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1948 - 1951 CANADIAN VEHICLE SERIAL CODE PLATE FOR
FORD AND MERCURY TRUCKS

(Thanks to Scott Wilson for providing the scans for this breakdown.)
  A new vehicle identification numbering system was introduced for all vehicles built by the Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited, effective with the first 1948 truck models to facilitate the servicing of vehicles and assist in the filling of parts orders.
  This numbering system is based on a serial plate which is located on the center of cowl or dash panel under the hood.
 

SAMPLE PLATE

  
ENGINE: 8E-1829

MODEL: FH81
TRIM: MC-18001  
SERIAL: FH81H48-5001

PAINT: M-1722

VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION CODE
EXPLANATORY CHART
ENGINE NUMBER: 8E-1828
  The first digit of this number indicates the model year engine was originally specified, "8" indicates "1948"
  The letter of the engine number indicates the piston displacement of the engine and the type of transmission as follows:
        "E" indicates 239 cu. in piston displacement, 3 speed light truck transmission.
        "J"  indicates 239 cu. in piston displacement, 4 speed transmission.
        "P" indicates 239 cu. in piston displacement, 4 speed transmission, passenger camshaft.
        "G" indicates 239 cu. in piston displacement, 4 speed transmission, truck camshaft
        "Q" indicates 337 cu. in piston displacement, 5 speed transmission,
  As engines are produced at the factory, they are numbered consecutively. This number is the group of digits following the letter in the engine number.
  The complete engine number , i.e. 8E-1829, is stamped on the vehicle serial code plate.
TRIM: MC-18001
  The trim number indicated the type of interior trim in the vehicle. This number indicates a specific type and colour of material and should always be shown on order form when ordering any trim parts for the vehicle.
PAINT: M-1720
  The paint number indicates the enamel used on the outside of the vehicle. This number is the original type "Baked Enamel" used and is not supplied for service repairs. Therefore it will be necessary to order the corresponding Air-dry type enamel for service.
MODEL: FH81
  The model number indicates type of model i. e., "FH81" denotes "FH" 134" W.B. Truck, "81" denotes Chassis and Cab.
SERIAL CODE: FH81H48-5001
  This number is the serial number of the entire vehicle. It indicates the vehicle model, the body type, the Branch at which the vehicle was built, the model year and the consecutive number of the vehicle as it came off the assembly line.
   The serial code consists of Five Major Portions, with a Secondary Breakdown in the first two letters.
A.  MAJOR PORTION BREAKDOWN
      "FH"     Model Type - 134" W. B. Truck Ford (see Secondary Breakdown)
      "81"      Body Type - Chassis and Cab
      "H"       Assembly Branch - Home Office, "V" would mean Vancouver, etc.
      "48"      Model Year - 1948, "49" would be 1949, etc.
    "5001"    Consecutive Job Number at assembly point.
B.  SECONDARY BREAKDOWNS
       "F"        First letter indicates series or nominal rating (2 ton) gross vehicle weight 13500 lbs. Also Model Ford.
       "R"        Would designate Mercury.
       "H"        Second letter denotes the wheelbase  134"
       "C"         110" W. B.
       "D"         114" W. B.
       "F"          122" W. B.
       "K"         147" W. B.
       "M"        158" W. B.
       "N"         159" W. B.
       "Q"         176" W. B.
       "R"         178" W. B.
       "U"         194" W. B.
       "W"        195" W. B.
NOTE: When a third letter is used "W" denotes C. O. E., "B" denotes Bus, "U" denotes Dump and "D" Diesel engine equipped.
NEW SERIES DESIGNATION
      Former nominal tonnage ratings have been replaced by a series designation, the code numbers indicates the G. V. W. when equipped with tires of appropriate capacity rating. Each code number is arrived at by dividing the rated G. V. W. of the series by 100. Thus F-47 indicates a G. V. W. of 4700 lbs., F-135 indicates 13500 lbs., etc. Each truck series is rated to its G. V. W.
       (G. V. W. - Gross Vehicle Weight - weight of chassis, cab and body, plus payload)
MODEL TYPE
1948-49-50
Series		 1951
Series		 Cataloque
Model
Symbol		 Nominal
Rating		 Gross Vehicle
Weight		 Wheelbase Serial Prefix
Ford Mercury Ford Mercury Ford Mercury
F47 M47 F1 M1 C 1/2 ton 4700 lbs 114"   BD MD
F68 M68 F3 M3 Y 1 ton 6800 lbs. 122"   DF PF
F105 M105 F4 M4 T 1-1/2 ton 10000 lbs. 134"   EH QH
F105 M105 F4 M4 T 1-1/2 ton 10000 lbs. 158"   EM QM
    F5 M5 W 2 ton 14000 lbs. 110" C. O. E. FCW RCW
F135 M135 F5 M5 TC 2 ton 14000 lbs. 134"   FH RH
    F5 M5 W 2 ton 14000 lbs. 134" C. O. E. FHW RHW
F135 M135 F5 M5 TC 2 ton 14000 lbs. 158"   FM RM
    F5 M5 W 2 ton 14000 lbs. 158" C. O. E. FMW RMW
F135 M135 F5 M5 TC 2 ton 14000 lbs. 176"   FQ RQ
    F6 M6 WH 3 ton 16000 lbs. 110" C. O. E. GCW SCW
F155 M155 F6 M6 TH 3 ton 16000 lbs. 134"   GH SH
F155 M155 F6 M6 TH 3 ton 16000 lbs. 134" Dump GHU SHU
    F6 M6 WH 3 ton 16000 lbs. 134" C. O. E. GHW SHW
F155 M155 F6 M6 TH 3 ton 16000 lbs. 158"   GM SM
    F6 M6 WH 3 ton 16000 lbs. 158" C. O. E. GMW SMW
F155 M155 F6 M6 TH 3 ton 16000 lbs. 176"   GQ SQ
F155 M155 F6 M6 TH 3 ton 16000 lbs. 194"   GU SU
F155 M155 F6 M6 TH 3 ton 16000 lbs. 194" School Bus GUB SUB
F190 M190 F7 M7 Q 4 ton 19000 lbs. 135"   HJ TJ
F190 M190 F7 M7 Q 4 ton 19000 lbs. 147"   HK TK
F190 M190 F7 M7 Q 4 ton 19000 lbs. 159"   HN TN
F190 M190 F7 M7 Q 4 ton 19000 lbs. 178"   HR TR
F190 M190 F7 M7 Q 4 ton 19000 lbs. 195"   HW TW
F215 M215 F8 M8 QH 5 ton 22000 lbs. 135"   JJ UJ
F215 M215 F8 M8 QH 5 ton 22000 lbs. 147"   JK UK
F215 M215 F8 M8 QH 5 ton 22000 lbs. 159"   JN UN
F215 M215 F8 M8 QH 5 ton 22000 lbs. 178"   JR UR
F215 M215 F8 M8 QH 5 ton 22000 lbs. 195"   JW UW
A third letter is used to denote standard or special units:
 

A - Standard

 J - Parcel Delivery  

B - Bus

 U - Dump

D - Diesel

 W - Cab-Over-Engine
A letter follows the body code to denote Standard or DeLuxe Cab:
  A - Standard B - DeLuxe  
EXAMPLE: GHW81BH51-5001  is a Ford 3 ton 134" W. B. C. O. E. with a DeLuxe Cab
 

GH - shows it is a Ford 3 ton 134" W. B.
W   -  shows it is a C. O. E.
81B - shows it is a Chassis & DeLuxe Cab
H   -   shows it is a L. H. D. built at Home Office
51  -   shows it is a 1951 model

  
TRUCK BODY TYPES
  Body Type No. Body Name Body Type No. Body Name  
81 Chassis & Closed Cab Conventional 83 Express (122" Wheelbase)
82 Panel Delivery (114" Wheelbase) 84 Chassis and Cowl
83 Pick-up (114" Wheelbase) 85 Chassis W/S and Cowl
 

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Last modified: 09/14/07