Vin decoder

[jarhead1986]

I have a 58 custom 300 and I would like to decode the vin to figure out what gear ratio the rear end has.
Any help would be great. Thanks.

[sprink88]

Hi and welcome. You could try the decoder on 1957ford.com . Page 3 of specifications says there is a tag on the rear axle drivers side of driveshaft with ratio

[jarhead1986]

Thanks. That was exactly what I was looking for. How can I tell if my car is a custom or custom 300?

[Ford Blue blood]

The door tag will have a "body" code on it as well....ie...66B, 70A etc.

[Zapato]

Normally unless someone has gone thru a lot of work to do so a 300 has side molding with a gold insert while the plain jane custom has a single bar stainless trim starting behind the door.  Norwell is doing that to his 300. Its a much simpler look.

In my necks of the woods that molding was referred to as a "hockey stick" in other parts of the  country that was used for the rocker molding on Fairlanes.

So to be safe use the VIN decoder.

Zap-

[RICH MUISE]

As Bill said, the door tag will tell you. 70A is the Custom, 70B Custom300, 70D Business coupe....which brings up the question why no 70C?? I wonder if they had plans for a mid-sized convertible that was scrapped??

[Lou]

Years ago I heard a story from a Ford engineer that Ford was thinking about a 57 convertible based on the Custom & Custom 300. I wouldn't have been much of a problem to produce as customs share the same wheelbase as a 52/56 Ford car. He said the idea was scrapped because market research said it would cost almost as much as a Fairlane 500 76B to build and it's sales would hurt the sales of the Fairlane 500 convertible. I don't know how true the story is, but the guy I got it from as told me other stories from inside Ford that checked out.

[Zapato]

personally wouldn't have any problem believing that story.  market research always trumps good ideas.

Zap-

[jarhead1986]

well this may sound crazy but my car had the gold insert but the door tag says 70a for custom tudor. Im kinda confused now.

[RICH MUISE]

ok...lol..don't tell anyone I responded to this because I'm suppose to be banned until I watch "Thunder Road"..which I ordered thru Amazon, but with the long weekend, probably won't get here til the end of the week...so this is between me and you.
The reason for your confusion is the info we've been giving you is for '57's, and I just noticed your opening post said you had a '58. Model numbers are reused every year regardless of model names and model name changes. You'll have to find a model info chart that covers '58's. I was looking at one not to long ago..I'm thinking it was in the Dennis Carpenter catalog. If I'm not mistaken the Custom series was dropped in '58, with only the Custom 300 being available....but that chart will tell you for sure.
Don't forget..I didn't reply to this.

[JPotter57]

Correct.  There was no Custom in '58, only Custom 300. 

[Zapato]

Rich, anyone brave enough to risk further ban to clear up a question as you did deserves another Karma point.

Zap-

[jarhead1986]

Thanks guys....Its hell being a young rookie. 

[RICH MUISE]

LOL...you have it easy...try being an OLD rookie

[jarhead1986]

Ya your right. All my old man talks about is how he cant see, hear, and dont feel good no more!