1964.5 (Early 1965) Mustang VIN & Data Plate Decoder (2024)

Recently, Classic Industries published an article for the multitude of 1st Generation Mustang owners and enthusiasts (1964.5-1973) called: Decoding the 1964-1973 Mustang VIN: A Comprehensive Buyer's Guide. This article is specifically designed to enable 1964.5 Mustang (early 1965) caretakers and fans to decode the pony car's Data Plate, which gives us useful information such as assembly plant, body style, color, interior trim, engine, transmission, and much more.

1964.5 Mustang VIN Decoder

The VIN number is found under the hood on top of the driver’s side fender apron. The VIN number for the Wimbledon White beauty in the lead photo and several subsequent pictures is VIN: 5F08F100212. Let's take a look at how to decode this VIN step by step.

1. Model Year

All 1964.5 Mustangs were designated with a 5 at the start of the VIN, denoting 1965. However, the date code on the data plate — discussed later in this article — will give more information regarding when the car was actually built.

2. Assembly Plant

From deciphering the codes above, the Wimbledon White Mustang in the first several photos was built on the Dearborn, MI assembly line (F).

3. Body Style

It's a convertible (08).

4. Engine

The engine is a 260-cubic inch, two-barrel carburetor (2v) V8 (F).

5. Sequential Production Number

Production numbers for each year began with 100,001. So, from our example VIN, this car was 1964.5 Mustang number 212 built on the Dearborn, MI production line.

1964.5 Mustang Data Plate Decoder

The Data Plate for the 1964.5 to 1973 1st Generation Ford Mustang is located on the driver's side door jamb and is attached with two rivets. An example is shown just below and later in this narrative, so we can decode the data plate.

1. Body Code

There's a standard interior with bucket seats (76A).

2. Paint Colors

The exterior paint hue is Wimbledon White (M or 5M).

Above: 1964 Ford exterior Ditzler PPG paint colors are above for Fairlane, Falcon, Galaxie, and Mustang.

Above: Ditzler PPG exterior paint hues are indicated above for the 1965 Ford Mustang, Fairlane, Falcon, and Galaxie.

3. Interior Trim

The interior is blue vinyl (82 or 22).

More details of this beautiful early 1965 Mustang are below:

• One of the first production Mustang Convertibles
• VIN: 5F08F100212, known as Mustang #212
• 1964 1/2 Mustang, titled as a 1965
• One of the first sold to the public
• Sold new at Powell Ford of Ft. Lauderdale on 4/16/1964, sold the day before official launch 4/17/64
• On display at the Towe Ford Museum for over 10 years
• Used in William Clay Ford's grand daughter's wedding
• Personal thank you note from Ford dated 1/16/2007
• 260 CI V-8, two-barrel carburetor automatic transmission
• Power convertible top
• Power steering
• Window sticker, internal bill of sale and owner's manual
• Microfilm copies of MSO and previous titles
• Unique features of the early car no ferrule, small shift handle, Mustang eye on hood, hand hammered wheel emblems and wells to make room for convertible top
• Original parts have been documented since current owner purchased

Above: Photos of Wimbledon White Mustang convertible and other Mustangs below provided courtesy of Mecum Auctions.

4. Build Date

Since we don't have the data plate for the Wimbledon White over blue vinyl early 1965 (or 1964.5) Mustang convertible in this article, we found a data plate for another Mustang to publish. Let's decipher it. The 65A code denotes that this Mustang is a hardtop or a notchback coupe with a standard bucket seat interior. She has an exterior hue of Honey Gold (C color code). The interior trim is white with blue (42). The build date is April 14 of 1964 (14D). The district sales office for this Honey Gold Mustang is Los Angeles (71). The Mustang's rear end axle ratio gearing is 3.00 to one (1). This Mustang's transmission is a C-4 automatic (6).

We can also decode the VIN. The number five (5) is the designation for the model year. Hence, Ford calls this a 1965 Mustang, though it was built on the 14th of April 1964 (5). This Mustang was built in Dearborn, MI (F). It's a hardtop (07). She has a 260-2v, two-barrel carb V8 engine (F).

Above: The 1965 Mustang nose above shows what the Honey Gold (C) exterior hue looks like. Nice!

5. DSO (District Sales Office)

6. Axle

7. Transmission

Above and below: Now that we've illuminated how to decode an early 1965 (or 1964.5) Mustang's Data Plate, you can do it yourself. If you have a 1965-1973 Mustang, watch for those decoding articles coming soon in the Classic Industries American Muscle Car Library Archives. Rangoon Red (J or 3J) was a very popular exterior paint hue for both the early 1965 and the 1965 Mustang. It's easy to see why.

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