68 Country Squire

Discussion in 'Station Wagon Memorabilia & Toys' started by Brians1113, Feb 2, 2015.

  1. Brians1113

    Brians1113 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2012
    Messages:
    54
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    20
    Wagon Garage:
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Just purchased a 68 Country Squire wagon- bit of a barn find. Anyone good at decoding vin tag? See pic- is built date Feb 14th? And is it a locking rear diff - X code? Thanks for any help. Also surprised jump seats are light color when the main seats are dark
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Brians1113

    Brians1113 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2012
    Messages:
    54
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    20
    Wagon Garage:
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vin

    Here's the vin tag
     

    Attached Files:

  3. Brians1113

    Brians1113 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2012
    Messages:
    54
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    20
    Wagon Garage:
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Rear seats

    Here's the jump seats- suprised by jump seats being lighter color than the others
     

    Attached Files:

  4. n2fordmuscle

    n2fordmuscle Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2012
    Messages:
    1,594
    Likes Received:
    94
    Trophy Points:
    183
    Wagon Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Canton, GA
    Great score! Let's see more pics. I wonder if the rear jump seats were added on (not original).
     
  5. Brians1113

    Brians1113 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2012
    Messages:
    54
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    20
    Wagon Garage:
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Seats

    It didn't look like it, this is one family owned car. Seat belts match the jump seats too. I added jump seats to mine and these look original. Hopefully someone can confirm that.... Thanks
     
  6. Brians1113

    Brians1113 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2012
    Messages:
    54
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    20
    Wagon Garage:
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Jump seats

    I mean the seat belts are darker, but jump seats match the cargo area.
     
  7. Badwagon

    Badwagon more wood plz

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2015
    Messages:
    69
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    20
    Location:
    Regina SK
    my jump seats in my 67 match the others, maybe it was an option.
     
  8. jaunty75

    jaunty75 Middling Member

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2010
    Messages:
    5,845
    Likes Received:
    750
    Trophy Points:
    295
    Location:
    Southeast Michigan
    The VIN decodes as follows:

    8E76Y165669

    8 = model year 1968
    E = assembly plant, Mahwah, New Jersey
    76 = series = Ford LTD Country Squire 4-door 10-passenger wagon
    Y = engine = 390-V8, 2-bbl, 265 hp, 9.5:1 compression ratio
    165669 = sequential serial number at Mahwah plant
     
  9. jaunty75

    jaunty75 Middling Member

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2010
    Messages:
    5,845
    Likes Received:
    750
    Trophy Points:
    295
    Location:
    Southeast Michigan
    For the information below the VIN:

    Body code 71A = body style = 4-door, 10 passenger Country Squire

    Color I = Lime Green Metallic

    Trim FG = Dark Ivy Gold Vinyl interior

    Date code 14B = February (B) 14th, presumably February 14, 1968

    DSO 16 = District Code = Philadelphia

    Axle code J = ? (is that for sure a J, can't read it that easily in the photo). A letter (instead of a number) for the axle code does indicate a locking differential, but my decoder doesn't have an X, only A, C, E, or G, representing 2.75, 2.80, 3.00, and 3.25-to-1, respectively.

    Trans code X = Ford FMX (Cruise-O-Matic) transmission


    [​IMG]
     
  10. Brians1113

    Brians1113 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2012
    Messages:
    54
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    20
    Wagon Garage:
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vin tag

    Great - thanks... Do you know about date code 14B. And also trans and axle? Looks like axle is 1, and the trans is an X...so I was probably wrong about the locking rear
     
  11. jaunty75

    jaunty75 Middling Member

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2010
    Messages:
    5,845
    Likes Received:
    750
    Trophy Points:
    295
    Location:
    Southeast Michigan
    Yes, a 1 for the axle code indicates a conventional (non-locking) axle, 2.75 to 1 ratio.
     
  12. Brians1113

    Brians1113 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2012
    Messages:
    54
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    20
    Wagon Garage:
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Decode

    Thanks a lot for decoding. I can't tell if axle is a 1, but it looks like it. I'm picking up on Saturday so I'll double check.
     
  13. n2fordmuscle

    n2fordmuscle Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2012
    Messages:
    1,594
    Likes Received:
    94
    Trophy Points:
    183
    Wagon Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Canton, GA
    I'd recommend ordering a Marti report. It will confirm whether the jump seats are original. Otherwise, I'm not sure why they're a different color.
     
  14. Brians1113

    Brians1113 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2012
    Messages:
    54
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    20
    Wagon Garage:
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Good idea! Thanks again
     
  15. m261398

    m261398 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 19, 2010
    Messages:
    275
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    77
    Wagon Garage:
    2
    Location:
    Gulf Breeze FL
    Just a quick interesting fact about the unit number in the VIN.

    The first digit of the unit number is the make of the car manufactured at a particular plant. In the case of 165669, it was Ford number 65669 to come from Mahwah during the model year.

    I know for 1966 in particular Ford cars were assigned 1, 2, 3, or 8 for the first digit (I've never seen an 8, unless it was used for trucks). Mercury was 5, 6, and 7, and Lincoln was 4. And it would have been possible for a Ford 165669 and a Mercury 565669, although not saying that the Mercury units got that high or if they were even manufactured at Mahwah.

    I'd definitely recommend a Marti report. I really wish I could get one for mine, but Ford apparently pitched everything for 1966 and earlier, so Kevin Marti doesn't have info for them beyond a few odds and ends like special orders and some T-Bird stuff.
     

Share This Page