Ford LTD VIN Decoder: History, Engines and VIN Lookup Guide

Every Ford LTD carries an identification number, and reading it is the quickest way to confirm what a particular car really is before you trust a seller’s description. The LTD was Ford’s full-size flagship for decades, from the mid 1960s to the 1980s, sold as a sedan, a hardtop and a wagon, and it became a symbol of roomy, comfortable American motoring. The number confirms the model year, the engine the car left the line with and the plant that built it, and from 1981 it follows the modern 17 character VIN. You can run an LTD number through the decoder at the top of this page, and the guide below explains how the number is built, walks through the eras of the car, and points out what to check when you look one over.

How a Ford LTD VIN is put together

LTDs built before 1981 use a shorter Ford identification number found on the data plate and the body, where the first character is the model year, the second is the assembly plant, and further characters give the body and engine codes. From 1981 the LTD uses the 17 character VIN, which begins with 1FA for Ford built passenger cars in the United States and places the engine in the middle block and the model year at position ten. The engine code is the part that matters most, because it separates a small-block car from one of the big-blocks. The quick reference below covers the clues you will use most often when you read a Ford LTD number.

On a car this old, matching the number on the data plate with the title and any other stampings is the first check worth doing.

How a Ford LTD is identified

The LTD was a mainstay of the Ford range for two decades, and it sits across the change to the modern VIN. Cars from the 1981 model year on carry the seventeen character VIN, which begins with 1FA on a United States built Ford passenger car and gives the model year in the tenth character. The earlier cars predate that system and instead are identified by an older Ford number, a shorter code stamped on the car and set out on the door data plate, where the first character is the model year.

What the number tells you

On the later cars the seventeen character VIN reads in the usual way, position by position, with the tenth character giving the year. On the earlier cars the stamped number and the data plate together record the year, the plant, the body style and the engine, and restorers translate each field against a year specific Ford chart rather than reading it straight through like a modern VIN.

Where to find the number on a Ford LTD

On the later cars the VIN reads through the windshield at the base of the glass on the driver side and repeats on the door jamb label. On the earlier cars look for the data plate on the door or door pillar and the stamped number on the body. On any car of this age, the plate, the stamped number and the paperwork all need to agree before you buy.

A short history, generation by generation

The LTD started life in 1965 as the top trim of the full-size Ford and soon became its own prestige model, the quiet, smooth car that Ford advertised as riding like a much more expensive machine. The full-size cars grew through the 1970s with big-block power, then slimmed down onto the lighter Panther platform in 1979. From 1983 the LTD name also appeared on a mid-size car before being retired later in the decade as the Crown Victoria and Taurus took over. The table below sums up the eras.

Ford LTD engines and specifications

Because the engine code is part of the number, a proper check confirms the engine the car was born with. The figures below cover the main engines, with power as a range because output changed across the years and the way it was measured changed too.

Ford LTD by model year

Buyers searching for a specific year want to know what they are getting, so the table below maps several model years to their year code, era and engine options. Cars before 1981 use the year digit, while later cars use the 17 character VIN year code.

Reliability and the things worth checking

These are simple, robust cars by modern standards, but every LTD is old now, so condition and originality matter far more than mechanical complexity. The most common points to check are summarized below.

Buying a used Ford LTD

When you find one worth pursuing, read the number first and make sure the model year, engine and body line up with the seller’s description and the title. Confirm a big-block car really left the factory that way through the data plate, and on every LTD spend your time checking for corrosion, which is the thing most likely to turn a tempting project into a money pit. When you are ready, enter your Ford LTD number in the decoder above to confirm the year, engine and plant, then use the advice here to make sure the car is genuinely what it claims to be.

Ford Laser VIN Decoder: Generations, Engines and VIN Lookup Guide

Every Ford Laser carries a 17 character Vehicle Identification Number, and reading it is the quickest way to confirm what a particular car really is before you trust a listing. The Laser was Ford’s small family car for Asia Pacific, Australia and many other markets from 1981 to 2002, based on the Mazda 323 and sold as a hatchback and a sedan, including the sporty turbocharged TX3. The VIN settles the model year, the engine the car left the line with and the plant that built it. You can run any Laser VIN through the decoder at the top of this page and read the result in a few seconds. The rest of this guide explains how the number is built, walks through the generations, and points out what to check when you look one over.

How a Ford Laser VIN is put together

The 17 characters split into three blocks, and because the layout follows a global standard, the same position always carries the same kind of information. The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier, which identify where the car was built. Australian built Lasers begin with 6FP, the code for Ford Australia, while cars built in other markets carry their own codes. Characters four through eight describe the car, including the body and, most usefully, the engine, which is where a standard four cylinder is set apart from the turbocharged TX3. The ninth character is a check digit that validates the whole number. The last eight characters describe the individual car, with position ten the model year, position eleven the plant and the final six the sequential build number. The quick reference below covers the clues you will use most often when you read a Ford Laser VIN.

You will find the number behind the windscreen, on the plate in the door jamb and on the registration documents, and matching them is the first check worth doing.

Ford Laser VIN position by position

The Laser was a rebadged Mazda 323, sold across Australia and Asia, and it uses the seventeen character VIN. Because it was built in more than one country, the VIN is useful for confirming the origin as well as the year, and knowing it is really a Mazda 323 helps with parts and servicing.

Ford Laser model year codes (position 10)

The tenth character gives the model year. Match your letter or number below.

Where to find the VIN on a Ford Laser

Read the VIN through the base of the windscreen on the driver side and check it against the plate or label in the door area. Because the Laser is really a Mazda 323 under the badge, a Mazda specialist can help with parts and servicing where a Ford dealer may not recognise the name.

Reading a Laser VIN in practice

Take a car whose VIN opens with 6FP and shows N in position ten. That confirms a Ford built in Australia from the 1992 model year. The descriptor section then shows the body and engine, and the closing six digits are the car’s own serial number.

A short history, generation by generation

The Laser arrived in 1981 as Ford’s Mazda based small car, sharing its engineering with the well regarded 323, which made it dependable and easy to live with. The sporty TX3, offered with a turbocharged engine and on some versions all wheel drive, gave the range a performance flagship through the late 1980s and early 1990s. Later generations refined the formula until the Laser was replaced by the Focus in the early 2000s. The table below sums up the generations.

Ford Laser engines and specifications

Because the engine code sits in the middle of the VIN, a proper check confirms the engine the car was born with. The figures below cover the main configurations, with power as a range because output changed across the years.

Ford Laser by model year

Buyers searching for a specific year want to know what they are getting, so the table below maps several model years to their VIN year code, generation and engine options. The same model year letter logic runs across the production run.

Reliability and the things worth checking

The Laser shares the dependable engineering of its Mazda relative, but every survivor is old now, so condition matters most. Always run the VIN through the relevant history check and look closely at the points below.

Buying a used Ford Laser

When you find one worth pursuing, decode the VIN first and make sure the model year, engine and body line up with the advertisement, then run the same number through the relevant history check. On a TX3 confirm the turbo engine and check for hard use, and on every Laser inspect for corrosion and overall condition. When you are ready, enter your Ford Laser VIN in the decoder above to confirm the year, engine and plant, then use the advice here to make sure the car is genuinely what it claims to be.

Ford Kuga VIN Decoder: Generations, Engines and VIN Lookup Guide

Every Ford Kuga carries a 17 character Vehicle Identification Number, and reading it is the quickest way to confirm what a particular car really is before you trust a listing. The Kuga has been Ford of Europe’s compact SUV since 2008, offered with petrol, diesel, hybrid and plug-in hybrid power and with front or all wheel drive. The VIN settles the model year, the engine the car left the line with, the drive type and the plant that built it, which is exactly what you want when comparing two cars that look identical in the photos. You can run any Kuga VIN through the decoder at the top of this page and read the result in a few seconds. The rest of this guide explains how the number is built, walks through every generation, and points out what to check when you look one over.

How a Ford Kuga VIN is put together

The 17 characters split into three blocks, and because the layout follows a global standard, the same position always carries the same kind of information. The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier, and most Kugas begin with WF0, the code for Ford built passenger cars in Europe. Characters four through eight describe the car, including the body and, most usefully, the engine, which is where an EcoBoost petrol is set apart from a TDCi or EcoBlue diesel or a hybrid. The ninth character is a check digit that validates the whole number. The last eight characters describe the individual car, with position ten the model year, position eleven the plant and the final six the sequential build number. The quick reference below covers the clues you will use most often when you read a Ford Kuga VIN.

You will find the number behind the windscreen on the driver’s side, on the plate in the door jamb and on the registration documents, and matching them is the first check worth doing.

A short history, generation by generation

The first Kuga arrived in 2008 as Ford’s stylish answer to the growing demand for compact SUVs, with petrol and diesel engines and the option of all wheel drive. The second generation of 2013 shared its platform with the global Escape and broadened the engine range with smaller EcoBoost petrol units. The third generation of 2019 was a bigger step, adding a self charging hybrid and a plug-in hybrid that became one of the more popular choices in its class. The table below sums up the generations.

Ford Kuga engines and specifications

Because the engine code sits in the middle of the VIN, a proper check confirms the engine the car was born with. The figures below cover the main configurations, with power as a range because output changed across model years.

Ford Kuga by model year

Buyers searching for a specific year want to know what they are getting, so the table below maps several model years to their VIN year code, generation and engine options. The same model year letter logic runs across the whole production run.

Reliability and the things worth checking

Reliability depends on the engine and on maintenance, and you should always run the VIN through the relevant recall check. The most common points to check are summarized below.

Ford Kuga VIN position by position

The Kuga uses the standard seventeen character VIN, so every one reads the same way. Take it in order and you can fix the year, the origin and the engine family before you trust the advert.

Ford Kuga model year codes (position 10)

The tenth character is the quickest way to date a Kuga. Match your letter or number below.

Where to find the VIN on a Ford Kuga

Read the VIN through the base of the windscreen on the driver side, and check it against the plate or label in the driver door area. The two should agree. On a used family SUV like this, a quick VIN read is the easiest way to confirm the advert matches the actual car and its trim.

Reading a Kuga VIN in practice

Take a VIN that opens with WF0 and shows K in position ten. That already places it as a European built Ford from the 2019 model year. The descriptor characters then tell you the drive layout and whether it is petrol, diesel or a hybrid, and the closing six digits are the car’s own serial number.

Buying a used Ford Kuga

When you find one worth pursuing, decode the VIN first and make sure the model year, engine and drive type line up with the advertisement, then run the same number through the relevant recall check, which is especially important on the plug-in hybrid. Confirm the service history, since diesels and hybrids reward careful maintenance, and check that the all wheel drive, where fitted, works as it should. When you are ready, enter your Ford Kuga VIN in the decoder above to confirm the year, engine, drive type and plant, then use the advice here to make sure the car is genuinely what it claims to be.

Ford Ka VIN Decoder: Generations, Engines and VIN Lookup Guide

Every Ford Ka carries a 17-character Vehicle Identification Number, and decoding it is the quickest way to confirm what a given city car really is before you trust a listing. The VIN reveals the model year, the plant it came from, the engine fitted at the factory, the body style and the safety equipment. On a used Ka this matters most for confirming the exact engine and generation, and verifying the model year a seller claims. Run any Ka VIN through the decoder above to read it in seconds. The guide below explains how the number is built, walks through the generations, and points out what to check on each.

How a Ford Ka VIN is put together

The 17 characters follow a global standard, so each position carries fixed meaning. The first three are the World Manufacturer Identifier, which depends on where the car was built. European Ka models built in Europe typically begin with WF0, the identifier for Ford in Europe, while the later Ka Plus built in India carries a different identifier. Characters four through eight describe the body, the restraint system and the engine. The ninth character is a check digit, the tenth is the model year, the eleventh is the plant, and the final six are the unique build sequence.

You will find the VIN at the base of the windshield on the driver’s side, on the door jamb label, and in the registration paperwork.

Ford Ka VIN position by position

The Ka is a small city car that changed a lot across its life, and it was built in more than one country, so the VIN is useful for confirming both the year and the origin. It uses the standard seventeen character layout. The first Ka was built in Spain, the second shared its underpinnings with the Fiat 500 and was built in Poland, and the Ka Plus came from India.

Ford Ka model year codes (position 10)

The tenth character gives the model year. Match your letter or number below.

Where to find the VIN on a Ford Ka

Read the VIN through the base of the windscreen on the driver side and check it against the plate or label in the door area. These were cheap runabouts that changed hands often, so a quick VIN read is the simplest way to confirm the year and history match the advert.

Reading a Ka VIN in practice

Take a car whose VIN opens with WF0 and shows 6 in position ten. That places it as a European built Ford from the 2006 model year, one of the first generation cars. The descriptor section then shows the trim and engine, and the closing six digits are the car’s own serial number.

Generations of the Ford Ka

The Ka was Ford’s smallest car in Europe and a popular first car for many drivers. The first generation ran from 1996 with distinctive styling on Fiesta mechanicals, the second generation from 2008 shared its platform with the Fiat 500, and the larger Ka Plus from 2016 moved the model into the small hatchback class before it was discontinued.

Ford Ka engines and specifications

Because the engine code sits in the middle of the VIN, a check confirms the engine the car was built with, which is exactly what you want when a listing is vague about the unit.

Ford Ka by model year

The Ka follows the standard VIN year characters, so position ten quickly confirms the year a seller claims.

Reliability and the things worth checking

The Ka is simple and generally dependable, but its age and city use mean condition matters. Confirm a specific car against the relevant records by its VIN where possible.

A VIN check together with a careful inspection, especially for rust on older cars, is the best way to avoid a tired Ka.

Buying a used Ford Ka

Decode the VIN first and confirm the model year, engine and generation match the advertisement. On these affordable city cars, condition and a tidy service history matter more than specification, and on the first generation a rust-free body is the single most important thing to confirm. When you are ready, enter your Ford Ka VIN in the decoder above to confirm the year, engine and configuration before you buy.

The Ford Ixion is one of the more unusual cars to wear a Ford badge. It was a compact people mover sold mainly in Japan from 1999, and under the skin it was a Mazda Premacy, built by Mazda and rebadged for Ford dealers in that market. Because it was a Japanese market car rather than a European or American Ford, it is identified in a different way from the models most people picture when they think of a Ford VIN.

How a Ford Ixion is identified

Cars built for the Japanese home market do not use the seventeen character VIN that Ford applies in Europe and North America. Instead they carry a Japanese chassis number, a shorter code that starts with a model type prefix and is followed by a serial number. On the Ixion that prefix ties the car back to its Mazda Premacy origins. You will find the chassis number on the identification plate in the engine bay and on the vehicle documents, and it is the number an importer or a parts supplier will ask for.

What the Ixion actually is

Knowing the car is a rebadged Mazda Premacy is the single most useful fact for an owner. It means that for servicing, parts and technical information you are really looking after a Premacy of the same year. The Ixion was a small, practical five door with flexible seating, aimed at families who wanted more space than a normal hatchback without moving up to a full size van.

Where to find the number on a Ford Ixion

Look for the maker’s plate in the engine bay and the stamped chassis number on the body, and check both against the import and registration paperwork. Because these cars reach other countries as used imports, matching the plate to the documents matters even more than usual, since the paperwork is what your local authority will register the car against.

Buying an imported Ford Ixion

Treat it as you would any used Japanese import. Confirm the chassis number on the car matches the papers, look for the service history, and remember that mechanically it is a Mazda Premacy, so a Mazda specialist can help where a Ford dealer may not recognise the name. A clean, well kept example with clear import documents is the one to hold out for.

Ford Ikon VIN Decoder: Generations, Engines and VIN Lookup Guide

Every Ford Ikon carries a 17 character Vehicle Identification Number, and reading it is the quickest way to confirm what a particular car really is before you trust a listing. The Ikon was a compact sedan built mainly for India from 2000 to 2011, based on the Fiesta and marketed as the Josh Machine, a popular and affordable family saloon. The VIN settles the model year, the engine the car left the line with and the plant that built it. You can run any Ikon VIN through the decoder at the top of this page and read the result in a few seconds. The rest of this guide explains how the number is built, walks through the car, and points out what to check when you look one over.

How a Ford Ikon VIN is put together

The 17 characters split into three blocks, and because the layout follows a global standard, the same position always carries the same kind of information. The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier. The Ikon was built in Chennai, so its VIN begins with the code for Ford India, MAJ. Characters four through eight describe the car, including the body and, most usefully, the engine, which is where a Rocam petrol is set apart from the diesel. The ninth character is a check digit that validates the whole number. The last eight characters describe the individual car, with position ten the model year, position eleven the plant and the final six the sequential build number. The quick reference below covers the clues you will use most often when you read a Ford Ikon VIN.

You will find the number behind the windscreen, on the plate in the door jamb and on the registration documents, and matching them is the first check worth doing.

Ford Ikon VIN position by position

The Ikon was a compact saloon built in India on the Fiesta platform, and it uses the seventeen character VIN. Read it in order and you can settle the origin, the year and the engine before you trust the advert.

Ford Ikon model year codes (position 10)

The tenth character gives the model year. Match your letter or number below.

Where to find the VIN on a Ford Ikon

Read the VIN through the base of the windscreen on the driver side and check it against the plate or label in the door area. On a car sold mainly in one market, matching the number to the documents is the simplest check before you buy.

Reading an Ikon VIN in practice

Take a VIN that starts with MAJ and shows 6 in position ten. That already tells you it is an Indian built Ford from the 2006 model year. The descriptor characters then show the engine and trim, and the closing six digits are the car’s own serial number.

A short history of the Ford Ikon

The Ikon arrived in 2000 as Ford’s first car developed with the Indian market firmly in mind, a three box sedan on Fiesta underpinnings with a roomy cabin and a sprightly Rocam petrol engine that the marketing leaned on heavily. It became a familiar sight on Indian roads, gained a diesel option for high mileage drivers, and received a thorough makeover in 2010 before being replaced. The table below sums up the car.

Ford Ikon engines and specifications

Because the engine code sits in the middle of the VIN, a proper check confirms the engine the car was born with. The figures below cover the main configurations, with power as a range because output varied across the run.

Ford Ikon by model year

Buyers searching for a specific year want to know what they are getting, so the table below maps several model years to their VIN year code and engine options. The same model year letter logic runs across the production run.

Reliability and the things worth checking

The Ikon is simple and cheap to run, but every car is now old and many have worked hard, so condition and history matter most. The most common points to check are summarized below.

Buying a used Ford Ikon

When you find one worth pursuing, decode the VIN first and make sure the model year and engine line up with the advertisement, then confirm the service history. These are inexpensive cars, so condition matters most, and you should check the suspension, the engine service record and the body carefully. When you are ready, enter your Ford Ikon VIN in the decoder above to confirm the year, engine and plant, then use the advice here to make sure the car is genuinely what it claims to be.

Ford GT40 VIN Decoder: History, Engines and VIN Lookup Guide

Every Ford GT40 carries a chassis number, and reading it is the quickest way to confirm what a particular car really is, which on a car this rare and valuable is the whole game. The GT40 was the mid-engined racer Ford built to beat Ferrari at Le Mans, and it did, winning the race four years running from 1966 to 1969. As a 1960s racing and road car it carries a chassis number rather than a modern VIN, and that number, with the car’s documented history, is what proves its identity.

You can run a GT40 number through the decoder at the top of this page, and the guide below explains how the numbering works, walks through the variants, and points out what matters most when you check one.

How a Ford GT40 VIN is put together

The GT40 predates the 17 character VIN, so it carries a chassis number rather than a modern VIN. The number identifies the individual car and its build series, for example the prefixes used for the various marks, and on a GT40 it is inseparable from the car’s racing and ownership history, which collectors and historians track in detail.

Because genuine GT40s are worth enormous sums and continuation and replica cars exist, the chassis number must be verified against recognised registries and documented provenance. The quick reference below covers the clues you will use most often when you read a Ford GT40 number.

On a car of this value, verifying the chassis number against the registries and the documented history is the single most important check.

A short history, mark by mark

The GT40 began in 1964 as Ford’s weapon against Ferrari, and after early struggles it was developed into a winner. The Mk I used a small-block V8 and took the car from also ran to race winner, the Mk II with its 7.0 litre big-block won Le Mans outright in 1966, and the American built Mk IV won again in 1967. A small number of Mk III road cars were built for the street. The name lived on as the inspiration for the modern Ford GT. The table below sums up the marks.

Ford GT40 engines and specifications

The GT40 used two very different engines, and which one a car has is central to its identity and value. The figures below cover both, with power as a range because race tune varied.

Ford GT40 by model year

The GT40 was built in tiny numbers across the mid to late 1960s, and each car is identified by its chassis number rather than the 17 character VIN. The table below maps the key years and marks.

Reliability and the things worth checking

A GT40 is a historic competition car rather than an everyday machine, so authenticity, history and the integrity of the car matter far more than ordinary reliability. The most important points to check are summarized below.

Buying a used Ford GT40

When you find one, the chassis number, the registries and the documented history are everything. Genuine GT40s change hands rarely and for very large sums, so verify the car’s identity through recognised experts, understand exactly what is original, and be clear about whether a car is an original, a continuation or a replica before any money is discussed.

When you are ready, enter your Ford GT40 number in the decoder above, then use the advice here to make sure the car is genuinely what it claims to be.

Ford GT VIN Decoder: Generations, Engines and VIN Lookup Guide

Every Ford GT carries a 17 character Vehicle Identification Number, and reading it is the quickest way to confirm what a particular car really is before you trust a listing. The GT is Ford’s modern supercar, a homage to the Le Mans winning GT40, built in two short and highly collectible runs: a supercharged V8 car for 2005 and 2006, and a twin turbo V6 car from 2017 to 2022. On cars this valuable the VIN is central to proving the year, the specification and the car’s identity. You can run any Ford GT VIN through the decoder at the top of this page and read the result in a few seconds. The rest of this guide explains how the number is built, walks through both generations, and points out what matters most when you check one.

How a Ford GT VIN is put together

The 17 characters split into three blocks, and because the layout follows a global standard, the same position always carries the same kind of information. The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier. The first generation GT was built in the United States and begins with 1FA, while the second generation was built in Canada by Multimatic. Characters four through eight describe the car, including the body and the engine, which is where the supercharged V8 is set apart from the twin turbo V6. The ninth character is a check digit that validates the whole number. The last eight characters describe the individual car, with position ten the model year, position eleven the plant and the final six the sequential build number. The quick reference below covers the clues you will use most often when you read a Ford GT VIN.

You will find the number at the base of the windshield and on the documentation, and on a car of this value confirming the VIN against the title and the build records is essential.

Ford GT VIN position by position

The Ford GT is a modern supercar, so unlike the 1960s GT40 it does carry a seventeen character VIN. There have been two runs, the 2005 to 2006 car built in the United States and the 2017 onward car built in Canada. Given the values involved and the tightly controlled build numbers, the VIN together with the full history file is what establishes a genuine car.

First generation model year codes, 2005 to 2006 (position 10)

Second generation model year codes, 2017 to 2022 (position 10)

Where to find the VIN on a Ford GT

Read the VIN through the base of the windscreen on the driver side and check it against the plate in the door area and the car’s documents. On a car at this level, the VIN alone means little without the full history, so verification through the marque records and the original paperwork is essential.

Reading a Ford GT VIN in practice

Take a car whose VIN opens with 1FA and shows 5 in position ten. That marks it as a United States built car from the 2005 model year, one of the first generation supercars. A later car built in Canada with H in that slot points to a 2017 model. The descriptor section confirms the engine, and the closing digits are the serial number.

A short history, generation by generation

The first Ford GT arrived for 2005 to mark Ford’s centenary, a mid-engined supercar styled after the original GT40 and powered by a supercharged 5.4 litre V8. Just over four thousand were built across 2005 and 2006, and they have become blue chip modern classics. The second generation of 2017 was a far more extreme, carbon fibre racing car for the road, powered by a twin turbo 3.5 litre EcoBoost V6, built in tiny numbers and sold only to approved buyers. The table below sums up both generations.

Ford GT engines and specifications

Because the engine is encoded in the VIN, a proper check confirms what the car was born with. The figures below cover the two GT engines.

Ford GT by model year

Buyers searching for a specific year want to know what they are getting, so the table below maps each model year to its VIN year code and engine.

Reliability and the things worth checking

These are low mileage collector cars rather than daily drivers, so provenance and condition matter far more than ordinary reliability concerns. The most important points to check are summarized below.

Buying a used Ford GT

When you find one, the VIN and a documented history are everything, so confirm the car’s identity against the build records and check that the specification matches what the seller claims. Have a marque specialist inspect it, confirm servicing, and treat originality and provenance as the main drivers of value. When you are ready, enter your Ford GT VIN in the decoder above to confirm the year, engine and plant, then use the advice here to make sure the car is genuinely what it claims to be.

Ford Granada (North America) VIN Decoder: Generations, Engines and VIN Lookup Guide

Every North American Ford Granada carries an identification number, and reading it is the quickest way to confirm what a particular car really is before you trust a seller’s description. This Granada was a compact American sedan and coupe built from 1975 to 1982, a different car from the European Granada, sold as an affordable alternative to pricier compacts and closely related to the Mercury Monarch. The number confirms the model year, the engine the car left the line with and the plant that built it. You can run a Granada number through the decoder at the top of this page, and the guide below explains how the number is built, walks through both generations, and points out what to check when you look one over.

How a Ford Granada VIN is put together

The first generation Granada, built from 1975 to 1980, predates the 17 character VIN and uses a shorter Ford identification number found on the data plate and the body. From 1981 the second generation car switched to the modern 17 character VIN, which begins with 1FA for Ford built passenger cars in the United States. In the earlier format the first character is the model year, the second is the assembly plant, and further characters give the body and engine codes before the sequential build number. In the later 17 character VIN the engine sits in the middle block and position ten gives the model year. The quick reference below covers the clues you will use most often when you read a Ford Granada number.

On a car this old, matching the number on the data plate with the title and any other stampings is the first check worth doing.

How a Ford Granada is identified

This is the North American Granada, a compact from the late 1970s and early 1980s, and it sits right on the change to the modern VIN. Cars from the 1981 model year on carry the seventeen character VIN, which begins with 1FA on a United States built Ford passenger car. The earlier cars, from 1975 to 1980, predate that system and instead are identified by an older Ford number, a shorter code stamped on the car and set out on the door data plate.

What the old Ford number tells you

On the 1975 to 1980 cars the stamped number and the data plate together record the model year, the plant, the body style and the engine. Restorers translate each field against a year specific Ford chart rather than reading it straight through like a modern VIN. On the 1981 and 1982 cars you read the seventeen character VIN in the usual way, with the tenth character giving the model year.

Where to find the number on a Ford Granada

On the later cars the VIN reads through the windshield at the base of the glass on the driver side and repeats on the door jamb label. On the earlier cars look for the data plate on the door or door pillar and the stamped number on the body. On any car of this age, the plate, the stamped number and the paperwork all need to agree before you buy.

A short history, generation by generation

The Granada arrived in 1975 as a neatly styled compact that Ford marketed as a sensible, near luxury choice, and it sold strongly through the late 1970s on the same rear wheel drive platform that underpinned the Maverick. For 1981 the Granada moved onto the Fox platform, sharing much with the Fairmont, and added a four cylinder option before the name gave way to the LTD in 1983. The table below sums up both generations.

Ford Granada engines and specifications

Because the engine code is part of the number, a proper check confirms the engine the car was born with. The figures below cover the main engines, with power as a range because output changed across the years.

Ford Granada by model year

Buyers searching for a specific year want to know what they are getting, so the table below maps several model years to their year code, generation and engine options. Cars from 1975 to 1980 use the year digit, while 1981 and 1982 cars use the 17 character VIN year code.

Reliability and the things worth checking

These are simple, easy to service cars, but every survivor is old now, so condition matters far more than reputation. The most common points to check are summarized below.

Buying a used Ford Granada

When you find one worth pursuing, read the number first and make sure the model year and engine line up with the seller’s description and the title. These are inexpensive cars now, so condition and a clean history matter most, and you should check carefully for corrosion, which is the thing most likely to end an otherwise sound car. When you are ready, enter your Ford Granada number in the decoder above to confirm the year, engine and plant, then use the advice here to make sure the car is genuinely what it claims to be.

Ford Granada VIN Decoder: Generations, Engines and VIN Lookup Guide

Every Ford Granada carries an identification number, and reading it is the quickest way to confirm what a particular car really is before you trust a listing. The Granada was Ford of Europe’s executive car from 1972 to 1985, sold as a saloon, a coupe and an estate, and it became a fixture on European roads and television screens alike. The number confirms the model year, the engine the car left the line with and the plant that built it, and for cars from the early 1980s it follows the modern 17 character VIN. You can run a Granada number through the decoder at the top of this page, and the guide below explains how the number is built, walks through both generations, and points out what to check when you look one over.

How a Ford Granada VIN is put together

From the early 1980s the Granada uses the 17 character VIN, which splits into three blocks where the same position always carries the same kind of information. Earlier cars from the 1970s use a shorter Ford chassis number and have to be read with period references rather than a modern decoder. The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier, and most Granadas begin with WF0, the code for Ford built passenger cars in Europe. Characters four through eight describe the car, including the body and, most usefully, the engine, which is where a four cylinder is set apart from the smooth Cologne V6. The ninth character is a check digit that validates the whole number. The last eight characters describe the individual car, with position ten the model year, position eleven the plant and the final six the sequential build number. The quick reference below covers the clues you will use most often when you read a Ford Granada VIN.

You will find the number behind the windscreen, on the plate in the door area and on the registration documents, and matching them is the first check worth doing.

Ford Granada VIN position by position

This is the European Granada, Ford’s large executive car. Cars from the 1981 model year on use the seventeen character VIN, while the earlier ones carry a shorter Ford number, so the first step is to check which side of 1981 your car sits on.

Ford Granada model year codes (position 10)

For the cars that carry the seventeen character VIN, the tenth character reads as follows.

Where to find the VIN on a Ford Granada

On the Granada the VIN is stamped on the body and shown on a plate in the engine bay, and on the later cars it also reads through the base of the windscreen. On a survivor of this age, check the number against the plate and the paperwork, since rust and time have thinned out the honest cars.

Reading a Granada VIN in practice

Take a car whose VIN opens with WF0 and shows H in position ten. That places it as a European built Ford from the 1987 model year. The descriptor section then shows the body and whether it is a four cylinder or a V6, and the closing six digits are the car’s own serial number.

A short history, generation by generation

The first Granada arrived in 1972 as Ford’s large car for Europe, offered with four cylinder and V6 engines and even a handsome coupe. The second generation of 1977 grew more formal and is the one most people remember, with the 2.8 litre Cologne V6 in the plush Ghia models and a diesel option for high mileage drivers. The Granada name continued into the Scorpio era, and the car was retired in its original form in 1985. The table below sums up both generations.

Ford Granada engines and specifications

Because the engine code is part of the number, a proper check confirms the engine the car was born with. The figures below cover the main engines, with power as a range because output changed across the years.

Ford Granada by model year

Buyers searching for a specific year want to know what they are getting, so the table below maps several model years to their VIN year code, generation and engine options. Cars from the 1970s predate the 17 character VIN and use a shorter chassis number.

Reliability and the things worth checking

The Granada is generally robust, but every survivor is old now, so condition matters far more than reputation. Always run the VIN through the relevant recall and history check, and look closely at the points below.

Buying a used Ford Granada

When you find one worth pursuing, read the number first and make sure the model year, engine and body line up with the advertisement. The V6 Ghia models are the ones to have, so confirm the engine and trim, and on every Granada spend your time checking for corrosion, which is the thing most likely to end an otherwise sound car. When you are ready, enter your Ford Granada number in the decoder above to confirm the year, engine and plant, then use the advice here to make sure the car is genuinely what it claims to be.