The Ford Barn - View Single Post - '36 Cabriolet with an "18-F" prefix

DavidG · 10-11-2019, 06:45 PM

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.

10-11-2019, 06:45 PM	#20
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,101	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.