Classic Mustangs List Archive
Prototype info
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This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: David J. Hammar (email redacted)
On Fri, 19 Jun 1998 03:57:05 -0700, Bryan Fuller <(email redacted)> wrote:
>Howdy everyone... Received this email today, and right off i'm not sure
>what to think of it. Any ideas? The sender's email address is towards
>the bottom..
>Im looking for any information on classification or authenticating my
>friends 1963 mustang prototype.
>Ive tried using the mustang decoder but it does not accept 1963 as a
>manufacturing year for the mustang.
>Here is the information that is on the Vehicle warranty plate:
> 65R T 89 06B 84 1 1
> 3F07A 100002
Well, this is interesting, but I daresay a realistic vehicle warranty plate
could be easily produced with *any* info desired. However, let's try to
break this one down anyway, using the "Early '65" codes:
"65R" -- Obviously a coupe, with *some* type of interior. Suspicious mainly
in that body code suffixes are assigned starting with "A", so to get as far
as "R" would indicate not only that this was a real oddball interior, but
that there were 17 other different interiors that had also been assigned!
"T" -- Candyapple Red? (Not available in '64-1/2, and particularly unusual
in that the known Mustang I and Mustang II were painted Wimbledon White, or
something similar.)
89 -- Palomino with Palomino Appointments (OK, this is a believable color,
but Red/Palomino wasn't a normally recommended "production" color/interior
combination.
06B -- Indicates a scheduled build date of 6 February 1963.
84 -- DSO for "Home Office Reserve", as might be expected.
1 -- 3.00:1 Open Rear
1 -- 3-Speed Manual Transmission (sort of an odd choice for a prototype --
I'd have expected a 4-speed Toploader, since these cars were intended
mainly for show.)
3F07A100002 -- Okay, here's the *real* snag! First off, a true "prototype"
would be built at Allen Park (second VIN letter "S"
not Dearborn.
However, let's accept it as a "one-off" Dearborn-built car. But in February
1963, Dearborn was busily rolling out 1963 Fairlanes -- and had been since
~August of 1962. The construction of the VIN allows only one use of a
Consecutive Unit Number per plant per model year -- and I'd be willing to
wager that by February of 1963 the workers had produced more than two of
these... Now, let's not *completely* discredit this VIN -- just
*supposing* that this car had actually been built in February 1962 as a
"'62-1/2" pre-pre-production 1963, it *might* have been assigned a 1963
serial number, just as the 1964-1/2's were assigned 1965 VIN's in March
1964. The existence of a *real* 1963 Fairlane with CUN 100002 would
obviously discredit this hypothesis pretty quickly.
To keep an open mind, though, let's not completely rule out any chance that
this car is something other than a carefully crafted "replica". I'd
suggest the owner:
Check the Fender VIN's to ensure they match.
Record *every* date code from sheet metal, glass and cast parts, to ensure
they're coded for 1962/3.
Check with his/her friendly Neighborhood DMV office to verify ownership
history as far back as is traceable.
BTW, there *was* a car advertised in "Hemmings" a couple years ago as a
"1963 Mustang II" (with photo, no less). The car shown featured the
'66-style quarter ornaments (3-fingered) rather than the original Mustang
II's 4-fingered style -- which does yours have?
If they're 4-pronged, I'd suggest removing them from the car to check for
Ford's casting markings -- even Prototype parts are assigned numbers.
Feel free to share the information you uncover, and I or several other
"experts" will undoubtedly be happy to assist you in further verification
-- at the moment, though, I'd still lean *strongly* in the direction of a
"made" replica, probably built on a basic '64-1/2-66 coupe shell.
-- Dave H.
hammar.dyn.ml.org/~djhamma
hammar.detour.net/~djhamma
------------------------------------------------------------------------
All the list info you'll ever want: antler.moose.to/~server/cm
Mail From: David J. Hammar (email redacted)
On Fri, 19 Jun 1998 03:57:05 -0700, Bryan Fuller <(email redacted)> wrote:
>Howdy everyone... Received this email today, and right off i'm not sure
>what to think of it. Any ideas? The sender's email address is towards
>the bottom..
>Im looking for any information on classification or authenticating my
>friends 1963 mustang prototype.
>Ive tried using the mustang decoder but it does not accept 1963 as a
>manufacturing year for the mustang.
>Here is the information that is on the Vehicle warranty plate:
> 65R T 89 06B 84 1 1
> 3F07A 100002
Well, this is interesting, but I daresay a realistic vehicle warranty plate
could be easily produced with *any* info desired. However, let's try to
break this one down anyway, using the "Early '65" codes:
"65R" -- Obviously a coupe, with *some* type of interior. Suspicious mainly
in that body code suffixes are assigned starting with "A", so to get as far
as "R" would indicate not only that this was a real oddball interior, but
that there were 17 other different interiors that had also been assigned!
"T" -- Candyapple Red? (Not available in '64-1/2, and particularly unusual
in that the known Mustang I and Mustang II were painted Wimbledon White, or
something similar.)
89 -- Palomino with Palomino Appointments (OK, this is a believable color,
but Red/Palomino wasn't a normally recommended "production" color/interior
combination.
06B -- Indicates a scheduled build date of 6 February 1963.
84 -- DSO for "Home Office Reserve", as might be expected.
1 -- 3.00:1 Open Rear
1 -- 3-Speed Manual Transmission (sort of an odd choice for a prototype --
I'd have expected a 4-speed Toploader, since these cars were intended
mainly for show.)
3F07A100002 -- Okay, here's the *real* snag! First off, a true "prototype"
would be built at Allen Park (second VIN letter "S"
not Dearborn.However, let's accept it as a "one-off" Dearborn-built car. But in February
1963, Dearborn was busily rolling out 1963 Fairlanes -- and had been since
~August of 1962. The construction of the VIN allows only one use of a
Consecutive Unit Number per plant per model year -- and I'd be willing to
wager that by February of 1963 the workers had produced more than two of
these... Now, let's not *completely* discredit this VIN -- just
*supposing* that this car had actually been built in February 1962 as a
"'62-1/2" pre-pre-production 1963, it *might* have been assigned a 1963
serial number, just as the 1964-1/2's were assigned 1965 VIN's in March
1964. The existence of a *real* 1963 Fairlane with CUN 100002 would
obviously discredit this hypothesis pretty quickly.
To keep an open mind, though, let's not completely rule out any chance that
this car is something other than a carefully crafted "replica". I'd
suggest the owner:
Check the Fender VIN's to ensure they match.
Record *every* date code from sheet metal, glass and cast parts, to ensure
they're coded for 1962/3.
Check with his/her friendly Neighborhood DMV office to verify ownership
history as far back as is traceable.
BTW, there *was* a car advertised in "Hemmings" a couple years ago as a
"1963 Mustang II" (with photo, no less). The car shown featured the
'66-style quarter ornaments (3-fingered) rather than the original Mustang
II's 4-fingered style -- which does yours have?
If they're 4-pronged, I'd suggest removing them from the car to check for
Ford's casting markings -- even Prototype parts are assigned numbers.
Feel free to share the information you uncover, and I or several other
"experts" will undoubtedly be happy to assist you in further verification
-- at the moment, though, I'd still lean *strongly* in the direction of a
"made" replica, probably built on a basic '64-1/2-66 coupe shell.
-- Dave H.
hammar.dyn.ml.org/~djhamma
hammar.detour.net/~djhamma
------------------------------------------------------------------------
All the list info you'll ever want: antler.moose.to/~server/cm
|
., Online, USA
|
|
., Online, USA
|
|
., Online, USA
|
|
., Online, USA
|
|
., Online, USA
|
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