How to break down your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
The following instructions and tables apply to the 1968 Cougar, Fairlane, Falcon, Montego and Mustangs. I scanned the tables out of the Ford Shop manual for 1968 Intermediates. This manual is a must for anyone that owns one of these vehicles. You could put the car together from scratch with this book.
The following picture shows what the Warranty Tag looks like. On two door models, its on the drivers door. I don't remember for sure, but I think the four doors have it on the door pillar.
To help you decode your own VIN tag, and for my own reference, here is the breakdown of the tag on my Cyclone:
| VIN Number: | 8H15S551291 | See below |
| Body Code: | 63H | 2 Door Hardtop GT (bucket seats) |
| Color: | Y | Gold Metallic |
| Trim: | 8A | Black Vinyl |
| Date: | 27B | February 27 (1968) |
| District Code (D.S.O.) | A6 | Western Canada |
| Axle: | 7 | 3.25:1 Conventional |
| Trans: | U | C6 Automatic |
8H15S551291
The 8 is the year the vehicle was made. 1968
H is the Assembly Plant. Lorain, Ohio
15 is the Body Serial Code. 2 Door Hardtop GT (bucket seats)
S is the Engine Code. 390 GT (4V High Performance)
551291 is the Consecutive Unit number. For the Montegos and Cyclones, it starts at 500001. Mine was the 51291 unit produced. There were 13628 Cyclones produced in 1968. Of the 12260 Fastbacks, 6103 of them were Fastback GT's. There were 1368 Formal Roof models and 334 of them were GT's. (really rare)