question . do all 68 shelby have the vin stamped on the inner fenders both drivers side and and passanger side , i can obviously see the vin stamped under the shelby tag on drivers side ,we had to undo one rivert and spin the tag to view, but where do i look for the vin on the passanger side if it has one ? in front of the shock tower towards the radiater or behind the shock tower towards the buck tag , looking from outside in i can not see one on the passangers side , do we have to undo the nuts on the fender to view if so what should the vin start with 8 for 1968 obviously (no * astricks/star) at the beginning and end) is this standard or does this varyon 68 shelbys ( is there anymore i should be looking for besides the vin ) i have spent time reading threads on this site but have not understood it can someone comment ....
My 68 GT500 FB has the Ford VIN stamped in the right fender apron in front of the shock tower. You'll probably have to remove the fender to check for yours. Hope this helps. Paul
As long as its not terribly rusted or been undercoated you can read the passenger # from underneath inside the wheel well. Just remember you'll be reading it backwards. Tim
Howdy! Hope you are learning some new information,and I have a great idea.If you can find a good source,buy the shop manual for 1968 and alot of the info you seek is in the first portion of it. All fords had v.i.n. stampings in 3 places starting in 1968 it became a federal requirement and shelbys began life as fords... you will need to remove or at least unbolt and pull back the right front fender to view the stamping,it is often covered with caulking,which is easily dissolved with wax and grease remover.It will begin with the number 8 for the year.next is the letter T for the assembly plant,then the next 2 numbers are for body type 02 is a fastback.the next space is for the engine code and should be an R for a cj 428,but many cars have this as a blank,on the apron .The next 6 numbers are the consecutive unit number.If it does not match the other parts of the car,someone has done some major bodywork and the value of this car just fell drastically.Do your homework carefully,and it will pay off ! check out the coral snake website,and the cobra jet site..good luck.
i have gone on the coral snake website . it is a great read , he knows his stuff i have been told that the ford vin under the fenders begins with a star and ends with a star is this correct or is someone pulling my leg here ... as for the cobra jet site was is the link
ravenbalck, my vin.# that is under the passenger fender does start and end with a star. The engine code is also blank like patti.dilabio said. *Ranger Jerry*
ranger jerry when you state your engne code is balnk R=428 have they left a space where the engine code would be or is it continious whithout a blank space i have arrnged for the fender to removed it will be done tis weekend , this is why i am asking the questions . one that i would relly like to know is the size of the stamps of the vin , do they vary or are they all the same size when you loo at date coes all over the car the size of stamps vary , anyone out there know what the correct size of the vin stamps should be 1/2' 3/4' i am sure the factory size would be standard on all ford vins or do they vary from 66 , 67, 68 ,69
I have a mid Dec 67 San Jose built Fastback and it was not stamped on the right inner fender.I have had the car since 1977.I also have 8R02S100954 which is obviously a very early 68 and it is not stamped on the right side either.I have had this car since 1988.... Cory
Sounds like some earlier accident investigation is in order Of course you don't want to compare how San Jose did it when discussing NJ cars
On the early cars there would be a space left No they do not vary from one area to another on the hidden numbers or the one (at some factories) that is visible (in 68) as it was in 65-67. Dash tags, door tags and Shelby tags will be different in size and font style During those years the stamps used on the inner fender panels were the same Yes the "star" was used at the beginning and the end of the VIN stampings applied to the inner fender panel. This was a special star with some special characteristics.
Snakepit....My 68 (the Dec one) has its original inner (right side) fender in it.It has never been changed... It is just simply not true that both inner fenders were stamped with the serial numbers and that the left side was stamped twice....Pure urban myth.. Cory
Saw a disassembled 68 500 in a shop the other day. What surprised me was that the passenger side VIN was stamped up front on the battery apron. Seems like Ford should have kept them back on the hood hinge panel like earlier years. No telling how many battery aprons got tossed because of minor fender benders or more likely battery rust. I think this number was stamped near the outboard flange, so it will be way up under the fender when its installed.
Ok Cory lets start with - your car was assemblied at San Jose - correct? As for "urban myth" how many pictures would you like? Passenger side - in front of shock tower (8R01C165073) Passenger side - in front of shock tower(8R91J522047) Passenger side - in front of shock tower (8R01T131815) Typical -Drivers side - in front of shock tower (8R01C162524) Factory practices did differ in 68. Some had visible VINs - drivers side, others did not. So just want to make sure we're "talking" about the same place and cars. For instance NJ cars had, the drivers side VIN in front of the shock tower, stamped so it was visible (done times stamped twice) rather than where it would be hidden by the fender as on (normally) Dearborn and San Jose that year
Howdy folks! just my quick thoughts and a big thankyou!! to snakepit for posting some pictures to clarify the urban myth .Hopefully our buddy has learned something...somewhere i will find the law written so he will also learn about all the stuff that the government mandated for the 68 year,, you know collapseable steeing columns,side marker lamps,3 point front belts.and the smog stuff,but I am again thankful that we are able to prove our point.Also similar pictures are in the book by Jim Smart/Jim Haskell on Mustang production.Maybe this should be suggested reading.Food for thought at least.
thanks for all the info and pics from snakepit under my shelby tag on my 68 gt500kr the in vin is there but has no star at the beginning and the end ( the car is a 8T02R ) 4 speed should it have the star at the beginning and end ?, is it possible that the car was stamped without the stars from the factory .. can anyone assist with this ....
Might want to strip it down to metal. Yes they all should have the star ... if the person at the factory stamped the numbers then the star would have been included IMHO since all were stamped in one movement
taped around the number and paint stripped it down to metal , the vin has got the stars there and the R is missing * 8T02 123456 * this makes me feel a real lot better now
You may want to document with a good photo image for your file or notebook. If the stars are faint they may dissappear again when your reprime and paint... ..may make next buyer, if you ever sell, feel good about the numbers.
Missing "R"'s are often seen on the first CJ's (on the hidden numbers) 65gtfastback idea of lots of pictures will surely settle a nerve or two at sometime in the future
i have actually treated the area with an acid strip and applied clear coat of paint over the numbers , affixed the shelby tag back , but never took any photos , never tjought of doing that ....
