Were the vin numbers the same for the bobcat and the pinto? I'm having trouble decoding my vin number. The number is 4X14X3#####. (by the way, my car is a 74 Bobcat). I typed this in to the vin number identification on the main page of this site and it says there is an error. There was never a 14 body type. From my understanding 12 was supposed to be the three door hatch style, which I have. Also, the last 6 numbers means that my car was made at a ford plant, not a mercury one right? and the last X means the same thing. Aything above 600001 was mercury, correct? Any help would be appreciated, I'm very confused. ???
[EDIT: I edited the VIN # because I don't think that's something that should be made public for various reasons; I kept the first number only because that was pertinent to another comment in your post — Joel, Moderator, "Poison Pinto"]
4 = 1974;
X = St. Thomas Pinto, Fairmont, Zephyr plant;
14 = Body style. Being a Bobcat, the "Pinto" VIN does not recognize it;
X = 2.0L inline 4 engine;
3##### = number of car to come off assembly line.
Body styles:
10 = 2-door sedan
11 = 3-door hatchback
12 = wagon
Those are the only body styles the Pinto VIN Code Decoder recognizes.
Thanks poison pinto.
Does anyone know where I can look for a Bobcat vin decoder? And where is St Thomas?
it was built in the same plant i work at! St. Thomas (i also live there) is just south of London Ontario, Canada. About two hours west of Toronto Ontario.
Yeah, my wagon is a St. Thomas product too.
This is my *guess* on Bobcat body styles:
13 = 2-door sedan
14 = 3-door hatchback (yours)
15 = wagon
This would remain sequentially consistant with the Pinto codes.
I did some checking and I have it on good authority (as in, I saw it on the VIN number myself), that the 3-door hatchback body style was code 20 as of the 1976 Bobcat Runabout model. I punched that car's VIN into the decoder and it didn't recognize "20" as a body style either.
6T20Z506###
6 = 1976 (verified off the insurance documents)
T = Built at the Metuchen Pinto, Bobcat plant
20 = Body style unknown (3-door hatchback verified by sight, possibly a Rallye Package?)
Z = 2.8L V6 (verified by sight)
506### = production number
I only post the first few digits of the production number to show that this Bobcat also had a number under 600001.
Another possibility is that the car I looked at may have been a Rallye Package Bobcat. (Was there such a thing?) It had the Rallye rims and looked like it may have had a front spoiler (although that was missing). Thus, body style 20 *may* represent the Rallye Bobcat if they indeed gave the Rallye cars a different body style number.
The VIN Decoder decoded:
1 - 0 = 1971 - 1980 with only the final digit; I wonder what they would have done for a 1981 Pinto model?
The first letter is the plant:
A = Atlanta - Ford
B = Oakville - Ford
E = Mahwah - Granada, Monarch, Fairmont, Zephyr
F = Dearborn - Mustang, Capri
G = Chicago - Thunderbird
H = Lorain - LTD II, Cougar, XR7, Ranchero
J = Los Angeles - Ford, Thunderbird
K = Kansas City - Fairmont, Zephyr
R = San Jose - Pinto, Bobcat, Mustang
S = (Pilot) Allen Park - All
T = Metuchen - Pinto, Bobcat
U = Louisville - Ford
W = Wayne - Granada, Monarch, Versailles
X = St. Thomas - Pinto, Fairmont, Zephyr
Y = Wixom - Lincoln, Mark V
Z = St. Louis - Mercury
The next 2 numbers are the body style:
10 = Pinto 2-door sedan
11 = Pinto 3-door hatchback
12 = Pinto wagon
As far as I can tell (I've run 01 - 25) these are the only Pinto body styles the program recognizes.
The next letter is the engine code:
A = 1980 2.3L I4 OHC
W = 1.6 L4 OHV
X = 2.0 I4 OHC
Y = 2.3 I4 OHC
Z = 2.8 V6 OHV
These are the only engines that came stock in Pintos, so they are the only codes the program recognizes.
The 6 digits at the end are the production number and the program recognizes all of them.
The program doesn't discern true VIN numbers from fake ones, it just looks at each code individually and doesn't cross reference.
So, 1H12A000000 produces a 1971 wagon built at the Lorain plant (not a Pinto plant) and originally outfitted with a 1980 2.3L engine from the factory.
If owners wished to post their manufacturing plant and body style codes only (ie: my body style code is 14 and it's a Bobcat 3-door hatchback manufactured at plant X), I could write a BASIC computer program that would decode both Pinto and Bobcat VIN's. I could put in some filter checks (such as no 1971 wagons or 1980 engines in pre-1980 cars). It would also help if those with factory original, alternate body styles (such as Rallye Packages, Cruisin' Wagons, and panel wagons) posted what their body style codes were so that any variations can be noted.
And, what the heck, I can pester a Ford dealer and find out what the paint codes are and include those in the program, too. That way, you can know what color your Pinto/Bobcat (or other '70s Ford) was originally.
78pinto: Thanks, i thought it was built in Canada!! I live in Winnipeg, MB.
PoisonPinto: Thanks for the info, and I think you have a great idea. This information should benefit everyone! 8)