57 bird questions

[58villager]

hey all. looking at a new project, but confused about some vin plate numbers. consec. number says 300124, but date code says 20e (20 may)(assum. 1957) seems to be out of sync.  seems to be very low # for mid year production. any ideas? also assm. plant dearborn.Gerald

[abe_lugo]

There is a Tbirds forum just like this although not as active.  It been a while since I checked in tbird vins

[cokefirst]

Gerald, that number seems correct.  Remember that the production starts in August, so you are 10 months in by the time MAY comes around. 

[58villager]

hello cokefirst. if i remember correctly, the 3 in 300124 would be a car line indicator. that would make this car the 124th t-bird on that assm. line. awful low for 10 months of production? i remember edsel always used "7" regardless of assm plant. Gerald

[cokefirst]

That is incorrect.  The serial number starts out at 100001 and goes up from there.  Your car would be 200124th vehicle produced at the Dearborn Assembly Plant.  The Thunderbirds were all made in Dearborn.  This is probably because Budd stampings did the bodies and they were shipped from Budd Corporation to the Dearborn Assembly plant. 

[Ray]

That is consistent with the data I keep on "F" serial numbers although the first "F" code car was produced on the 10th of June with a 310xxx serial number.