Model A serial number

[G V Gordon]

Does anyone have a way to tell year of manufacture for an "A" by serial number. Mine is 1A190160. I got the body and frame seperate, would just like to know if they are same year for registration purposes. Thanks

[manyolcars]

'A' serial numbers were engine number and matching frame numbers. body numbers mean nothing. go to website for serial numbers and month of production --> http://www.mafca.com/eng-prod.html

[G V Gordon]

This is stamped in the frame near the cowl area.

[Elrod]

First of all, Model A serial numbers do not contain letters.

Secondly, Engines were built at the Rouge plant, given serial numbers and then put on trains. Then they had to travel to whatever plant they were to be assembled into cars at. When the motor was placed into a car chasis, the number that was assigned to the motor was stamped onto the frame rail on the drivers side under the cowl feet. This would then be your VIN number.

The number will have a star at the beginning and end to prevent people from changing the number.

The best way to find out when your car was built is to look at clues on the frame and body. One clue is that if your middle crossmember on your frame has oval shaped holes in the top, it is a later 30-31 car. If it is solid, it is a 28-29 car.

[Elrod]

Here is a list of engine production numbers and what year they were produced in. This would estimate what year your car is by a few months...

http://www.mafca.com/eng-prod.html

[G V Gordon]

Thanks guys,
Judging from the chart it is June 1928. The 1A is there but to the left of the numbers so it must not be part of the Serial #. Thanks for the help.

[Smokin Joe]

a 28 front crossmember is slightly different from the later ones and the radiator will sit a bit higher.

[manyolcars]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks guys,
Judging from the chart it is June 1928. The 1A is there but to the left of the numbers so it must not be part of the Serial #. Thanks for the help.

[/ QUOTE ] if it is actually -18- you have a later V-8 frame. Is the A really a star?

[G V Gordon]

could be, it is 76 years old and my eyes aren't what they use to be. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[flt-blk]

Mine has cast running board brackets, I was told that distinguishes it as a 28-29. Stamped brackets on the 30-31.

TZ

[Digger_Dave]

[ QUOTE ]
First of all, Model A serial numbers do not contain letters.

[/ QUOTE ]

I guess it depends on where you got your information. The Ford archives show that the letter "A" preceeded the numbers on all car engines. The letters "AA" were on the truck engines. At some point the "AA" engine designation was discontinued, and dropped to just "A."

Serial numbers on some Canadian "A's" also included the letter "C" before the "A" (or "AA's" ) There were "stars" before and after the letter / number combinations.

All engines were built at the Rouge plant, (until later) given serial numbers and shipped to different assembly plants around the world.

[ QUOTE ]
When the motor was placed into a car chasis, the number that was assigned to the motor was stamped onto the frame rail on the drivers side under the cowl feet. This would then be your VIN number.

[/ QUOTE ]

The stamping of the engine number (serial) wasn't always stamped on the frame, (Austrailia for example) some were stamped on the firewall. Some would be under the cowl feet, some forward. Canada even had a cut out on the left front fender to expose the serial number forward of the cowl that was stamped on the frame.