First of all I have to say that while this is my first post I have found many of the threads on here to be quite useful. At first I couldn't figure out how to post... yes its true! Everyone is extremely cordial and helpful. Anyway, I'm having immense difficulty decoding my vin# it is 14 digits and starts with an F. Apparently its a 1972 comet Vin# F3K30L51576... The L is in the 6th position however does it still indicate having a 250 ci inline 6? I have found that the L should be in the 5th position to indicate the engine? Appreciate any information I can get. Thanks!
It starts with a "3". The F just means "Ford". It's a '73 model. A '72 would start with a "2". The "L" is in the 5th position.
3K30L51576_ 3 = 73 K = Kansas 3 = 2 Door 0 = ? L = 250 5 = ? 1576... is build # I would imagine?? Maybe I am wrong *shrug*
Thank you all for the info, I left out the last three digits as I didn't think they were relevant. So not including the F it has a 13 digit VIN, is that normal? What is most intriguing is that my pink slip says 1972 yet the vin starts with a 3. What are the odds of a typo on the VIN versus the actual year of the car? I'll start a new thread in regard to distinguishing between the engines. Thanks again, I guess I have a 73 250 and this whole time I thought it was the 72 200!!!?
Sounds like the pink slip is wrong. Maybe the VIN has been moved from another car? Post up a picture of the car and we can tell you for sure what year it is.
Throw away the script F at the front and end of VIN and you'll have 11 digits... The last six are the consecutive unit number, or the order the VINs were assigned by the factory... Mercury started at 500001 for first vehicle at each plant, so 512345 would be the 12345th order created and 612345 would be the 112345th vehicle... KInda confusing when Fords started at 100001... Note when the VINs switched to 17 digits, Mercury's first VIN became 600001 so has to be 700000 to indicate 100000 orders...
