VIN DECODER

                               1978 Ford, Mercury

              Zephyr 2-door Sedan
              Zephyr 4-door Sedan
              Zephyr 4-door Station Wagon
              Zephyr Z-7 2-door Sedan

              Fairmont 2-door Sedan
              Fairmont 4-door Sedan
              Fairmont 4-door Station Wagon
              Fairmont Futura 2-door Sedan

Position #1 is the Year Identification

0 = 1960, 1 = 1961, 2 = 1962, etc. continuing to 9 = 1969

0 = 1970, 1 = 1971, 2 = 1972, etc. continuing to 9 = 1979

0 = 1980

Position #2 is the Assembly Plant Identification

A = Atlanta, Georgia

B = Oakville, Ontario

C = Chester, Pennsylvania (through 1962)

D = Dallas, Texas

E = Mahwah, New Jersey

F = Dearborn, Michigan

G = Chicago, Illinois

H = Lorain, Ohio

J = Los Angeles, California

K = Kansas City, Missouri

N = Norfolk, Virginia

P = St. Paul, Minnesota

R = San Jose, California

S = Allen Park, Michigan

T = Metuchen, New Jersey

U = Louisville, Kentucky

W = Wayne, Michigan

X = St. Thomas, Ontario

Y = Wixom, Michigan

Z = St. Louis, Missouri

Positions #3 and #4 are the Body Series Code Identification

Position #5 is the Engine Identification Code

Positions #6 through #11 are the Consecutive Unit Number

This number represents the scheduled sequence order. When a car was ordered, it was immediately assigned a VIN with a Consecutive Unit Number.
It was then assigned a scheduled production date based on availability of trim, parts, other components, and taking into account downtime and production workloads at the assembly plant.

A scheduled production date was very often out of sequence with the Consecutive Unit Number. And more often than not, the actual production date (the day the car rolled off the line) was earlier or later than what was originally planned. Therefore, a Thunderbird with a Consecutive Unit Number of 105678 may have actually been produced and ready for shipping before a Thunderbird with a Consecutive Unit Number of 105432. The Consecutive Unit Number should be considered to be a unique identification that shows when the order was received and when it was planned for production.

DECODE YOUR VIN

1978 PRODUCTION NUMBERS

FORWARD

All 1960 through 1980 Fords, Mercurys, Edsels, and Lincolns
have an 11-character VIN that follows this example:

1960 through 1980

8 X 32 T 540993

Position #1 #2 #3 and 4 #5 #6 through #11

# MFG
   27,673
   47,334
   32,596
   44,569

  78,776
136,849
128,390
116,966

Body Code
     66D
     54D
     74D
     36R

     66B
     54B
     74B
     36R

              No of
Code    Cyls.    Liters     CID Venturi
   Y          I-4         2.3L         139/2V
   T          I-6          3.3L         200/1V
   D         V-8         4.2L         255/2V
   F          V-8         5.0L         302/2V