Topic: Front Bumper Date Code?

[CharlesTurner]

If the last digit signifies the model year.... why does the front bumper on my 66 have a number 5 15 M4 ? It would seem by my scheduled build date that it is not original to the car but the 4 has me shaking my head.

It most likely is not the original bumper.  Probably from a May/June 64.5 Mustang

[FXguy]

The model year rather than calendar year is interesting.  So how do you explain this?

[jwc66k]

The model year rather than calendar year is interesting.  So how do you explain this?

Ford.

[FXguy]

Ford.

LOL!  This is off of a June 64 Mustang...pretty cool that this was produced in the 17th month of the 63 Mustang model year...

[J_Speegle]

LOL!  This is off of a June 64 Mustang...pretty cool that this was produced in the 17th month of the 63 Mustang model year...

Since the coding pattern is different from others the "3" may just indicate 1973 or 1983., An August ("8" in your posted picture)  bumper on a June built car suggest something is going on   

Not unusual for service replacements too look and marked differently than originals

[CharlesTurner]

+1, probably a service replacement.

[1966KGT]

Apparently my SJ November 8, 1965, built K GT, lost its original bumper in its life. looking for good straight replacement, needing chrome is ok.

[J_Speegle]

Not sure how correct or exact your searching for but Rick over at NPD reports that they picked up a bunch of unchromed original fronts and have rated them as to how nice each were after all these years of storage. Think the top end of prices were $160 or so

Nothing about possible dates on the bumpers were mentioned

Just a possibility

[1966KGT]

Thanks , we appreciate all that you do. I will contact him.

[rustbucket]

I have a few,
at least 1 with ford sticker part number on the back , so must have been an over the counter piece , it was NOS not too long ago
will check this and others for date codes

[1966KGT]

Thank You.

[21.04]

Don't want to take away from 1966KGTs post, but I've also been hunting for specific dated bumpers.  I know there are many Ford replacement bumpers for sale on line and likely many more in others collections that may have M5 or M6 (from '75, '76, '85 or '86) stamped on them that would have the correct marks for 65-66 cars.  I checked all 4 of my fronts and all are just outside the range.  If there are others who have a collection of replacement bumpers that you'd consider parting with, could help some of us looking for those date ranges to check what you have? 

[J_Speegle]

Don't want to take away from 1966KGTs post, but I've also been hunting for specific dated bumpers.  I know there are many Ford replacement bumpers for sale on line and likely many more in others collections that may have M5 or M6 (from '75, '76, '85 or '86) stamped on them that would have the correct marks for 65-66 cars.  I checked all 4 of my fronts and all are just outside the range.  If there are others who have a collection of replacement bumpers that you'd consider parting with, could help some of us looking for those date ranges to check what you have?

Service replacements and the dates used on them can be all over the place and the subject gets real confusing quickly. Have some with M2 and others with no stamping plant code in the stamping code.

Going to merge this thread with the earlier thread focusing on 66 front bumpers to keep things together