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Old 12-17-2021, 03:58 PM   #61
KULTULZ
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Default Re: Early Production '57 Ford Data Plate Questions

Here is another possible source of information -

https://detroitpubliclibrary.org/res...ory-collection

Another -

https://www.thehenryford.org/collections-and-research/
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Old 12-23-2021, 03:09 AM   #62
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Arrow Re: Early Production '57 Ford Data Plate Questions

Here is the most complete information I have found to date -

https://ctcc9.blogspot.com/2010/08/d...revisited.html

It is BIRD oriented but begins to explain some of the mystery.
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Old 12-27-2021, 10:39 AM   #63
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Default Re: Early Production '57 Ford Data Plate Questions

Quote:
Originally Posted by KULTULZ View Post
Here is the most complete information I have found to date -

https://ctcc9.blogspot.com/2010/08/d...revisited.html

It is BIRD oriented but begins to explain some of the mystery.
Appreciate the link. Interesting read. Helps explain Dad's '57 'bird a little better too.
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Old 12-27-2021, 11:57 AM   #64
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Thumbs up Re: Early Production '57 Ford Data Plate Questions

Quote:
Originally Posted by yblock57 View Post

Appreciate the link. Interesting read. Helps explain Dad's '57 'bird a little better too.
That gives a pretty good synopsis.

I have a bunch of info I need to process once I get up off my lazy a$$ ...
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Old 01-02-2022, 01:22 PM   #65
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Red face Re: Early Production '57 Ford Data Plate Questions

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Howdy —

Trying to decode Dad's data plate. Searched around on here and google and all the data plate examples show the later production decoders. His was built in November '56 from what can tell. Getting hung up on the production code at the end... .it's not labeled like the later plates with 'Date' 'Trans' 'Axle'. Any help filling in the blanks appreciated!

Here's what I have;

D = 312 4v
7 = 1957
D = Dallas Plant
V = Victoria Body — Fairlane 500
130591 = 30,591th vehicle assembled
63A = Fairlane 500 Club Victoria
ZE = Coral Sand lower body/Colonial White upper body
2 = tu-tone?
L = Colonial Vinyl and Brown Tropical-Leaf or Brown Silver-Shadow Fabric
26L = 26th November
98 = ?
5 = 2.91:1 Axle?
C = Fordomatic (3-speed)?
Here is a similar thread describing the wrong interpretation of the 1957 PATENT PLATE. I was unaware of the style change in mid-production 57 FORD.

- http://57fordsforever.com/smf/index.php?topic=5454.0

***********************************
EDIT -

POST #16 Within The Above Thread -

Quote:
Your plate does not have a trans and axle code, that number is a district/dealer number there were 3 different styles of data plate used in 57 , early, no trans or axle code, starting about April 1, 1957 simular plate but place for axle and trans code., then at some plants the style that lalessi1 shows, which is simular to the 58/59 data plate.
************************************************** **********

dmsfrr trumped me. I THANK HIM for pointing this out to me ...

Still working on early de-code. Each ASSY PLANT issued its own early plate.

Fascinating.

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Old 01-02-2022, 07:49 PM   #66
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Default Re: Early Production '57 Ford Data Plate Questions

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Thank you.

"Still working on early de-code."
Here's a link to a website I don't recall having seen before, for both '55 & '56 full sized cars.

http://1955-ford.com/index.html
http://1955-ford.com/1955-ford-data-plate-codes.html

It seems to have more detail about exterior and interior colors than I was expecting. There are also a few links to color scheme layout descriptions (some of which may have already been included in this thread) but few photos.

This first one looks just like a Crown Vic. Assn. document I've seen before.
http://1955-ford.com/img-55-ford-dat...te-decoder.pdf

This one also appears to be another CVA document.
http://1955-ford.com/img-55-ford-data-plate-codes/54-55-56-ford-us-and-can-paint-colors.pdf
.

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Old 01-03-2022, 04:10 AM   #67
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Thumbs up Re: Early Production '57 Ford Data Plate Questions

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Originally Posted by dmsfrr View Post

Thank you.

"Still working on early de-code."

Here's a link to a website I don't recall having seen before, for both '55 & '56 full sized cars.
You are welcome.

THANX for the additional info. This particular one - http://1955-ford.com/img-55-ford-dat...te-decoder.pdf - has more info than I realized as it was viewed earlier but the 2nd page was unreadable and I didn't go past the 2nd page. It turns out there are nineteen pages with a lot of additional info.
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Old 01-03-2022, 07:10 AM   #68
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Arrow Re: Early Production '57 Ford Data Plate Questions

Here is one problem ...

Posted Here is a 1953 PRODUCT LETTER ...

- https://www.1954ford.com/page3.php -

... that was modified. The poster inserted a photo of his car exactly where (7) Production Code Information was posted -
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Old 01-14-2022, 11:26 AM   #69
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Arrow Re: Early Production '57 Ford Data Plate Questions

Quote:
RICH MUISE

The management service letters came in the mail yesterday. I've got to go thru them, but as I suspected might be the case, most of the letters pertain to '58 stuff as the first letter was dated October '57. I'll post anything that might be of interest or relevant after I read them.

One of the letters that quickly caught my eye was 3 or 4 pages on decoding '58 vin plates, deciphering part numbers, etc. Makes me want to look for the '57 version.
SOURCE - http://57fordsforever.com/smf/index....0.0#quickreply
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Old 01-17-2022, 11:38 PM   #70
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Default Re: Early Production '57 Ford Data Plate Questions

Early 57 data plate info - Management Service Letter M-144 - Oct. 8, 1956


Late 57 data plate info (starting April 1957) - Management Service Letter M-155, May 3, 1957

You're welcome...
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Old 01-18-2022, 12:14 AM   #71
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Default Re: Early Production '57 Ford Data Plate Questions

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Early 57 data plate info - Management Service Letter M-144 - Oct. 8, 1956

Late 57 data plate info (starting April 1957) - Management Service Letter M-155, May 3, 1957

You're welcome...
Wow! Very amazing, thank you.
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Old 01-18-2022, 01:20 AM   #72
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Exclamation Re: Early Production '57 Ford Data Plate Questions

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Early 57 data plate info - Management Service Letter M-144 - Oct. 8, 1956

Late 57 data plate info (starting April 1957) - Management Service Letter M-155, May 3, 1957

You're welcome...
!!! DAMN !!!

I don't know how you did it but it is greatly appreciated.

KULTULZ standing in a bread line and asks for toast -

M-144 refers to M-144A for additional info. Is it possible you came across that copy also?



The differences between the early PATENT PLATE PRODUCTION CODE(S) INFO among ASSEMBLY PLANTS is not answered.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg MSL M-144 Refer To M-144A.jpg (25.7 KB, 52 views)
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Old 01-18-2022, 11:27 PM   #73
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Default Re: Early Production '57 Ford Data Plate Questions

Quote:
Originally Posted by KULTULZ View Post
!!! DAMN !!!

I don't know how you did it but it is greatly appreciated.

KULTULZ standing in a bread line and asks for toast -

M-144 refers to M-144A for additional info. Is it possible you came across that copy also?
How did I do it? I've been collecting this kind of information in part for researching and helping develop Concours/Judging Rules / Original Factory Specifications as part of my Editor/Tech Director positions for VTCI since the 1980s. And people keep giving me old copies of service bulletins once they find out what I do with the information - in fact I just had a VTCI member ship 6 boxes of TSBs and other service publications from the '60s-'80s to me rather than throw them into the dumpster.

As for the production codes on the pre-April '57 data plates and differences between assembly plants, about the only way to answer that is to actively collect/examine plates and corresponding car information. The date coding at the beginning of the string should be the same for all plants. The use of sales district coding (used on T-birds in late '55-'57, which were all assembled at Dearborn Assembly Plant (i.e. the "Rouge") except for cars in 'knock-down' condition for final assembly overseas or in Mexico, for instance) is known - in fact, the MSL issued for 1956 data plate decoding has a separate listing for the district codes used on the T-bird data plates.

What's murky is the production number, which the MSLs and PSLs state state was the number of units built in one day at an assembly plant. This varied in use, such as to consecutively tally the number of T-birds sold within a sales district (this was discovered by people collecting this info for 'Birds), and the letter code found at the end of the production code string on '57 plates (A,B,C,P, etc.) indicating type of order. T-bird researchers over the years have narrowed the letter codes at the end of the string down based on study of invoices retained by CTCI to identify special order, dealer-specified order, dealer- or district- group order, unit scheduled for regular production or other, with consensus that the 'P' code - which shows up the most in the collected information - more than likely indicates a regular production order. Again, this was used at the Dearborn Assembly Plant. These were used prior to the axle-trans codes being added in April '57, as noted in MSL M-155.

Collection of information from plates of cars built at the other final assembly plants is needed. I would have to believe that the International Ford Retractable Club (IFRC) has a leg up on this, but I don't recall if Skyliner production was limited to specific plants. And I want to believe that IFRC is just as stingy as the collectors and keepers of data plate information with the Crown Victoria Association (CVA), which I've noted and commented on in a previous post on this topic.

M-144A? I have it. M-144A gives info on manufacturer and date codes for parts and assemblies. No info on data plate-related items. Be thankful I'm feeling generous today - copy of M-144A is attached.
Attached Files
File Type: pdf MSL M-144a 56-10-08 57 Car-Truck DTP-Parts ID pt 2.pdf (197.1 KB, 6 views)
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