I looked at the 66 hertz car (6S1185) that I am considering and found the block to have the following casting numbers: C5AE-0615 E with a 6L23. I understand this to be a Dec 23 1966 casting and therefore not the original block. Where the ford VIN is normally stamped, I found a partial Shelby number SFM6S1??1 and in another stamp size 85. Is this common? thx lee
Lee , the Shelby number would not be stamped in the block only the Ford VIN number. The engines were installed at Ford not Shelby. The engines that were installed at Shelby like the ones for R models GT 40's etc. were not stamped that way. This issue was meaningless up until about 25 years ago. I suspect some previous owner not knowing any better stamped the partial Shelby number to inhance the value. The best of luck with your project.
Yes Lee the block likely came from a Ford built in Dec 66 up so a 67 model Looks like someone faked something in the past
Thanks for all the replies! Jeff, Seems to me if someone was trying to fake it, they would have put the ford VIN there, not the SFM #? I was hoping maybe it was common practice to put the SFM # on a replacement block, perhaps when the car was reconditioned after it's rental days. Regardless, it is clear this is not the orignal block. This is still a very nice car with all the right parts and other amenities of an original K code car. We didn't pull the pan to confirm it had the correct K code internals, but it does have the hipo heads. thanks again Lee
Well that is assuming that the person knew that the cars were original stamped with the Ford VIN not the cars VIN. Remember a number of cars in the 70's and 80's with the Shelby VIN added because the owner had heard that all the car came with the "VIN" stamped on the block. "Good" information didn't get around as fast (and to the depth) that it does today.
Not sure what "this" your referring to? The only stamped number you should find on the block (passenger side, forward, just above the oil pan) is the Ford VIN from the chassis (under the Shelby tag) on small block 65-67 Shelbys. Being a Hertz car has noting to do with this detail.
