
|---|
| L | 250 cu in inline-six, 1-barrel | 95, 98 or 99 hp |
| F | 302 cu in V8, 2-barrel | 140 or 141 hp |
| H | 351 cu in V8, 2-barrel | 177 hp |
| Q | 351 cu in V8, 4-barrel, Cobra Jet | 266 hp |
| R | 351 cu in V8, 4-barrel, High Output | 275 hp |
Where to find it: On the top edge of the dash, driver's side, visible through the windshield.21one source Sources for the codes5222324. The 1972 page →
1973 · starts with 3 · 4 engines
| Position | Meaning |
|---|
| 3 | Model year (1973) |
| F | Plant: Dearborn (others disputed) |
| 01 – 05 | Body: hardtop · fastback · convertible · Grandé · Mach 1 |
| L · F · H · Q | Engine code (table above) |
| 100001 → | Consecutive unit number |
| Engine code | Engine | Rated |
|---|
| L | 250 cu in inline-six, 1-barrel | 98 or 99 hp |
| F | 302 cu in V8, 2-barrel | 140 or 141 hp |
| H | 351 cu in V8, 2-barrel | 177 hp |
| Q | 351 cu in V8, 4-barrel, Cobra Jet | 266 hp |
Where to find it: On the top edge of the dash, driver's side, visible through the windshield.25one source Sources for the codes526. The 1973 page →
