Finding data plate information
Question:
The data plate is missing from a 1966 Mustang Coupe I’m restoring. I have only the VIN number, color, and transmission codes. Where can I obtain the information that I need to replace the original data plate?
Answer:
Unfortunately, the detailed build records for pre-1967 Fords were likely destroyed or at least are not known to still exist, so determining the correct information needed for a reproduction tag will require some detective work.
The “warranty number” is the car’s serial number, which is easy enough to determine. You know the body style is a coupe so that narrows down the possible body style codes. If you can figure out whether the car came with a standard interior, luxury interior or bench seat you know which body style code applies. You state that you know the original exterior color so that’s taken care of. If any soft trim or painted portions of the interior are original that will probably tell you the original interior color. The date code can be a bit tricky but with some help from a certain Mustang enthusiast you can determine the approximate build date.
Join the allfordmustangs.com forum and go to the Classic Tech Talk section. Start a new thread entitled “Veronica, I need your help.” Tell Veronica that you want to know the build date of your car and provide the serial number. Veronica has accumulated an extensive database that correlates serial numbers to build dates and can almost certainly help you.
The district code (DSO on the data plate, short for district sales office) may be impossible to figure out. Absent a better suggestion (perhaps a reader has one?) take a wild guess and go with it. Check the date codes on the rear end and if they correlate to the build date of the car then it is probably the original differential. Determine the axle ratio code from the differential or do it the old fashioned way, by counting how many rotations the pinion makes for each one rotation the axle shafts make. This ratio will correlate to a number or letter code, which will vary according to whether you have a standard or locking differential. You state that you know the transmission code, so that does it.
