AU Ford Falcon - SPUD Project

Reading Vehicle Identification Plate (Build Plate) Codes

Reading Vehicle Identification Plate (Build Plate) Codes

Location

You can find the Build plate near the VIN Plate, on the passenger side rear of the inside of the engine bay.

The location of the Vehicle Identification Plate

Codes and What They Mean

VIN

The Vehicle Indentification Number, or VIN, is printed on the build plate as redundant information. Further information can be found on the VIN Plate Page

SIDO Number

The Single Item Dealer Order number, or SIDO, is simply a unique build identifier for the specific vehicle. It holds very little relevance past date of original sale

Model

The Model number is a more specific identifier of the trim model that the vehicle was built with. Refer to the table below for what each number corresponds to:

Number	Model	Body
18932	Fairmont	Sedan
18933	Forte	Sedan
18935	XR (6 or 8)	Sedan
18938	Fairmont GHIA	Sedan
18946	LTD (Fairlane)	Sedan
18949	Fairlane GHIA	Sedan
18962	Fairmont	Wagon
18963	Forte	Wagon
18964	Futura	Wagon
19934	Futura	Sedan
45913	XL	Ute
45914	XLS	Ute
45973	XL Supercab	Ute
45974	XLS Supercab	Ute
45975	XR (6 or 8)	Ute

Engine

The engine code identifies the specific factory motor that was installed. Refer to the table below for what each code corresponds to:

Code	Engine	Identifiable Traits	Notes
H	I6	Silver rocker cover	Base Model Engine
S	I6 LPG	Green rocker cover	Gas Engine. Standard in Taxi Models
X	I6 HP	Red rocker cover	High Horsepower I6 Engine. Standard in XR6 Models
Y	I6 VCT	Red rocker cover with visible VCT solenoid fitted to front and VCT embossed on top of rocker cover	Variable Cam Timing Engine
Z	V8 (5L)	Only standard V8	Standard in XR8 models

Some engines may be harder to identify due to changed parts since assembly. This is only a guide to what the car had from the factory, not what has been replaced or painted since.

Any model with Tickford additions, in particular the T*50 models, should have an additional Tickford options plate.

Transmission

The transmission code identifies the type and location of the transmission. Refer to the table below for what each code corresponds to:

Code	Type	Location
H	Automatic	Column
K	Manual	Floor
W	Automatic	Floor

RR AX and FR AX

Information on these codes are sparse but should refer to the Rear and Front Axles. Their purpose is unknown due to all accessible cars for Project not including values

Trim

The trim code refers to the interior color and accents used throughout the vehicle. Refer to the list below for what each code corresponds to:

While these trim code will narrow down the exact trim inside your vehicle, it will not uniquely identify it, e.g. a Series 1 Forte and a Series 3 Fairmont share the same trim code G1, however the patterns in the cloth seats are different

Information pulled from multiple sources. As such this may be incomplete. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy

A* - Aubergine

Code	Material	Restrictions
A3	Leather	TS50/TE50/TL50

B* - Charcoal

Code	Material	Restrictions
B1	Cloth
B2	Cloth	XR6/XR8
B3	Leather
B5	Cloth	Promotional* see note below
B7	Leather	Fairlane Sportsman
BB	Leather	Blue trim TE50/TS50
BR	Leather	Red trim TE50/TS50

For Trim code B5, information suggests that this was the base cloth trim for the 75th anniversary AU Fairmonts, however this has other usage in at least one other model observed (AUIII SR Forte)

G* - Graphite

Code	Material	Restrictions
G1	Cloth
G3	Leather
G4	Vinyl	Taxi

Paint

The Paint code refers to the exterior paint used throughout the vehicle. Refer to the tables below for what each code corresponds to

These codes are not only specific per model of car, but per series of AU Falcon

Information pulled from multiple sources. As such this may be incomplete. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy

AUI

Code	Color	Notes
22	Taxi Orange	Taxi Vehicles Only. Rare
H	Dynamic White
J8	Alaskan Frost	Silver
MB	Mystic Blue	Apparently Rare, sparse information available
P4	Hot Chilli Red
T5	Oxford Green
W6	Amaretto	Faded Gold or rose-gold color

AUII-III

Code	Color	Notes
A1	Winter White
B7	Barossa Red	Similar to C2 - Regency. Rare
DG	Congo	Very Dark Green
K6	Meteorite	Darker Silver
LD	Liquid Silver
MN	Monsoon	Very Dark Blue
NR	Narooma Blue	Similar to GY - Galaxy Blue however lighter shade. Rare
OZ	Organza	Metallic Gold, commonly mistaken for AUI Amaretto
S9	Sand Storm	Darker Tan
UU	Blueprint	Lighter Blue
VF	Venom	Red

Shared (AUI-AUIII)

Code	Color	Notes
44	Taxi Yellow	Taxi Vehicles Only
B5	Sparkling Burgundy	Very Dark Red
C2	Regency	Darker Red
GY	Galaxy	Dark Blue
ST	Silhouette	Black

BRK

Information on this code is sparse but should refer to the Brakes. Their purpose is unknown due to all accessible cars for project not including values

GVM kg

Gross Vehicle Mass, or GVM, refers to the maximum weight a vehicle can carry when fully loaded, Including the vehicle weight, passengers, cargo, fuel and other equipment. While this number is not stamped on most models, the general consensus is that the GVM would range from 2220-2740kg

Information on this code may be incorrect due to all accessible cars for project not including values. Value range discovered through a mixture of information from the Magnum MFG website, and internet photos of AU Falcon ute Build Plates

This section is also present on the Vehicle Identification Number Plate

GCM

The Gross Combination Mass, or GCM, is the maximum weight of a car and trailer combination that can be used with the vehicle. While this number is not stamped on most models, the general consensus is that the GCM would range from 3810-4790kg

Information on this code may be incorrect due to all accessible cars for project not including values. Value range discovered through Magnum MFG website

Model information

The last “code” on the build plate isn’t a code at all but rather a model abbreviation and body type. this code doesn’t have a title on the plate and simply reads the Model Code (AU) followed by the Body Type

e.g. for a Series 1 Forte, this would read AU SEDAN

e.g. for a Series 2 Supercab, this would read AUII UTE

e.g. for a Series 3 SR Wagon, this would read AUIII WGN