Ok, I am about to unload on a 55 Ford Sunliner and here is the Vin...

U5RG134309

76B  DX  AYO5D5

What does all this mean? I take it that the U is for a Y block, but how can I tell whether or not it had a teapot?

Dan

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

U – 272 2BC  (2 barrel carb),  M would have been 272 182HP with four barrel carb

5 - 1955

R – San Jose, CA

G – tudor, fordor, Mainline, Customline  - typo?  C – Convertible, Sunliner

134309 – 34,309^th in the production

 

76B – Fairlane Sunliner convertible

DX – D is Waterfall Blue but the X isn’t listed in my manual.

AY – Medium Blue and Light Blue Vinyl trim (interior)

05D5 – April 5 production, 5^th car produced.

 

I believe the G is a typo.  Should be a C.  The second color for the two tone paint is not listed in my particular catalogue.  The San Jose plant is noted for quite a few deviations from normal so the X doesn’t surprise me.  Maybe someone else has the color code for X?

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Ted - wow!

How did you come up with all that info so quick?

I ended up buying the car from a fella down in Mobile AL. Going to pick it up next week. Got the car for a song, though it is not complete. My dad wants to buy my 55 --- so I need another car! I let him drive it the other day when he came up from NC. His first was a 56 hardtop customline that had a 312 (highly modified with a HOT cam and 2 four barrel carb setup, etc, etc) Seems it was a moonshine car. The torque of my 292 reminds him of his younger days....soooooooooooooo.....

The convertible is a project. Wasn't too concerned about the color. I did know that U represented a Y block, but did not know that M meant a 4 barrel. This will be a modified car anyway. I want to put a turned down main 312 crank (if you remember my original plan from a year ago) in a 292 with a little more stroke...we'll see what I can dig up.

Dan

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

Ted, Dan:

The "X" color is not included in my info either, but maybe it is a code for the color of the convertible top.  Just a guess.

John

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

Dan, you will really like your plan to build a 292/312, but you cannot have my crank back, as it is now resting comfortably in my car.  Truck rods, Mummert internals make a great street motor.  It also helps to have a great machinist to put everything together and I was lucky enough to find one with the help of another member on this site.  Good luck on your project, and I hope to get up your way to see you one of these days.  Jan

Jan  Urbanczyk  Major USMC Ret.

                                                                 Bowie Maryland

Hey fellas, I got this reply from lovefords.org

"Hello Dan

Congratulations on your new Sunliner!   X is the color code for 1955's Regatta Blue which is Ditzler Mix Code 11383.  Waterfall Blue is mix code 11250. I believe that Regatta Blue was a spring color and may not appear in all lists or paint chip representations.

I guess there is no better car name than Sunliner.

Best Regards,

Cactus - the machinist that turned that crank for me was a good one. Evidently this is the same guy that does cranks for White Post restorations - precision work. Not to worry. I can find another 312 crank - its a needle in a haystack, but they are out there. Good to hear from you.



Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

On my vin number I have u5sg142490  so the u means y block and the 5 is the year but what does the s mean and the numbers after that. The g would be a 2 or 4 dor like you said thanks

Tim:

S is listed as "Pilot plant", whatever that means.  Ford started each year with the first car being S/N 100001.  Therefore yours was the 42,490th car built for '55.

John

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

John.  My book lists the S being Somerville, MA as the assembly plant.  Maybe you’ve got an earlier book than mine?

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)