Unfortunately no. Further, there isn't even any other place you can go to either. Ford destroyed the records for the 65/66 Mustangs (and other Fords). Once the data plate is lost the information is gone.

John Harvey

 

The VIN will give you the engine code, production plant, and body style. After that, it is detective work. Original paint can normally be found on the trans tunnel, under the upper parts of the quarters, behind the jams, etc. Interior color can be found under the dash pad, and behind knobs, etc. As far as deluxe (pony) does the car "make sense" ie, door has factory cut holes for lights, upholstery on the interior quarters, all deluxe parts intact and aged, etc. Transmission again is "does it make sense?" IE correct tags on transmission and parts match, ie, no 1969 toploader with HURST shifter with a 1967 Bell housing, etc. Look for the neutral safety switch wiring on the cowl. Missing, better chance of standard, original looking: probably an automatic. As far as build date, based on the VIN, you can be a SCHEDULED build date to within a couple days, via the Marti books.
That covers most of the biggies.

 

thanks (i think)

 

Since the information is no longer available can you change the information about color, trans, interior trim as long as the VIN is correct?

 

Grrrrrrrrrr issed:

Yeah, you can, but IMHO it's wrong.

 

From what I have been told by one place (Mustangs Unlimited) that makes the plates, you must stay within the data of a '66. In my case, I wanted to use a newer ('96) paint code and was told it would not work.

 

That is what I was looking to do. I am changing the paint color as well as the interior. Not to sound dishonest, because I am NOT, but in the information is missing why can't you fill it in with what you have and know? My plate is miising, and I need to find out build date and DSO. Everything else I was able to piece together by findings on the car. I don't have the right build date, but I know when parts were assembled.

 

If you get ultra lucky you might find the "Build Sheet" under a seat (strapped in the bottom of the frame) or behind the dash , etc. Some have even been found above the headliner . 66's also had buck tags but Im not sure if they contain all the numbers your looking for .
The buck tag of the 66 heap-coupe I just got is screwed to the inner fender on the drivers side .

 

As for narrowing down a build date if the car is mostly original you can look for date stamps/codes on the instrument cluster, radio if available, blower motor, engine tag, wiper motor seat frames and other assemblies. You would at least know the car was built AFTER the newest date you find (most likely, unless parts are from other cars), and can narrow it down to maybe a 6 to 8 week period to take a stab.

 

You may not be dishonest, but what about the next person who owns the car? Changing the codes to match what the car has been changed to does not sit well with me, no matter the reason. My fastback is completely changed and the original data plate was badly damaged. I ordered a new one from Kevin Marti and it is identical in information to the original plate, which I also kept.

One of the reasons I'm against changing data plates is the fact that my coupe is original and I compete in concours. I know of people in my class who have changed the color and the plate (among other items) to avoid a point deduction for a nonmatching data plate. Not only has that changed the history of the car, it is unfair competition to those of us who stuck with the original car color, interior, engine, etc., no matter how much we wanted something else.

 

Not to change the subject a bit but, I was always under the impression that a "concours" car was original colors, options and the such. Did not know one could change within the limits of the year options and not what was original on the car. I can understand your feelings on plate changes. Hmmmmm.

 

Yes, that's just it, a concours car is supposed to be original and true to the original plate.