New here and question about chassis/vin number

[3.6rs]

Hello from belgium.
I have two 1930 Ford Model A's Tudor.
The first one has engine number and vin/chassis number matching (Axxxxxxx) It's a car that was sold new in Belgium.
The second one has engine number AF3533593 and registered with chassis/vin number 10804. This one was sold new in France.
Does anyone knows if this (low) number was only given in France ?
Is there a list of Model A chassis numbers.
I suppose that all frames and parts were made in USA and assembled in Europe ?
Thanks

[johnbuckley]

see Steve Pluckett's excellent website www.plucks329s.org and Vince Falter's www.fordgarage.com for details on engine numbering and chassis numbering.
AF on an engine/chassis could mean either it is a USA built engine for a RHD vehicle..... or a Manchester ( England) /Cork ( Ireland ) built engine with the smaller diameter bore. A series of numbers was allocated to the Ireland/England plant
The number 10804 is, I suspect, something that's been stamped on the frame in later life.
Sankey a firm in the west Midlands of the UK made the frames for later UK-produced Ts; it is thus most likely they made the frames for the UK As.

[juke joint johnny]

In most countries the chassis number and the engine number were the same originally.

I have a French Data plate for a Model A that replaces the USA one that most of us have on the firewall.

It lists : Type AF No. 7048 Moteur 295xxxx

So it would appear that the French listed their Model A's with a different chassis number that would correspond with the cars actually sold in France

John Cochran

[Tony Hillyard]

I would be interested to have your opinion on the two cars. What does the larger engined American car drive like compared to the smaller "AF" engined European car.

Below, my 1928 Tudor Sedan here in France.

[johnbuckley]

Originally Posted by Tony Hillyard

I would be interested to have your opinion on the two cars. What does the larger engined American car drive like compared to the smaller "AF" engined European car...

Top speed of the smaller engined A is surpisingly similar until you get to a hill when the torque of the 3.3 takes it way into the lead!!!

[Brad in Germany]

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Bonjour les Fordistes,

Here is what a typical French data plate looks like, and where it is located (above the sediment bowl), for a French Ford Model AF ....in this case from 1929:


....and the corresponding engine number stamping:


(Note that the last three digits of the motor number have been blurred out. Also note the location of the stars in the number.)

a bientôt,
Brad in Maryland

[Tom Wesenberg]

Why do people blur the engine and license plate numbers?
After all it's out in the public several times, where people can take pictures of it.

[Brad in Germany]

Tom,

I agree with you, but the owner of the car from the photos that I provided asked that the numbers be blurred......so I had to respect that. From my experience European car owners seem to be very private about the VIN number (and license plate numbers) on their cars.....even though, as you note, you can walk up to the car and see the numbers (even on modern cars where they are often displayed in the windshield).

Brad in Maryland

[forever4]

Here is a data plate in my collection.

I assume the French titled the car under a number they assigned, and that the motor number was just additional information.

It could just be a vehicle number of the unit assembled at Asnieres, and not a 'government' number or engine number.

Dagenham-assigned engine number is applied to a Type AA 3 Long truck built at Asnieres, France after May 1931

[3.6rs]

Thanks for the replies!