Topic: Early 66 model year front bumper date code

[Richdowl]

Folks,
I have an early 66 that was built on the 3rd day of the 66 production year August 26th 1965. The front bumper is not original, it is a ford stamped bumper but its not original. I came across an original date coded 8 15 M5. Would Ford have used an M5 bumper on an early M6 vehicle?
Thanks
Rich

[67gta289]

Did you look in the library at the date code document?

https://concoursmustang.com/speegle/Articles/Articles-DatesCMF2021v11a.pdf

8 15 M5 would be August 15, plant M (my guess = Monroe, Michigan) 5 = production (not model) year, 1965.

Looks to be correct for your car to me.

[Richdowl]

Great link, I really appreciate it. According to the book M5 is Monroe 65 model year it should have an M6 if it was for my car being a 66 model year even though it was built late August 1965. At least that's the way I interpreted it on page 4 of the document.

[J_Speegle]

Bumper dating is tricky and we base our understanding on the data and evidence we collect since there are not "official" documents stating how they were dated

We do have other examples from 66 cars what were built in 65 with M6 stampings and month and dates that fit when the car was built. Since your car is a very early built car and with beginning of production could the car plant have used or received a shipment of bumpers dated differently (M5 rather than M6) rather than those being routed to the dealerships and sold to body shops and the like? Could they have been stored in plant over the change over period?  Not certain if they allowed that but IMHO either is possible and you would want to search for other early cars to help find evidence to support that finding.

Could you tell us more about your car like where it was built and possibly the VIN? 

Since your new here you might (especially if this is your only Mustang) want to put the information in your signature so that we don't have to ask and you don't have to type the information every time you post. We've learned over time, different plants, different production periods make all the difference in the details 

[CharlesTurner]

Since the car is a very early '66, I would suspect that the M5 is original for that date code.  As there was no difference between 65/66 bumpers, it was likely the case that Ford used any remaining bumpers on-hand when '66 model year production began.

[67gta289]

I assumed that since the first two characters represented a date, that the last one represented the year stamped, not the model year.   Is that incorrect?

[Richdowl]

Jeff,
I am a newbie. I think i updated my profile. My VIN# is 6T07A101612. Its a GT Coupe, 4 speed, Raven Black, Red standard interior, original white headliner, manual steering and no AC. I'm the 3rd owner, previous owner had the car since 1983 stored in his garage till 2021. I have been spending the last couple of years documenting and restoring virtually everything. Its been a lot of fun. My first vehicle was an A code 66 coupe 4 speed non-GT I bought in 1976 as a junior in HS from my cousin for $500. I always wanted to get my hands on another and I finally did just that a couple of years ago.
Best,
Rich

[CharlesTurner]

I assumed that since the first two characters represented a date, that the last one represented the year stamped, not the model year.   Is that incorrect?

Wish it was that easy, but based on observing original unrestored cars, it looks like it's a "model year" number instead of year.  So, an October '65 built 1966 Mustang would likely have a September date stamp bumper, but then followed by an 'M6'.

[J_Speegle]

Richdowl - Thanks for the requested info

As an example of what Charles was referring to in my collection of dates I have 6R11744x with a projected Oct 6th build date with a front bumper dated 9 26 M6