1965 Ford and Mercury Identification (Warranty Plate)

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the Ford and Mercury Warranty plates. The plate is located on the rear (lock) face of the left front door panel.

The official Vehicle Identification Number for title and registration purposes is stamped on a tab attached to the top right side (weld flange) of the dash panel in the engine compartment (Fig. 3 and 4). Do not use the Vehicle Warranty Number which appears on the Warranty plate for title or registration purposes.

Vehicle Data

The vehicle data appears in a line across the top of the warranty plate (Figs. 1 and 2). The first two letters and a number identify the Body Style. The following one or two letters identify the Exterior Paint Color. The next code consisting of two numbers, or a letter and a number, identifies the Interior Trim. The Date Code showing the date the car was manufactured follows the Trim Code and consists of two numbers and a letter. The next code gives the district in which the car was ordered and consist of two numbers. The next to the last code is the Axle Ratio Code and is designated by a number for a conventional axle or a letter for an Equa-Lock axle. The last code in the vehicle data is the Transmission Code and consist of one number. The charts that follow, list in detail the various vehicle data codes.

Vehicle Warranty Number

The vehicle warranty number is the second line of numbers and letters appearing on the Warranty Plate (Figs. 1 and 2). The first number indicates the model year. The letter following the model year indicates the assembly plant at which the car was manufactured. The next two numbers designate the Body Serial Code. The letter following the Body Serial Code designates the Engine Code. The remaining numbers indicate the Consecutive Unit Number. The charts that follow, list in detail the various Vehicle Warranty Number codes.

Body Serial and Style Codes

The two-digit numeral which follows the assembly plant code identifies the body series. This two-digit number is used in conjunction with the Body Style Code, in the Vehicle Data, which consist of a two-digit number with a letter suffix. The following chart lists the Body Serial Codes, Body Style Codes and the model.

Mercury
Body Serial Code Body Style Code Body Type
Monterey
42 50A 4-Door Sedan †
43 62A 2-Door Sedan
44 54A 4-Door Sedan
45 76A 2-Door Convertible
47 63A 2-Door H/T Fastback
48 57A 4-Door H/T Fastback
45 76G 2-Door Convertible*
47 63G 2-Door H/T Fastback*
Montclair
52 50B 4-Door Sedan †
57 63B 2-Door H/T Fastback
58 57B 4-Door H/T Fastback
Parklane
62 50F 4-Door Sedan †
65 76F 4-Door Sedan †
65 76C 2-Door Convertible*
67 63F 2-Door H/T Fastback
67 63C 2-Door H/T Fastback*
Commuter
72 71B 4-Door 6 Passenger Station Wagon
72 71C 4-Door 9 Passenger Station Wagon
Colony Park
76 71A 4-Door 6 Passenger Station Wagon
76 71E 4-Door 9 Passenger Station Wagon
† Reverse Back Window
* Bucket Seats

Ford
Body Serial Code Body Style Code Body Type
Ford Custom
53 62E 2-Door Sedan
54 54E 4-Door Sedan
Ford Custom 500
52 54B 4-Door Sedan
51 62B 2-Door Sedan
Galaxie 500
62 54A 4-Door Sedan
64 57B 4-Door Fastback
66 63B 2-Door Fastback
65 76A 2-Door Convertible
Galaxie 500 XL
68 63C 2-Door Fastback*
69 76B 2-Door Convertible*
Galaxie 500 Lt'd.
60 57F 4-Door Fastback
67 63F 2-Door Fastback
Station Wagons
72 71B 4-Door 6 Passenger
74 71C 4-Door 9 Passenger
Country Squire
76 71E 4-Door 6 Passenger
78 71A 4-Door 9 Passenger
* Bucket Seats

Exterior Paint Color Codes

A single letter code designates a solid body color and two letters denote a two-tone - the first letter, the lower color and the second letter the upper color

  *M-30-J  
Code Number Color
A 1724-A Black
C 1736-A Med. Ivy Gold Met.
D 1625-A Med. Turquoise Met.
F 1626-A Med. Ivy Gold Met.
H 1544-A Dk. Blue Met.
I 1737-A Lt. Beige Met.
J 1515-A Red
K 1621-A Med. Gray Met.
M 1619-A White
O 1732-A Lt. Peacock
P 1739-A Palomino Met.
R 1879-A Dk. Ivy Green Met.
T 1631-A Lt. Beige
V 1729-A Yellow
X 1632-A Maroon Met.
Y 1669-A Med. Blue Met.
5 1731-A Dk. Turq. Met.
* "M-32-J" Acrylic Paint Alternate with "M-30-J"

Trim

Code Trim Schemes
03 Green Vinyl
04 Beige Vinyl
12 Blue and Lt. Blue Met. Fabric & Vinyl
15 Red Fabric & Vinyl
16 Black Fabric & Vinyl
17 Turquoise and Lt. Turq. Met. Fabric & Vinyl
19 Palomino and Med. Palomino Fabric & Vinyl
D6 White Pearl (w/Black) Vinyl
22 Lt. Blue Met. Vinyl
25 Red Vinyl
26 Black Vinyl
29 Med. Palomino Vinyl
32 Blue and Blue Met. Vinyl
33 Burgundy Vinyl
35 Red Vinyl
36 Black Vinyl
37 Turquoise and Turq. Met. Vinyl
38 Ivy Gold and Lt. Ivy Gold Vinyl
39 Palomino and Med. Palomino Vinyl
E2 White Pearl (w/Blue) Vinyl
E3 White Pearl (w/Burgundy) Vinyl
E5 White Pearl (w/Red) Vinyl
E6 White Pearl (w/Black) Vinyl
E7 White Pearl (w/Turq.) Vinyl
E8 White Pearl (w/Ivy Gold) Vinyl
E9 White Pearl (w/Palomino) Vinyl
42 Med. Blue Met. Vinyl
45 Red Vinyl
46 Black Vinyl
47 Turquoise Vinyl
48 Lt. Ivy Gold D/L Vinyl
49 Lt. Palomino Vinyl
52 Blue and Blue Met. Fabric & Vinyl
55 Red Fabric & Vinyl
56 Black Fabric & Vinyl
57 Turquoise and Turq. Met. Fabric & Vinyl
58 Ivy Gold Fabric & Vinyl
59 Palomino and Med. Palomino Fabric & Vinyl
F6 White (w/Black) Vinyl
62 Blue Met. and Lt. Blue Met. Vinyl
65 Red Vinyl
66 Black Vinyl
67 Med. Turq. and Lt. Turq. Vinyl
68 Lt. Ivy Gold Vinyl
69 Med. Palomino Vinyl
G2 White Pearl (w/Blue) Vinyl
L2 White Pearl (w/Blue)with Headrest Vinyl
G3 White Pearl (w/Burgundy)with Headrest Vinyl
L3 White Pearl (w/Burgundy)with Headrest Vinyl
G5 White Pearl (w/Red) Vinyl
L5 White Pearl (w/Red)with Headrest Vinyl
G6 White Pearl (w/Black) Vinyl
L6 White Pearl (w/Black)with Headrest Vinyl
G7 White Pearl (w/Turq.) Vinyl
L7 White Pearl (w/Turq.)with Headrest Vinyl
G8 White Pearl (w/Ivy Gold) Vinyl
L8 White Pearl (w/Ivy Gold.)with Headrest Vinyl
G9 White Pearl (w/Palomino) Vinyl
L9 White Pearl (w/Palomino)with Headrest Vinyl
72 Med. Blue Met. Vinyl
K2 Blue with Headrest Vinyl
75 Red Vinyl
K5 Red with Headrest Vinyl
76 Black Vinyl
K6 Black with Headrest Vinyl
77 Turquoise Vinyl
K7 Turquoise with Headrest Vinyl
78 Lt. Ivy Gold D/L Vinyl
K8 Ivy Gold with Headrest Vinyl
79 Med. Palomino Vinyl
K9 Med. Palomino with Headrest Vinyl
M6 White Pearl (w/Black) Vinyl
82 Lt. Blue Met. Vinyl
85 Red Vinyl
86 Black Vinyl
87 Turquoise Vinyl
89 Med. Palomino Vinyl
92 Lt. Blue Met. Vinyl (Mercury), Fabric & Vinyl (Ford)
93 Burgundy Fabric & Vinyl
95 Red Vinyl
96 Black Vinyl (Mercury), Fabric & Vinyl (Ford)
97 Turquoise Fabric & Vinyl
99 Med. Palomino Vinyl (Mercury), Fabric & Vinyl (Ford)
A9 Palomino Fabric & Vinyl
P9 Palomino with Headrest Fabric & Vinyl
B3 Burgundy Leather
B9 Med. Palomino Leather
C3 Burgundy Leather
C9 Med. Palomino Leather
Y5 Red Vinyl
Y9 Palomino Vinyl
Z6 Black Vinyl
Z9 Palomino Vinyl

Date Codes

The code letters for the month are preceded by a numeral to show the day of the month when the car was completed. The second year code letters are to be used if the model production exceeds 12 months.

Month First Model Year Second Model Year
January A N
February B P
March C Q
April D R
May E S
June F T
July G U
August H V
September J W
October K X
November L Y
December M Z

DSO

Domestic Special Orders, Foreign Special Orders, Limited Production Options and Pre-Approved Special Orders have the complete order number recorded in this space. Also to appear in this space is the two-digit code number of the District which ordered the unit. If the unit is regular production, only the District code number will appear.

Ford
District Code
Code District
11 Boston
12 Buffalo
13 New York
14 Pittsburgh
15 Newark
21 Atlanta
22 Charlotte
23 Philadelphia
24 Jacksonville
25 Richmond
26 Washington
31 Cincinnati
32 Cleveland
33 Detroit
34 Indianapolis
35 Lansing
36 Louisville
41 Chicago
42 Fargo
43 Rockford
44 Twin Cities
45 Davenport
51 Denver
52 Des Moines
53 Kansas City
54 Omaha
55 St. Louis
61 Dallas
62 Houston
63 Memphis
64 New Orleans
65 Oklahoma City
71 Los Angeles
72 San Jose
73 Salt Lake City
74 Seattle
81 Ford of Canada
83 Government
84 Home Office Reserve
85 American Red Cross
89 Transportation Services
90 Export

Mercury
District Code
Code District
11 Boston
15 New York
16 Philadelphia
17 Washington
21 Atlanta
22 Dallas
23 Jacksonville
26 Memphis
31 Buffalo
32 Cincinnati
33 Cleveland
34 Detroit
41 Chicago
42 St. Louis
51 Denver
52 Los Angeles
53 Oakland
54 Seattle
81 Ford of Canada
84 Home Office Reserve
90-99 Export

Axle

A number designates a conventional axle, while a letter designates an Equa-Lock differential.

Code Ratio Code Ratio
1 3.00:1 A 3.00:1
4 3.25:1 E 3.25:1
5 3.50:1 F 3.50:1
8 3.89:1 H 3.89:1
9 4.11:1 I 4.11:1

Transmission

   1    3-Speed Manual-Shift
   2 Overdrive
   4 Cruis-O-Matic (Ford) Multi-Drive (Mercury)
   5 4-Speed Manual-Shift
   6 C-4 Automatic Dual Range

Model Year Code

The numeral "5" designates 1965.

Assembly Plant Codes

Code Letter Assembly Plant
A Atlanta
D Dallas
E Mahwah
F Dearborn
G Chicago
H Lorain
J Los Angeles
K Kansas City
L Michigan Truck
N Norfolk
P Twin Cities
R San Jose
S Pilot Plant
T Metuchen
U Louisville
W Wayne
Y Wixom
Z St. Louis

Engine

Code Engine
C 8-Cylinder 289 Cubic Inch (4V Prem.)
H 8-Cylinder 390 Cubic Inch (2V Spec.)
L 8-Cylinder 427 Cubic Inch (4V Oh Cam)
M 8-Cylinder 427 Cubic Inch (8V Oh Cam)
P 8-Cylinder 390 Cubic Inch (4V Spec.)
R 8-Cylinder 427 Cubic Inch (8V Hi Pref.)
V 6-Cylinder 240 Cubic Inch (1V)
X 8-Cylinder 352 Cubic Inch (4V)
Y 8-Cylinder 390 Cubic Inch (2V)
Z 8-Cylinder 390 Cubic Inch (4V)
5 6-Cylinder *240 Cubic Inch (1V)
3 8-Cylinder *289 Cubic Inch (4V)
9 8-Cylinder *390 Cubic Inch (4V)
* Low Compression

Consecutive Unit Number

Each assembly plant, with each model year, begins with consecutive unit number 100001 (Ford) or 500001 (Mercury) and continues on for each unit built.

Data taken from "1965 Ford and Mercury Shop Manual"


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