1994 - 2004 VIN & Data Plate Decoder
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.
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Month and year of production in MM/YY format.
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.
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.
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.
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. |
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 |
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 | |
|
Body Style
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.
Vinyl Roof
Specifies type of sun/vinyl roof.
Molding
Specifies type of molding and color.
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
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)
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
Sunroof
Specifies type of factory installed sunroof.
- B Sliding sunroof
- C Removable sunroof
- D Removable sunroof
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 |
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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