My brother came over tonight with this piece that he thought I would know what year-make-model of car it is for. He says his neighbor found it in his hoard of parts but can't remember what car he bought it for. The Ford number on it is B9BA16059Aand after that is a U with two zeros in it 10393. I told him I could not find anything about it but I bet someone on the H.A.M.B. would know. So here is your chance to shine HAMBERS, what car was it born on?
The part number is from 1959. I’m going to guess a 59 Ford hood or top of fender emblem? Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Thanks guys, I was thinking maybe 59 Ford but could not find a good picture of one. H.A.M.B. to the rescue again!!!
The first letter of Ford part numbers is the decade, A-40s, B-50s, C-60s, and then we are out of HAMB territory The digit that follows is the year in that decade, so B9 would be 1959. Wow, here is a NOS ornament on eBay, pretty pricey! https://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-1959-Ford-Galaxie-Hood-Ornament-Flying-Ellipse-FoMoCo-59-/312468368779
There might be some rhyme or reason to GM and Chrysler part numbers, but I don’t know what it is. I really like the way the Ford part number system works. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Worked for a Dodge dealer for 7 years. The part number are just that, numbers. They have no real meaning. I believe that GM part numbers are the same.
GM Australia, especially Holden, part numbers that ended in even number were right side, odd numbers left side. Applied mainly to brackets, door handles and hinges.
Ford dealers of that era had a number of add-on accessories that they could use to up-sell to a new car buyer. Stainless fender skirts were a popular one as well as various hood ornaments. Who remembers the reflectors that mounted on the rear bumpers of 1960 full size Fords that mimicked the shape of the tail-lights just above them? You never see them anymore, don't think they were a popular add-on, but interesting.
Ford liked to change numbers or "replaced by" all the time, but they did use the same system. 1012 being lugnuts for example iirc. Then b-1012 replaced by b9-1012 replaced by etc. The number on the part itself isn't actually the part number, they are engineering numbers and slightly different than the true part number and this often causes confusion. When searching for parts online it is useful to use both. Ford has a copyright on part numbers. Unless a part is NOS or a "a licensed product" nobody can use the part number in an aftermarket catalog any longer. Having the correct part number is pretty close to Magic when looking for something. Some sellers aren't big on having an online presence, even in 2020, but they have lots of stuff for sale if you know where to look. The suffix and other identifiers will tell you if it will fit or is backwards compatible in your particular application, as in a service replacement.
My dad bought a '60 Ford 4 door brand new from Molin Ford in Wayne, PA. I still remember the funky rear tail lights and the indent below them. My dad said the indent was for an optional reflector but I never saw any installed. IMO the change from round to elongated tail lights on the '60 big cars was a styling mistake and that is why Ford went back to round tail lights the next year. The car had a six and an automatic. My dad bought the six for gas mileage but it was a slug and got crappy mileage. The dealer blamed the automatic, said it needed 3 on the tree. Finally traded it in for the mid year 63 1/2 Galaxie with a small block and Cruise O'Matic.
Ford part #s mean something. C5ZB-13200 for example C5ZB = 65 Mustang; 13200 =right hand parking light.....there may be a chart ??? google it.
I worked as a Ford parts manager for awhile and thought the numbering system was pretty easy. Then I went to a Chevy dealership and never did get the hang of it.
Just the part you need if planning on full factory 'goo' (all available accessories) for your restoration... And Ford changed their parts number system in 1999, so it's not quite as easy any more... https://www.schooledinthetrade.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29&Itemid=54
I remember those tailight shaped depressions in the bumper and thought they looked out of place on a 1960 Meteor because they had three round taillights on each side. Canadian trivia. Sent from my SM-T350 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I worked in parts for Ford, AMC and a few others. When Ford needed to set up his parts numbering system he hired the same company that developed the catalog numbering system for Montgomery Wards. If you look in an old MW catalog you will see the similarity. It is about the only system I know where you can "read" the part number and know what it is and fits if you know the basic part numbers ( i.e. 16612 is a hood, 1012 is a lug nut, 6010 is a bare engine block etc.) AMC, GM and Mopar all use a similar to each other system. Parts are cataloged by groups. Each part has a group number that identifies the exact type of part. A part number is assigned to a specific part. There is no rhyme or reason to the part numbers without knowing the group number along with the part number.
51504bat here you go. Courtesy of someone selling a couple of wagons here on the HAMB. Both types of those 60 Ford bumpers.
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