1994 - 2004 VIN & Data Plate Decoder

Posted on September 4, 2005

Sources: various manuals and internet sites.

Below is an example of the Vehicle Certification Label as found on the driver side doorpost. Click on the various items on the example label for more more information about that item. This will help you decode the VCL on your recent model (1994 and up) Mustang.

MFD. BY FORD MOTOR CO. IN U.S.A.
DATE: XX/XX GVWR: 4521LB/2050KG
FRONT GAWR: 2384LB
REAR GAWR: 2154LB
1081KG
977KG
THIS VEHICLE CONFORMS TO ALL APPLICABLE FEDERAL MOTOR
VEHICLE SAFETY, BUMPER, AND THEFT PREVENTION STANDARDS
IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF MANUFACTURE SHOWN ABOVE.
VIN: 1FALP4040SF100001
TYPE: PASSENGER
KF
24
EXTERIOR PAINT COLORS
DSO
BODY BRK VR MLDG. INT TRIM TAPE R S AX TR
BA2


66
M
8 5EDHH


DATE

Month and year of production in MM/YY format.

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GVWR

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. This is the maximum allowable weight of the fully loaded vehicle, including liquids, passengers, cargo, and the tongue weight of any towed vehicle.

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FGAWR

Front Gross Axle Weight Ratio. This is the maximum allowable weight the front axle is designed to carry including the weight of the axle assembly itself. GAWR is established by considering the rating of each of its components (tires, wheels, springs, axle), and rating the axle on its weakest link. The GAWR assumes that the load is equally dispersed on either side.

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RGAWR

Rear Gross Axle Weight Ratio. The maximum allowable weight the rear axle is designed to carry including the weight of the axle assembly itself. GAWR is established by considering the rating of each of its components (tires, wheels, springs, axle), and rating the axle on its weakest link. The GAWR assumes that the load is equally dispersed on either side.

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VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)

The 17 digit VIN can be split up in a number of parts. Each signifying a certain item.
Let's for example decode VIN 1FA L P40 4 0 S F 100001

DIGITS
MEANING
01-03
World Automobile Identifier
1FA - Ford, USA, passenger car
1FD - Ford, USA, incomplete vehicle
04
Vehicle Restraint System Type Code
L - Active safety belts all positions, first generation air bags
F - Active safety belts all positions, second generation air bags.
05-07
Vehicle Line, Series, Body Type (for Passenger Car)
P40 - Two-door coupe
P42 - Two-door coupe, GT
P44 - Two-door convertible
P45 - Two-door convertible, GT
P46 - Two-door convertible, Cobra
P47 - Two-door coupe, Cobra
P48 - Two-door coupe, Cobra
08
Engine Displacement/Number of Cylinders
4 - 3.8L, EFI, six cylinder
C - 5.8L, Cobra R, eight cylinder
D - 5.0L, Cobra, eight cylinder
T - 5.0L, H.O, eight cylinder
X - 4.6L, EFI (SOHC), eight cylinder
W - 4.6L, EFI (SOHC), eight cylinder
V - 4.6L, EFI (DOHC), eight cylinder
Y - 4.6-liter, DOHC 4-valve V-8 engine, eight cylinder, Supercharged
09
VIN Check Digit
Always a numerical digit from 0 to 9
10
Model Year
R - 1994
S - 1995
T - 1996
V - 1997
W - 1998
X - 1999
Y - 2000
1 - 2001
2 - 2002
3 - 2003
11
Assembly Plant Identifier
S - Pilot Plant at Allen Park, Michigan (USA)
F - Dearborn, Michigan (USA)
12-17
Production Sequence Number
This starts with 100001 at the beginning of every new model year.

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EXTERIOR PAINT COLORS

Laser Red E9
Rio Red E8
Vibrant/Performance Red ES
Autumn Orange Metallic BG
Bright Tangerine CM
Black (Ebony) UA
Crystal/Ultra White ZR
Oxford White Z1
Mineral Grey Metallic TK
Silver Clearcoat Metallic YN
Opal Frost WJ
Satin Silver Pearl TL
Silver YN
Sunburst Gold BP
Teal RD
Bright Blue KF
Azure Blue (Mach 1 only) L5
Sapphire Blue JA
Moonlight Blue Metallic KM
Atlantic Blue Metallic K6
Bright Atlantic Blue Metallic K7
True Blue Metallic L2
Sonic Blue Pearl S1
Sonic Blue ML
Deep Violet Metallic JU
Iris GC
Dark Highland Green Metallic PX
Dark Highland Green Metallic PY
Dark Green Satin Metallic FU
Electric Green SW
Pacific Green Metallic PS
Amazon/Tropic Green SU
Deep Forest Green Metallic NA
Canary Yellow BZ
Zinc Yellow B7
Chrome Yellow BZ
N/A Dark Shadow Grey CX
N/A Redfire Clearcoat G2
N/A Torch Red D3
2004 Mystic G6

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DSO

Standing for the District Sales Office. The DSO identifies the area of the country the car was to be shipped to.

DSO LOCATION DSO LOCATION DSO LOCATION
11 Boston Region 47 Cincinnati Region 79 West Marketing Area
13 New York Region 48 Detroit Region 81 Ford Home Office / Mazda Constant Dealer Code
16 Philadelphia Region 49 Great Lakes Marketing Area 82 Nissan for 1993
19 North Marketing Area 52 Dallas Region 83 Government
21 Atlanta Region 53 Kansas City Region 84 Home Office Reserve
23 Memphis Region 56 Denver Region 85 American Red Cross
24 Orlando Region 58 Twin Cities Region 86 Recreational Vehicle Pool
27 Washington Region 59 Central Marketing Area 87 Body Company
29 South Marketing Region 71 Los Angeles Region 89 Transportation Services
41 Chicago Region 72 San Francisco Region 90s Export
44 Pittsburgh Region 74 Seattle Region

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Body Style

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Brake Type code

  • 2 Four-wheel disc with anti-lock brake system (SRS)
  • 3 Traction control
  • 5 Four-wheel disc with anti-lock brake system (ABS) and traction control.

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Vinyl Roof

Specifies type of sun/vinyl roof.

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Molding

Specifies type of molding and color.

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Internal Trim

Specifies type of internal trim. The first digit indicates type of seat and the second digit indicates the interior color.

  • 2 Medium Graphite
  • 9 Rhodes Cloth (individual)
  • D Leather/Leather (sport)
  • H Medium Parchment
  • T Leather/Vinyl (individual)
  • U Shadow/Twill Cloth (individual)
  • W Midnight Black
  • X Leather/Vinyl (sport)
  • Z Oxford White
  • L2 Medium Graphite

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Tape

Color of a tape/paint stripe if one is present.

  • AA Black (rocker panel accent stripe)
  • MM Saddle/Gold (rocker panel accent stripe)
  • WW White (rocker panel accent stripe)

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Radio

Type of radio installed.

  • 1 Premium AM/FM stereo with compact disc, clock and premium sound system.
  • 8 Mach 460 premium AM/FM stereo with cassette, clock and sub-woofer sound system
  • 9 Mach 460 premium AM/FM stereo with compact disc, clock and sub-woofer sound system

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Sunroof

Specifies type of factory installed sunroof.

  • B Sliding sunroof
  • C Removable sunroof
  • D Removable sunroof

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Rear Axle

The Rear axle ratio and type.

  • L - Limited Slip Differential
  • C - Conventional Differential
1 2.87C
2 3.55C
4 3.42C
5 3.27C
6 3.73C
68 2.73C
7 3.07C
78 2.73C
8 2.73C
A 3.08L
A 3.63C
AM 2.73L
B 2.47C
BM 2.73L
C 3.27L
D 3.42L
E 3.27L
EZ 3.08L
F 3.45C
HZ 3.08L
J 3.85C
K 3.55L
LE 3.27L
M 2.73L
ME 3.27L
R 3.45R
SE 3.27L
VM 2.73L
W 3.73L
X5 3.27C
Y 3.08C
Z 3.08L
Z5 3.27C

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Transmission

A 5 character value; the first character indicates transmission type, characters 2-5 indicate spring type, Front/Rear.

Transmission Codes

Code Model
P AODE
T AOD
2 (5.0L) M5OD
5 Five-speed manual, T5OD
6 Five-speed manual, T45OD
U Four-speed automatic (4R70W)
K Five-speed manual, Tremec TR-3650

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