1

LETTERS, NUMBERS AND CODES

FOR

MODEL A/AA FORD PRODUCTION

1928-1931

BY

STEVE PLUCKER
(As of July 26, 2011)
So many times we are asked “How and where do I find the engine/frame number
on the engine and frame?”; “Where is the gas tank date located?”; “Where is the
assembly plant code located?”; “What do the letters and numbers on the back of
the frame mean?”

This article will address those subjects so all will know.

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THE ENGINE/FRAME NUMBER

As each engine was complete within Dearborn’s engine building, and once it was
approved by the engine foreman, the engine was then given a number of
identification. Once the work day was over, the total number of engines that
were numbered for the day were recorded on the daily engine logs. These logs
may be found on my website at www.plucks329s.org.

THE ENGINE NUMBER PAD

Contained on the left side of the newly run-in engine is an engine number pad.
During the Model A/AA Ford years, 1928-1931, there were five (5) different
shapes (sizes) of engine number pads. The first was located above the water
inlet cavity of the block (Fig. 1).

(Fig. 1)

On October 12, 1927, in conjunction with Part Release Number ?????, the pad
moved to the top of the block and was reduced in size to a 2 inch length pad
(Fig. 2).

(Fig. 2)
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This move also reduced the size of the water inlet connection pad. However this
change took effect between engine number A616 (Fig. 1) and A633 (Fig. 2) on
November 17, 1927.

The next change occurred between December 3, 1927 (A1276) (Fig. 2) and
December 14, 1927 (A2157) when the 2 inch length pad became a 2-1/2 inch
length pad (Fig. 3).

(Fig. 3)

Thank you to Per Lind Jensen for this photo of A2820.

The 2-1/2 inch pad continued for a short time until sometime between December
19, 1927 (A2820) (Fig. 3) and December 27, 1927 (A4408) when the 2-1/2 inch
pad was increased again to 2-3/4 inches in length (Fig. 4).

(Fig. 4)

The 2-3/4 inch pad continued to the end of January 30, 1929 (A975432) and on
February 1, 1929 (A988170) it again changed in size to a 3-1/4 inch pad (Fig. 5)
and for which it remained throughout the production period.
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(Fig.5)

The “pad” itself must have the same “texture” as the rest of the block to be
considered a truly original stamped engine. If for some reason the pad has been
ground down smooth, then more than likely the original number has been ground
off and it has been restamped with another number other than what was
originally there. Still considered an original engine, just that it is a restamp.

Once the engine was approved, it was then stamped with a number. Anywhere
from 1 to 9000 plus engines were stamped each work day at the Ford Motor
Company during the production period. The daily logs show Ford did not
produce engines everyday in 1931 but only produced enough to keep up with
production.

The engine could have had an “A” (Fig. 5) or “AA” (Fig. 4) associated with the
number and the engine itself. An “A” usually meant that the engine was for a car
or a light commercial vehicle. The “AA” usually meant that the engine was
associated with the heavy duty trucks. This concept remained the same
throughout the production of the Model A/AA Ford except from starting with
engine number A26268, a February 16, 1928 engine, the “AA” prefix was
dropped due to the fact that all truck clutch springs were the same weight as the
car and commercial vehicles.

On May 15, 1928, the Indianapolis Ford Service Letter indicated that all the truck
engines were now being equipped with a 455 pound spring and that the engine
numbers on such motors were being prefixed with the letters “AA” again. The
cars and commercial vehicles retained the 420 pound clutch spring and the prefix
“A”. These heavier truck clutch springs were painted “red” to distinguish between
the two. Not sure of the engine number that this change occurred with.
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THE ENGINE/FRAME NUMBER STAMPS

The number stamps remained in the same form and font (Fig. 6) from start of
production through engine number A4365833, a February 18, 1931 number. It
was on this date that Ford changed three of the number stamps. The 1, 6, and 9
(Fig. 7). This, according to the February 1931 Ford Service Bulletin, was “To
lessen any possibility of outside individuals attempting to change engine
numbers, the figures 1, 6, and 9 have been changed. Dealers should
immediately provide themselves with a new figure one, six, and nine.” The April
10, 1931 Chicago Ford Service Letter added to this telling the branches “You
should, therefore, arrange to secure new designed numeral stamps to take care
of restamping motor numbers whenever it is necessary to change a block or a
cylinder assembly”. Therefore on February 18, 1931, starting with engine
number A4365834, the number stamps of 1, 6, and 9, changed their form and
font.

(Fig. 6)

(Fig. 7)

Always associated with the engine number, was a five pointed star on the left
and right side of the engine number stamping as seen in the above photos.
Weather it was the engine number pad or the frame, all stampings had the stars.

THE FRAME STAMPINGS

Once the engines were delivered to the assembly plants, either by ship or
boxcar, they were then transferred to the assembly line. Engines that were
stored in boxcars could have caused later engines to be used before earlier
engines. Here, the workers kept a close eye on which engine to drop into a
particular chassis as it was the hopes that all “A” engines were dropped into a car
and/or commercial “A” chassis and the “AA” engines were dropped into the
heavy duty “AA” chassis.

Once the engine was secured in the chassis coming down the assembly line,
another worker looked at the number on the engine number pad and then
transferred that number, just as it appeared on the pad itself, to the top, left
Frame Side Member of the “A” or “AA” chassis..
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For the cars and/or commercial “A” chassis it was part number A-5016 Frame
Side Member. For the heavy duty “AA” chassis, it was part number AA-5014
(157 inch wheel base) or AA-5016 (131 inch wheelbase) Frame Side Member.

To be more precise, the stamping on the frame, 99% of the time, was placed in
the area where the left front cowl section of the body rests on the frame itself. In
other words, between the Brake Rod Spring Bracket---Front, A-2504 (Fig. 8), and
the Body Bracket on Frame---Front, A-5075 (Fig. 9).

(Fig. 8)
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(Fig.9)

In order for one to view this engine/frame number on the chassis, there is just no
easy way. You are going to have to remove the body and, more than likely, the
left Running Board Shield and frame welting because of their placement on the
chassis in relation to the placement of the engine/frame number itself.
Sometimes the worker may had very well put the engine/frame number close to
the inner edge of the left Frame Side Member to see without the removal the
body and the left Running Board Shield. The “AA” chassis were more like this as
they have a bigger area to work with than the “A” chassis.

A lot of times one will go to the trouble to do all this only to find that the stamping
on the chassis is unreadable due to wear and the elements of the past 80 plus
years as rust takes hold and may never know the true engine number that was
dropped into the chassis at the time of assembly.
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(Fig. 10)

The above engine/frame number, A4776553, the engine was assembled on July
22, 1931 (Fig. 10). This came off a car that was assembled in Argentina. Notice
that all the numbers, except for the 6, are not what was the norm for engine
number fonts from the USA. Thank you Justin Bicknell for this photo.

OTHER INTERESTING STAMPINGS

(Fig. 11)
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The above engine number, A375213, was assembled on August 29, 1928 (Fig.
11). This engine was one that was shipped to Brazil. Notice the “Ford USA”
below the engine number. Not known if all foreign engines had this designation.
Thank you Evandro Ribeiro from Sao Paulo, Brazil for this photo.

How can I link the engine/frame number with the model of the car or truck
produced?

Sorry, there is no way to link the engine/frame number to a particular model of

the car or truck produced. UNLESS…you have the ORIGINAL assembly plant or
dealership Bill of Sale that was issued the car or truck at the time it was sold from
the assembly plant to a dealer or from the dealership to a customer.

If that ORIGINAL Bill of Sale engine/frame number matches the engine/frame

number for which you are looking at (minus the body), then that is the only way
one will know for sure.

THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE “RESTAMPS”!

Just the engine/frame number will not do it!...it is anybody’s guess from that
standpoint.
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THE GAS TANK DATE

At this point in the production of the tank, there comes some controversy and
one of the most interesting concepts concerning the “date” on the lower left front
portion of that part of the 1928-1929 tank assembly which forms the upper part of
the firewall (A-35327: Dash Upper Assembly). This “date”, which is stamped
there, may be right side up (Fig. 12), upside down (Fig. 13), or not there at all
between May 1928 and August 1929.

To better locate this date (not all 28-29 tanks got dated), start at the top of the
very center of the steering column and run your finger straight up to the lips of
the lower and upper section (that section with the row of eight bolts and square
nuts). Just above this junction and on the front firewall section of the tank, you
should be able to see the date (Fig. 12 and 13).

(Fig. 12)

Thank you to Gary Pitsenbarger for the photo.

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(Fig. 13)

The questions are, just when did the stamping process start and end; where
(besides on the tank) was the date stamped; and why was it put there in the first
place. Some claim it was put there on the day the body was assembled, but was
it? Maybe, maybe not. Over the course of the past five years, I have been
collecting these dates in conjunction with engine/frame numbers on various
original Model A’s. The research data from which I have gathered indicates
vehicles with dates on the tank which were stamped before engine stamping;
vehicles with dates on the tank which were stamped the same day as engine
stamping; and vehicles with dates on the tank which were stamped after engine
stamping.

Of the many original Model A and AA vehicles, which many of you were so kind
in submitting data, there were only two known vehicles which have given us
some great clues. These cars originated from the Louisville and Los Angles
assembly plants where they not only stamped the assembly plant code and body
number on the subfloor cross sill, but also stamped the month and year the body
was produced. With that, and knowing when the engine and gas tank were
stamped, might give us some clues as to what happened.

The first is a 1929 Tudor Sedan. The gas tank was stamped on January 20,
1929, and the engine was stamped at Dearborn on February 9, 1929 making the
tank stamped 19 days BEFORE the engine stamping date. The body has an
assembly plant code of LE 13885 2-29 which stands for the Louisville, KY Ford
assembly plant. The 2-29 designation was the month and year the body was
assembled and stamped at Louisville…February 1929. It took about 1 week or
so to get the parts sent from Dearborn to Louisville by train thus the February
stamping date on the body.
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The second is a 1929 Standard Coupe. The engine was stamped at Dearborn
on August 22, 1929 and the gas tank was stamped on August 23, 1929, 1 day
AFTER the engine stamping date. The body has an assembly plant code of LA
9574 9-29 which stands for the Los Angles, CA Ford assembly plant. The 9-29
designation was the month and year the body was assembled and stamped at
Los Angles…September 1929. It took about 3 weeks or so to get the parts sent
from Dearborn to Los Angles by ship and or rail thus the September stamping
date on the body.

Yes, there are all sorts of other variables. The tank could of sat around for a
number of days; the engine could of sat around for a number of days; the
individual assembly plants, or just Dearborn, could have had a special machine
which stamped the dates before or after the assembly to the vehicle; or the tank
could have been changed at some point during the past 80 plus years since the
original assembly of the vehicle thus giving us a different date as was originally
was there or no date at all.

Other possibilities could have been that A-35327: Dash Upper Assembly could
have been stamped before or after assembly to the tank. Or once the tank was
complete and before assembly to the body, it got stamped. Or the tank was
stamped after the assembly to the body and before painting. Who knows for
sure?

The one thing we do know is that the date was on the tank prior to the painting of
the body for which many a tank has proven that fact.

To date, there has been no known Ford data, no known absolute proof that has
been found indicating that Ford stamped the gas tank on the date that the body
was assembled or anything else as far as that goes.

Again, thoughts as to why they were they stamped; when did the stamping of
dates on the tank start and end; and where was it done are still questions to be
answered.

As to why it was done, again, there is no known Ford data that I know of, telling
us just why the tanks were stamped in the first place. We can only guess.

As far as when the dating originally started and ended, or in what sequence, that
is a good question also. The earliest date for which I have collected is May 31,
1928 (5 31 28) and the latest is August 23, 1929 (8 23 29). I am almost sure that
there might be earlier and later dates out there. If so, I would like to know.
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In an other independent study by Roger Kauffman, he had recorded some early

tanks with the dates on them. One of which is a car that has “10 12 27” stamped
on the tank and has an engine number of A390, which was stamped on
November 7, 1927 and was one of twenty-two stamped engines sent to the finial
assembly line at Fordson (the Rouge) on that day also. Three other dated tanks
for which he has seen are a December 1927; an early January 1928 and a March
1928.

As far as where were they stamped, specifically at Dearborn or elsewhere, that

to remains a big question.

If anyone knows the answers to these three questions and can come up with
positive proof as to why, when and where, these tanks were stamped, I, along
with quite a few other people in this hobby would like to know. I am sure that
stuck away in some obscure file at The Henry Ford/Benson Ford Research
Center in Dearborn are the answers.
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THE ASSEMBLY PLANT CODES

First I would like to point out that Mr. Dave Sturges of Glenwood, Maryland has
done much research on the Ford Assembly Plant Codes. David is looking at and
recording all the body assembly plant numbers and their respective codes in
trying to identify the Model A/AA Ford Assembly Plant codes used and Ford’s
intent. His studies are on both the websites of MAFCA and MARC for all to see
and hopefully to give him your information on your vehicle.

Each 32 (35) USA assembly plants had a series of 1-4 letters associated with
them. Here they are in alphabetical order: Atlanta, GA (A or AA); Buffalo, NY
(BO); Charlotte, NC (CE); Chester, PA (CR); Chicago, IL (CHI); Cincinnati, OH
(CI); Cleveland, OH (CL or CLE); Columbus, OH (G); Dallas, TX (DS); Dearborn
(The Rouge) MI (F or FD); Denver, CO (DR); Des Moines, IA (DM); Edgewater,
NJ (E); Houston, TX (H); Indianapolis, IN (I); Jacksonville, FL (JE); Kansas City,
KS (KC?); Kearny, NJ (KY); Long Beach, CA (LA); Los Angles, CA (LA);
Louisville, KY (LE); Memphis, TN (MEM); Milwaukee, WI (??); New Orleans, LA
(NO); Norfolk, VA (NK); Oklahoma City, OK (OC); Omaha, NE (??); Pittsburgh,
PA (??); Portland, OR (PO); Richmond, CA (R); San Francisco, CA (SFA or
SFAA); Seattle, WA (AS); Somerville, MA (S); St. Louis, MO (STL); Twin City,
MN (TC).

Assembly Plant Letters and Numbers are located on the top of the front body
steel cross member for which the front seat riser is riveted to (Fig. 14 and 15) or
the front of the Tudor seat post.

(Fig.14 )
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(FIG. 15)

(Fig. 16)

They can be found anywhere on that cross member and can be

oriented to read from either the front or the rear. These stampings
also vary in size depending on the assembly plant. A few plant numbers
have been seen on the drivers side body side rail (Fig. 16) (From Brian Martin)
and a few have been seen inside the seat riser on cars so equipped. They mainly
are on the Ford built bodies but some have been noted stamped into the front
wooden body cross member on Briggs and Murray bodies. For some unknown
reason not all bodies were stamped with a plant letter and number. The initial
letter/s are used to indicate the specific assembly plant where the Model A was
assembled and the digits following the letters are very probably
production numbers within each assembly plant. We are not sure if these
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production numbers are by body style but they very well might be. The
1928 and 1929 vehicles were considered as one set of production numbers
and they seem to have reverted back to number one with the introduction
of the 1930 vehicles. Two assembly plants (Louisville (LE), Kentucky and Los
Angeles/Long Beach (LA), California) affixed the month and year (4 31 to
indicate April 1931) to their assembly plant codes.

If you have a code pertaining to the assembly plants, please contact Dave
Sturges at [email protected] and provide him with the information to better
yet understand the Model A/AA Ford.
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THE REAR FRAME STAMPING CODES

Another interesting set of codes that one may find on the chassis is in relation to
the number or Rear Spring Leaves that were originally used when the chassis
was assembled. It has been thought that these stampings were used to correlate
the number of leaves in the rear spring with a particular body style for which was
going to be assembled to the chassis.

Mr. Carl Biederman from Anoka, Minnesota had found several of these codes on
various Model A Ford chassis with some letters followed by a number for which
was stamped into the rear areas of the vehicle. The areas for which Mr.
Biederman has found these codes are as follows: 1). Rear end axle housings; 2).
Top of the rear frame cross member and 3). The right rear corner of the rear
frame cross member.

The following list may be incomplete and may not have been implemented by all
the assembly plants for all years.

STAMPING BODY STYLE REAR SPRING LEAVES

R7 Roadster Seven (7) leaves
C8 Coupe Eight (8) leaves
OCPU0 Open Cab Pickup Ten (10) leaves
T0 Tudor Ten (10) leaves
TS0 Town Sedan Ten (10) leaves
FD0 Fordor Ten (10) leaves

(Fig. 17)
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In (Fig. 17) it shows an “R8”. Not sure what it means. Did the worker mean to
put “R7” for a Roadster, or did he mean to put “C8” for a Coupe? Would like to
thank Rusty Nelson for the photo.

BODY NUMBER CODES

First I would like to point out that Mr. Dennis Smith is the “Body Number Code”
guru and his data can be found on the MARC website.
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PART NUMBER SYSTEM CODES

When Ford began vehicle production with his earlier vehicles such as the Model
T, he developed a “Part Numbering System” which carried into the model A/AA
era. It was designed for the “convenience in the listing and ordering of Model “A”
and “AA” parts. Groups of numbers are assigned to the various assemblies.
Parts used on passenger cars carry the prefix “A”. Parts used on trucks carry the
prefix “AA”. When a part is used on both the passenger car and truck it carries
the prefix “A”. Each assembly and its part fall into a definite numerical group.
Each of these groups are listed below.”:

GROUP TYPE: A and AA PART

NUMBERS
Wheel Group: Wheel, Hubs and Brake Drums, Wheel Carriers A-1000 to A-
and related parts. 1999
Brake Group: Service Brake, Service Brake Controls, A-2000 to A-
Emergency Brake, Hand Brake Lever (Side), Hand Brake Lever 2999
(Center), Emergency Brake Control and related parts.
Front Axle and Steering Group: Front Axle, Steering Gear and A-3000 to A-
related parts. 3999
Rear Axle Group: Rear Axle, Coupling Shaft, Dual High and A-4000 to A-
related parts. 4999
Frame Group: Frame, Battery Support, Muffler, Front Spring, A-5000 to A-
Rear Spring, Towing Clevis Model 229A, and related parts. 5999
Engine Group: Cylinder, Pistons, Connecting Rods, Camshaft, A-6000 to A-
Crankshaft, Flywheel, Valves, Oil Pump, Oil Pan, Engine Pan and 6999
related parts.
Transmission (3 and 4 Speed) and Clutch Group: A-7000 to A-
Transmission, Gear Shift, Clutch and related parts. 7999
Cooling System Group: Radiator, Water Pump, Fan and related A-8000 to A-
parts. 8999
Fuel System Group: Cowl, Manifold, Carburetor, Spark and A-9000 to A-
Throttle Controls and related parts. 9999
Electrical Equipment Group: Generator, Battery, Ammeter, A-10000 to
Starter Motor, Starter Drive, Starter Switch, Ignition and Lighting A-15999
Switches, Instrument Panel, Ignition Coil, Distributor, Condenser,
Head Lamp, Fender Lamp, Cowl Lamp, Rear Lamp and License
Bracket, Instrument Panel Lamp, Dome Lamp, Horn, Wiring,
Terminals, Wiring Clamps, Supports, Etc., and related parts.
Fender Group: Front Fenders, Rear Fenders, Running Boards A-16000 to
and Shields, and Hood and related parts. A-16999
Special Equipment Group: Tools, Speedometer, Windshield A-17000 to
Wipers (Vacuum and Electric), Rear View Mirror, Bumper, Shock A-19999
Absorber, Wind Wings, and Accessories and related parts.
Standard Parts: Bolts and Machine Screws. A-20025 to
A-21320
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Standard Parts: Nuts. A-21520 to

A-21956
Standard Parts: Washers. A-22038 to
A-22538
Standard Parts: Wood Screws. A-22541 to
A-22750
Standard Parts: Rivets. A-22885 to
A-23468
Standard Parts: Cotters. A-23515 to
A-23566
Standard Parts: Pins. A-23626 to
A-23890
Standard Parts: Keys. A-23901 to
A-23908
Standard Parts: Studs. A-24025 to
A-24053
Standard Parts: Lubricator Fittings. A-24404 to
A-24409
Standard Parts: Plugs. A-24452 to
A-24623
Standard Parts: Fasteners. A-24550 to
A-24605
Special Tools: “5-z” type tools 5-z-1705 to
5-z-2797
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FINISH CODES
Of the above list, each part had its own designated finish. The Parts Price Lists
will tell the finishes for most chassis related parts. However these finishes
changed from year to year on some parts but remained the same for the most
part. Check with the MARC/MAFCA Restoration Guidelines and Judging
Standards for a specific part and its finish date wise.

Ford assigned different codes for the following specific finishes. The “S” suffix on
numbers covering Standard Parts represent the finish of the part as shown by the
following list. However, there were other specific chassis parts that also had
specific finishes. Again, please refer to the MARC/MAFCA Restoration
Guidelines and Judging Standards for a specific part and its finish date wise.

CODE FINISH
Numbers without a suffix Plain
S-1 Black Paint
S-2 Raven Finish
S-3 Raven Finish and Black Paint, head only
S-4 Raven Finish and Black Paint
S-5 Copper Plate
S-6 Nickel Plate
S-7 Cadmium Plate
S-8 Zinc Plate
S-9 Blued Steel
S-10 Tinned
S-11 Terne Coated
S-12 Lacquer to match trim
S-13 Chrome Plated
S-14 Butler Finish
S-15 Oxydized
S-16 Lead Coated
 22

VEHICLE (BODY) NUMBER CODES

(Ford USA Body Model Numbers)

When Ford began Model A/AA production in 1927 and through 1929, his “vehicle
designation” was mainly by the “Name” of the vehicle and each vehicle was
assigned a “Part Number Group” such as “Phaeton (28-29) 35000-38999”.
However when the 1930 models became available, Ford assigned “Body Model
Numbers” as per a May 16, 1930 Ford Service Letter from the Indianapolis
Branch.

The letter went on to say “The “Body Model Number” indicates the particular style
of body, and has been made to correspond with the part number group for that
particular body type.”

“The letter suffix designates designs of the same general type of body. Thus, in
accordance with the table outlined below, “Ford Body Model 35-A” indicates the
“Phaeton Body 1928-1929 design” and “Ford Body Model 35-B” indicates the
“Phaeton Body 1930 design.” These designations went through 1931.

When the “De Luxe” models made their appearance in 1930, in order to
distinguish between those that weren’t “De Luxe” models, Ford added the word
“Standard” to the “Body Type” HOWEVER kept the same “Body Model Code” (for
the most part).

BODY TYPE (Passenger) YEAR PART BODY

NUMBER MODEL
GROUP CODE
Phaeton 28-29 35000 to 38999 35-A
Standard Phaeton 30-31 35000 to 38999 35-B
Roadster 28-29 40000 to 43999 40-A
Standard Roadster 30-31 40000 to 43999 40-B (Std.)
De Luxe Roadster 30-31 40000 to 43999 40-B (Del.)
Coupe 28-29 45000 to 48999 45-A
Standard Coupe 30-31 45000 to 48999 45-B (Std.)
De Luxe Coupe 30-31 45000 to 48999 45-B (Del.)
Special Coupe 28-29 49000 to 49999 49-A
Sport Coupe 28-29 50000 to 53999 50-A
Sport Coupe 30-31 50000 to 53999 50-B
Business Coupe 28-29 54000 to 54999 54-A
Tudor 28-29 55000 to 59999 55-A
Tudor 30-31 55000 to 59999 55-B
De Luxe Tudor 30-31 55000 to 59999 55-B (Del.)
Fordor (Leather Back—Seal Brown Top) 28-29 60000 to 64999 60-A
(Briggs)
Fordor (Leather Back—Black Top) (Briggs) 29 60000 to 64999 60-B
Fordor (Steel Back) (Briggs) 29 60000 to 64999 60-C
 23

Cabriolet 29 68000 to 71999 68-A

Cabriolet 30-31 68000 to 71999 68-B
Cabriolet (Slant Window) 31 ????? to ????? 68-C (S/W)
Taxi-Cab 28-29 135000 to 139999 135-A
Town Car 28-29 140000 to 144999 140-A
Town Car 30 ?????? to ?????? 140-B
Station Wagon 28-29 150000 to 154999 150-A
Station Wagon 30-31 150000 to 154999 150-B
Town Sedan (Murray) 29 155000 to 159999 155-A
Town Sedan (Briggs) 29 155000 to 159999 155-B
Town Sedan (Murray) 30-31 155000 to 159999 155-C
Town Sedan (Briggs) 30-31 155000 to 159999 155-D
Standard Fordor Sedan (Slant Window) 31 ?????? to ?????? 160-A (S/W)
Town Sedan (Slant Window) 31 ?????? to ?????? 160-B (S/W)
De Luxe Fordor Sedan (Slant Window) 31 ?????? to ?????? 160-C
(Del.)(S/W)
Standard Fordor Sedan (Murray) 29 165000 to 169999 165-A
Standard Fordor Sedan (Briggs) 29 165000 to 169999 165-B
Standard Fordor Sedan (Murray) 30-31 165000 to 169999 165-C
Standard Fordor Sedan (Briggs) 30-31 165000 to 169999 165-D
Standard Fordor Sedan (2-Window) (Briggs) 29 170000 to 174999 170-A
Standard Fordor Sedan (2-Window) (Briggs) 29-30 170000 to 174999 170-B (Std.)
De Luxe Fordor Sedan (Briggs) 30-31 ?????? to ?????? 170-B (Del.)
De Luxe Phaeton 30-31 ?????? to ?????? 180-A
Victoria Coupe (Slant Window) 30-31 ?????? to ?????? 190-A (S/W)
Convertible Sedan (Slant Window) 31 ?????? to ?????? 400-A (S/W)

BODY TYPE (Light “A” YEAR PART BODY

Commercial) NUMBER MODEL
GROUP CODE
Commercial (“A”) Chassis (103” Wheelbase) 31 ??????? A-103
103 Canopy Top 31 ??????? 65-A
De Luxe Pickup (Bed) 31 ??????? 66-A
Open Cab 28-30 76000 to 77999 76-A
Open Cab 30-31 ??????? 76-B
Pickup (Bed) (Narrow Box) 28-31 78000 to 78999 78-A
Pickup (Bed) (Wide Box) 31 ??????? 78-B
“A” Panel Delivery 28-30 79000 to 81999 79-A
“A” Panel Delivery 30-31 ??????? 79-B
Closed Cab 28-30 83000 to 84999 82-A
Closed Cab (Soft Top) 30-31 ??????? 82-B
Closed Cab (Steel Top) 31 ??????? 82-B
De Luxe (Panel) Delivery 28-30 130000 to 133999 130-A
De Luxe (Panel) Delivery (Std.) 30-31 ??????? 130-B
De Luxe (Panel) Delivery (Drop Floor) 31 ??????? 130-B
“A” Panel Delivery (Drop Floor) 30-31 ??????? 225-A
Special Delivery (Natural Wood) 30-31 ??????? 255-A
Town Car Delivery 30-31 ??????? 295-A
Town Car Delivery (Slant Window) 31 ??????? 295-A (S/W)
Travelers Wagon 31 ??????? Unknown
Special ????? De Luxe Delivery 31 ??????? Unknown
 24

BODY TYPE (Heavy “AA” Commercial) YEAR PART BODY

NUMBER MODEL
GROUP CODE
Open Cab 28-30 76000 to 76-A
77999
Open Cab 30-31 ??????? 76-B
Closed Cab 28-30 83000 to 82-A
84999
Closed Cab (Soft Top) 30-31 ??????? 82-B
Closed Cab (Steel Top) 31 ??????? 82-B
“AA” Panel Delivery 28-30 85000 to 85-A
87999
“AA” Panel Delivery (for 131-1/2” Wheelbase) 30-31 ??????? 85-B
Platform (for 131-1/2” Wheelbase) (68” x 97.5”) 28-30 88000 to 88-A
88999
Express (for 131-1/2” Wheelbase) 28-30 89000 to 89-A
89999
Stock Racks (for Platform 88-A) 28-30 134000 to 134-A
134499
Grain Sides (for Platform 88-A) (20” high) 28-30 134500 to 134-B
134999
Platform (for 157” Wheelbase) (68” x 132”) 30 ??????? 185-A
Platform (for 157” Wheelbase) (75” x 132”)* 31* ???????* 185-B*
Stake (for Platform 185-A) 30 ??????? 186-A
Stake (for Platform 185-B) 31 ??????? 186-B
Platform (for 131-1/2” Wheelbase) (75” x 102”) 31 ??????? 187-A
Stake (for Platform 88-A) 28-30 188000 to 188-A
188999
Stake (for Platform 187-A) 31 ??????? 189-A
Express Body (for 131-1/2” Wheelbase) 31 ??????? 195-A
Canopy Top (for 131-1/2” Wheelbase) (for 195-A) 31 ??????? 196-A
Express Body (157” Wheelbase) 31 ??????? 197-A
Canopy Top (for 157” Wheelbase) (for 197-A) 31 ??????? 198-A
Ice Wagon (Large) 31 ??????? 199-A
Hand hoist dump body assembly (Anthony) 30-31 ??????? 200-A
Dump body with hand hoist (1-1/2 cu. yds. Cap.) 31 ??????? 200-B
(Galion)
Coal body with heavy hydraulic hoist and end gate with 31 ??????? 201-A
chute (less swinging partition) (75 cu. ft.) (Galion)
Coal body with heavy duty hydraulic hoist, swinging 30-31 ??????? 201-B
partition and end gate with chute (high end) (75 cu. ft.
or 120 cu.ft. with sides) (Wood)
Coal body with heavy duty hydraulic hoist and end gate 31 ??????? 201-C
with chute (less swinging partition) (75 cu. ft.) (Wood)
Gravity dump body assembly (Anthony) 30-31 ??????? 202-A
Gravity dump body (1-1/2 cu. yd. capacity) (Wood) 31 ??????? 202-B
Garbage body with heavy hydraulic hoist (2 cu. yd. 30-31 ??????? 203-A
capacity) (Galion)
Garbage body with heavy hydraulic hoist (2 cu. yd. 30-31 ??????? 203-B
capacity) (Wood)
Garbage body with heavy hydraulic hoist (3 cu. yd. 30-31 ??????? 203-C
capacity) (Galion)
 25

Garbage body with heavy hydraulic hoist (3 cu. yd. 30-31 ??????? 203-D
capacity) (Wood)
Dump body with light hydraulic hoist (1-1/2 cu. yd. 30-31 ??????? 204-A
capacity) (Galion) (GH-4)
Dump body with light hydraulic hoist (1-1/2 cu. yd. 30-31 ??????? 204-B
capacity) (Wood) (GH-4)
Hi-Lift Hydraulic Coal Body (72 cu. ft.) (Wood) 31 ??????? 205-A
Dump body with Rotary power hoist (Anthony) 30-31 ??????? 206-A
Dump body with mechanical hoist (1-1/2 cu. yd. 31 ??????? 206-B
capacity) (Detwiler)
Combined dump and coal body with heavy hydraulic 30 ??????? 207-A
hoist (Galion)
Combined coal and coke body with high sides and end 31 ??????? 207-B
gate with chute opening and swinging partition with
heavy hydraulic hoist (120 cu. ft. capacity) (Wood)
Dump body with heavy hydraulic hoist (1-1/2 cu. yd. 30-31 ??????? 208-A
capacity) (Galion) (GH-5)
Dump body with heavy hydraulic hoist (1-1/2 cu. yd. 30-31 ??????? 208-B
capacity) (Wood) (GH-5)
Dump body with heavy hydraulic hoist (1-1/2 cu. yd. 30 ??????? 208-C
capacity) (GH-5)
“AA” Panel Delivery (for 157” Wheelbase)* 30-31* ???????* 210-A*
Stock Racks (for 131-1/2” Wheelbase) (47-3/4” high) 31 ??????? 228-A
Service Car 31 ??????? 229-A
Hoist for Service Car (229-A) 31 ??????? AA-229400
Tow Bar for Service Car (229-A) 31 ??????? AA-229402
Light hydraulic hoist and body under structure (Galion) 31 ??????? 236-A
Heavy hydraulic hoist and body under structure (Galion) 31 ??????? 237-A
Heavy hydraulic hoist and body under structure (Wood) 31 ??????? 237-B
Stock Racks (for 157” Wheelbase) (60” high) 31 ??????? 238-A
Meat Packers Express 31 ??????? 239-A
Heavy Duty Express Body (for 131-1/2” Wheelbase) 31 ??????? 242-A
Grain Body (for 157” Wheelbase)* 31* ???????* 244-A*
Grain Body (for 131-1/2” Wheelbase) 31 ??????? 248-A
Funeral Service (with Single Side Doors) 31 ??????? 270-A
Funeral Coach (with Double Side Doors) 31 ??????? 275-A
Ambulance Body (with Side Door) 31 ??????? 280-A
Police Patrol (De Luxe) 31 ??????? 285-A
Police Patrol (Standard) 31 ??????? 290-A
De Luxe Delivery (for 131-1/2” Wheelbase) 31 ??????? 300-A
Standrive Body (for 112” Wheelbase Chassis) 31 ??????? 315-A
School Bus* 31* ???????* 330-A*
Passenger Bus* 31* ???????* 330-B*
Drop Center Chassis (112” Wheelbase) 31 ??????? AA-112
Truck (“AA”) Chassis (131-1/2” Wheelbase) 31 ??????? AA-131
Truck (“AA”) Chassis (157” Wheelbase) 31 ??????? AA-157
Dual High (Units) 31 ??????? AA-4828
“AA” Panel Delivery Body with Tailgate* 31* ???????* Unknown*
De Luxe Delivery Body with Tailgate 31 ??????? Unknown
Special ????? De Luxe Delivery 31 ??????? Unknown
Dual Wheel Sets 30-31 ??????? Unknown
High Speed Axles 30-31 ??????? Unknown
Special Illinois Highway Express 31 ??????? Unknown
Special Illinois Highway Dump 31 ??????? Unknown
 26

131” Bread Wagon 31 ??????? Unknown

131” Combination Body 31 ??????? Unknown
Special Ice Body 31 ??????? Unknown
Combination Ambulance and Funeral Coach 31 ??????? Unknown
Special Ambulance 31 ??????? Unknown
157” Combination Body 31 ??????? Unknown
* Used on the “parallel” “AA” 157” wheelbase frame introduced early 1931.

NOTE: The above three (3) lists contain only the “known” Model A/AA Ford
body styles which Ford produced from very late 1927 through 1931 in the
USA. They do not include the many “special” types of body styles that
were made by outside sources.
 27

STEWART-WARNER SPEEDOMETER DATE CODES

I would like to thank Ron Cataldo for these codes used on the Stewart-Warner
Speedometers during the Model A era. They are listed as Month/Year:

1-January; 2-February; 3-March; 4-April; 5-May; 6-June; 7-July; 8-August;

9-September; 10-October; 11-November; 12-Decmeber

U-1927; V-1928; W-1929; X-1930; Y-1931

The codes were stenciled in white on to the back of the cover as seen the
following photo’s. I would like to thank Rich Winans for the photo (Fig. 18) of “V-
8” which represents “1928-August”; Craig Lewis for the photo (Fig. 19) of “W-9”
which represents “1929-September”; and Scott Walker for the photo (Fig. 20) of
“X-6” which represents “1930-June”.

Not sure what the other numbers mean as with “600-A”.

(Fig. 18)

“1928-August”
 28

(Fig. 19)

“1929-September”

(Fig. 20)

“1930-June”.
 29

AUTO-LITE MANUFACTURED PARTS

I would like to thank Ron Cataldo for these codes used on Auto-Lite
manufactured parts used in the Model A/AA Ford production era. Auto-Lite date
codes for Model A/AA production are:

1-January; 2-February; 3-March; 4-April; 5-May; 6-June; 7-July; 8-August;

9-September; 10-October; 11-November; 12-Decmeber

D-1927; E-1928; F-1929; G-1930; H-1931

So, a stamp on an Auto-Lite part dated “11 F” would be “November 1929” and so
on.
 30

STARTER AND GENERATOR BAND CODES

I would like to thank Will Cronkrite for these codes which are stamped onto
starter and generator bands. However…not all bands got a stamp! Will says “It
seems to be common knowledge that H=’27, I=’28, J='29, K='30 and that L= '31.

“The numbers and the letters were stamped in a position that is across the band
width as opposed to the long way, but It interesting to me that the letter did not
always precede the number, or vice versa. While they all seem to appear across
the band 'width', they do not always read the same. Some are up side down”.

Tom Wesenberg indicated that “The armature core is also often times date
coded, using the same code as the band.”

The real issue seems to be weather this was actually a 'Ford' issue per
requirement or a supplier issue. Last month I was at a table next to a gentleman
at the Benson research center when he excitedly leaned over to me and showed
me a Ford drawing that had a note on it instructing the suppliers to date these
bands in this manner”.

I would like to thank Tom Moniz who supplied the photos. He indicated that
some bands are marked twice on the same band, some are horizontal to the
band, some have either the number or letter reversed, but the majority of original
bands don't have any markings on them.

1-January; 2-February; 3-March; 4-April; 5-May; 6-June; 7-July; 8-August;

9-September; 10-October; 11-November; 12-Decmeber

H-1927; I-1928; J-1929; K-1930; L-1931

 31

(1931 February)
(Fig. 21)

(February 1930)
(Fig. 22)

Thanks to: Ron Cataldo, Will Cronkrite, Mike Gooding, Per Lind Jensen, Craig
Lewis, Tom Moniz, Rusty Nelson, Gary Pitsenbarger, David Sturges, Scott
Walker, Tom Wesenberg, and Rich Winans.