'36 Cabriolet with an "18-F" prefix
 

Anyone ever heard of an 18-F prefix on the chassis number?


I happened to see one at: https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/25824/lot/209/


Don't want to buy it, just curious about the chassis number.

Re: '36 Cabriolet with an "18-F" prefix
 

F denotes right hand drive.

Re: '36 Cabriolet with an "18-F" prefix
 

Thanks, good to know. Silly me, I would have used an R instead of an F for Right Hand Drive.

Re: '36 Cabriolet with an "18-F" prefix
 

How about this, F is for foreign which have right hand drive.

Charlie Stephens

Re: '36 Cabriolet with an "18-F" prefix
 

Looking forward to hearing from someone with a known "Foreign" left hand drive car to know what that chassis number looks like.
Steve

Re: '36 Cabriolet with an "18-F" prefix
 

Mart, lives in England and he gave you the answer on the F. What more do you need to know?

Re: '36 Cabriolet with an "18-F" prefix
 

Just wondering if "F" is for Right Hand Drive or for "Foreign" Hearing from someone in a Left Hand Drive country with a car known to be original to that country would be appreciated.
Steve

Re: '36 Cabriolet with an "18-F" prefix
 

I find Steve's question to be reasonable.

Re: '36 Cabriolet with an "18-F" prefix
 

STEVE's question makes perfectly good sense. I'd like to know that answer, too. I'd bet that "DavidG" knows the definitive answer. DD

Re: '36 Cabriolet with an "18-F" prefix
 

I've had a raft of RHD period Fords and the only difference in the numbers stamped on the frames and transmission cases is the addition of the F to the prefix. The engine numbers themselves are in the same sequence of numbers as the LHD vehicles. In other words, the only difference is in the prefix and the equipment on the powertrain unique to either LHD or RHD. The same applies to Canadian-sourced engines.

Re: '36 Cabriolet with an "18-F" prefix
 

Gosh, I hope this is sarcasm.
What if the car was built in England for it's domestic consumption? Would it still be "F" for foreign? Methinks not.

Re: '36 Cabriolet with an "18-F" prefix
 

David...Just to clear this up....would a LEFT-hand drive car built in a foreign country have the "F" in the serial #? I know that we Yanks ain't the only country on the planet with LEFT-hand drive. DD

Re: '36 Cabriolet with an "18-F" prefix
 

DD, Not in France.Here is the Vin tag of a 4cyl and of a V8 '32 French production.

Re: '36 Cabriolet with an "18-F" prefix
 

Not in Germany either. Not in 1932 or on our 1935

Re: '36 Cabriolet with an "18-F" prefix
 

So "F" does not at all mean "foreign"

Re: '36 Cabriolet with an "18-F" prefix
 

I don't know if anyone does actually know why Ford chose the letter F, or what it meant to them or stood for in Ford speak at the time.
My 21stud motor which came from a RHD car has an F in the number. And yes, the number is stamped on the engine, as it was a requirement here.
I don't know if F stands for Foreign or not, but it's an easy enough way to remember the F denotes a spec that is not USA homegrown. (LHD).
I read it somewhere, and believe it, that F simply denotes RHD.

Mart.

Re: '36 Cabriolet with an "18-F" prefix
 

Do the Australian chassis number, being RHD, have the "F" in them?

Interesting to see data plates from around the world. Would be fun to see others as well.

Thanks everyone.

Re: '36 Cabriolet with an "18-F" prefix
 

The 'F' denotes RHD, and is carried over in part numbers pertaining to RHD,
eg #21AF 3106 Spindle LH RHD pass 42-48.
Most specific parts for RHD, [steering, brake pedals etc], have the F in the part number to differentiate from regular left hook components

Re: '36 Cabriolet with an "18-F" prefix
 

Thanks, Facts are wonderful!

Re: '36 Cabriolet with an "18-F" prefix
 

Mike,

Period VIN (engine/transmission numbers) were prefixed with the F for use in RHD chassis regardless of where the engine was manufactured (Dearborn, Walkerville, Ont., or Dagenham, U.K.) or where the engine was installed in a chassis, be it in Argentina, Australia, Japan, etc.

I think that part of the confusion on this subject arises from the evidently little known fact that both Ford U.S. and Ford of Canada built and exported RHD vehicles, not just Ford companies located in RHD countries. For example, of the twenty or so RHD period Fords that I have owned over the years all were manufactured in the U.S. and exported to RHD countries either in kit or built-up form.

As Brian indicates, if you look at a period parts catalogue from say Australia or the United Kingdom, its listing are a mixture of part numbers with and without the ending F in the part number prefix as the majority of parts on any given vehicle will be common to both LHD and RHD applications.