Topic: Front Bumper Date Code?

[3.25posi]

I have a front bumper off a 1966 Mustang. As you'll see in the photo attached, it has what I think is a date code of 9 15 M6. If that's September 15th 1966, wouldn't the assembly line be building 1967 cars by then? Is this a correct date code? Thanks for your help, Denny

[Bob Gaines]

I have a front bumper off a 1966 Mustang. As you'll see in the photo attached, it has what I think is a date code of 9 15 M6. If that's September 15th 1966, wouldn't the assembly line be building 1967 cars by then? Is this a correct date code? Thanks for your help, Denny

I believe you are decoding the date correctly. Yes Ford would be building 67 cars by then but that fact would not stop a run of service replacement parts from being made for inventory. 

[jwc66k]

The last "6" (M6) is the model year of the part, not the year of manufacture (per "Date Codes" in the library, 66, page 4) for bumpers.
Jim

[Bob Gaines]

The last "6" (M6) is the model year of the part, not the year of manufacture (per "Date Codes" in the library, 66, page 4) for bumpers.
Jim

In my tunnel vision of concentrating on the date code  9 15 I should have mentioned that the M6 was for model year. Still most likely a service part but given the date code if you had a very early 66 it could still be plausible as original to the car.

[jwc66k]

In my tunnel vision of concentrating on the date code  9 15 I should have mentioned that the M6 was for model year. Still most likely a service part but given the date code if you had a very early 66 it could still be plausible as original to the car.

Yeah, like my 2 San Jose Oct 65 build 66s.
Jim

[3.25posi]

Thanks everyone for the replies, I appreciate your help.

[CharlesTurner]

9 15 M6 would be September 15, 1965.  I agree with Jim that the M6 indicates the model year, not the actual year the bumper was manufactured.

[Bob Gaines]

9 15 M6 would be September 15, 1965.  I agree with Jim that the M6 indicates the model year, not the actual year the bumper was manufactured.

Why couldn't it also be Sept 15 1966 or even 1967 ?

[3.25posi]

Did "Service Replacement" parts also have date codes? I thought I heard, or read somewhere, that only assembly line parts had date codes. Am I wrong to think that? Thanks

[J_Speegle]

Did "Service Replacement" parts also have date codes? I thought I heard, or read somewhere, that only assembly line parts had date codes. Am I wrong to think that? Thanks

Yes service replacements did have date codes

The coding could be the same pattern as the originals or different depending on when they were made and where they were produced

I'm guessing you already read through the Date Coding article in the Library for the bumper data and other practices

[3.25posi]

Thank you Jeff, I did read through the bumper date code data in the Library.

[CharlesTurner]

Why couldn't it also be Sept 15 1966 or even 1967 ?

Because M6 would indicate the model year, not the actual calendar year the bumper was made.  After Dec 31, then it would resolve to the year, in this case 1966.

Have observed this on many cars, including recently an October '64 built San Jose coupe.  Mostly original car, front end had never been hit or apart, front bumper date code is 9 14 M5.

Service replacements can have different date formats.

[Bob Gaines]

Because M6 would indicate the model year, not the actual calendar year the bumper was made.  After Dec 31, then it would resolve to the year, in this case 1966.

Have observed this on many cars, including recently an October '64 built San Jose coupe.  Mostly original car, front end had never been hit or apart, front bumper date code is 9 14 M5.

Service replacements can have different date formats.

I think you misunderstood my question or I don't understand what you mean by resolve to the year. Hard to say it another way but because M6 would indicate the model year and not the actual calendar year that the bumper was made then the month and day could just as easily the month and day of Sept 15 of 1966 ,1967 or 1968 instead of Sept 15 of 1965 . The M6 will stay the same regardless of what year the bumper was actually made in. I don't think the date format changed drastically until after the late 60's.

[CharlesTurner]

I think you misunderstood my question or I don't understand what you mean by resolve to the year. Hard to say it another way but because M6 would indicate the model year and not the actual calendar year that the bumper was made then the month and day could just as easily the month and day of Sept 15 of 1966 ,1967 or 1968 instead of Sept 15 of 1965 . The M6 will stay the same regardless of what year the bumper was actually made in. I don't think the date format changed drastically until after the late 60's.

I'm only sharing on what I believe are original bumpers.  It's been more than a few.

I have no opinion on service replacement bumpers because the format changed over the years.

[C6ZZGT]

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.