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Identification codes
The two main areas you need to identify you MK1 Cortina are the 'MODEL' and the 'SERIAL PREFIX' Once you have these two numbers from your own Cortina you will be able to find out what it was from the Ford factory. If your 'ID' tag is missing from the driver side inner guard, there should be a body number stamped into the front radiator support panel. These numbers will be on the passenger side, about a quarter of an inch high. This number, 'SERIAL PREFIX' will match the 'ID' tag. Ford Australia can trace VIN identification from models 1969 onwards. Anything earlier cannot be verified by Ford Australia as they destroyed all records.
MK2 Cortina identification codes HERE
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Where are the numbers on a MK1 ?
Want to know where to find body or VIN and model numbers stamped by the factory? If yes, heres some info to help you out. Firstly, the VIN or body number on all MK1s is found on the drivers side (RHD cars) under the bonnet on the inner guard (wing) near the strut top.
This VIN or body number above ^ sometimes curves around as the factory never stamped them very straight.
To find the model number which should always match the ID tag of you MK1 look on the radiator support panel pictured above. Early models will indicate numbers EG: 28112 while later 65 to 66 models will have EG: CG74. Early models will have more numbers which will match the SIDO number on the ID tag.
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British ID tagged cars use a completely different system to Australian cars. See below for a brief description
Australian tagged cars used 3 different types of tags over the MK1 range.
NOTE: 113E, 118E, 122E & 125E were all Right Hand Drive vehicles with 120E being used for automatic transmissions? 114E & 119E were Left Hand Drive. 113E were 1200cc and 118E were 1500cc 122E were GT engine.
NOTE: If SERIAL PREFIX says EG: CBRGC... 'CB' means Australian assembled, 'R' right hand drive, 'G' month of build and 'C' year of build. Have not found accurate details printed on decoding this yet, so i will not post until i can be certain.
First letter C = Australia built
Second letter G = Broadmeadows, H = Brisbane, K = Sydney.
Two numbers are next show the model type start with 7 and are shown below this table
Followed by another two letters which refers to year and date of manufacturer
NOTE: Early models (pre-airflow) had the month then the year. Models from '65 onwards had the year first then the month.Later year cars can be found using the MK2 Cortina build guide down further.
Month built |
B = 1962 |
C = 1963 |
D = 1964 |
E = 1965 |
F = 1966 |
January |
A |
C |
B |
J |
L |
February |
B |
K |
R |
U |
Y |
March |
C |
D |
A |
M |
S |
April |
D |
E |
G |
P |
T |
May |
E |
L |
C |
B |
J |
June |
F |
Y |
K |
R |
U |
July |
G |
S |
D |
A |
M |
August |
H |
T |
E |
G |
P |
September |
I |
J |
L |
C |
B |
October |
O |
U |
Y |
K |
R |
November |
X |
M |
S |
D |
A |
December |
Y |
P |
T |
E |
G |
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Australian Identification plate used between 62 and early 64 (CB & CE)
Consol Cortina CB model 11/62/65/3
| MODEL CODE |
DESCRITPION |
ENGINE |
TYRE SIZE |
REAR AXLE |
28112 |
2 door
Deluxe |
1200cc |
5.20
x 13 |
4:125:1 |
28132 |
2 door
Deluxe |
1500cc |
5.60
x 13 |
3:9:1 |
28212 |
4 door
Deluxe* |
1200cc |
5.20
x 13 |
4:125:1 |
28232 |
4 door
Deluxe* |
1500cc |
5.60
x 13 |
3:9:1 |
28312 |
4 door
Deluxe |
1200cc |
5.20
x 13 |
4:125:1 |
28332 |
4 door
Deluxe |
1500cc |
5.60
x 13 |
3:9:1 |
28434 # |
Super Estate column |
1500cc |
6.00
x 13 |
4:1:1 |
27132 |
2 door
GT |
1500cc |
5.60
x 13 |
3:9:1 |
27232 or 27332 |
4 door
GT |
1500cc |
5.60
x 13 |
3:9:1 |
*Also: 'Cortina developed by Lotus' : 125E from January 1963
Typical ID numbers for a 65-66 Lotus would be BA74FS59*** reversed stamped ID tags sometimes BA85F****
Typical ID numbers for a 63-64 Lotus would be Z74**** front stamped ID tags
* Bucket seats
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ID Plate had a minor change in late 1964 until late 1965 to this one.
| SUMMARY
OF MODEL, WITH BODY TYPE CODES (CE) 65-67 |
ENGINE
SIZE 1198cc 113E |
ENGINE
SIZE 1498cc 118E |
| 2 door Standard |
CG 71 |
CG 71 |
| 4 door Standard |
CG 72 |
CG 72 |
| 2 door DeLuxe, column change |
CG 73 |
CG 73 |
| 2 door DeLuxe, floor change |
CG 74 |
CG 74* |
| 4 door DeLuxe column change |
CG 75 # |
CG 75 # |
| 4 door DeLuxe floor change
|
CG 76 |
CG 76 |
| 2 door 'GT' |
N/A |
CG 77** |
| 4 door 'GT' |
N/A |
CG 78 |
| Estate Car DeLuxe column
change |
N/A |
88 |
| Estate Car DeLuxe floor
change |
N/A |
89 |
* Bucket seats # Also automatic
**Also, 'Cortina developed by Harry Firth for Bathurst 500' Called the GT 500 122E
ID plate used until July 1966
Cortina CE model 65/3 until July 1966
MODEL
CODE |
DESCRIPTION |
ENGINE |
TYRE
SIZE |
REAR
AXLE |
28014 |
2dr
Std 220 |
1200 |
5.20
x 13 |
4:4:1 |
28034 |
2dr
Std 220 |
1500 |
5.60
x 13 |
4:1:1 |
28114 |
2dr
Deluxe 240 |
1200 |
5.20
x 13 |
4:4:1 |
28134 |
2dr
Deluxe 240 |
1500 |
5.60
x 13 |
4:1:1 |
28214 |
4dr
Deluxe 440* |
1200 |
5.20
x 13 |
4:4:1 |
28234 |
4dr
Deluxe 440* |
1500 |
5.60
x13 |
4:1:1 |
28314 |
4dr
Deluxe 440 |
1200 |
5.20
x 13 |
4:4:1 |
28334 |
4dr
Deluxe 440 |
1500 |
5.60
x 13 |
4:1:1 |
28344** |
4dr
Deluxe Auto** |
1500 |
5.60
x 13 |
4:1:1 |
28434 # |
Super Estate column |
1500 |
6.00
x 13 |
4:1:1 |
27234 |
4
door GT |
1500 |
5.60
x 13 |
3:9:1 |
27134 |
2
door GT500 |
1500 |
5.60
x 13 |
3:9:1 |
*Bucket seats **Automatic column change have also been found with MODEL CODE of 28244
# This was a woody estate with both UK and Australian ID tags
New ID plate for CE Cortina's from July 1966
Model type
MODEL
CODE |
BODY
TYPE |
12412 |
'220'
2 door bucket seats |
12414 |
'240'
2 door Deluxe bucket seats |
12433 |
'440'
4 door Deluxe bench seat |
12434 |
'440'
4 door Deluxe buckets seats |
12437 |
'GT'
Sedan 4 door bucket seats |
Engine code
ENGINE
CODE |
B |
D |
F |
TYPE |
1200cc |
1500cc |
1500cc
'GT' |
Transmission code
|
V |
T |
X |
Z |
TYPE |
4
speed Floor shift |
4
speed Column shift |
4
speed 'GT' |
3
speed Automatic |
Rear axle
REAR
AXLE CODE |
L |
N |
P |
RATIO |
4.1:1* |
4.4:1* |
3.9:1 |
*due to typographical error from the source document these two may swap
1967 built MK1 Cortinas
There have been several cars turn up over the years that have different body/VIN prefix to all others. So if your body/VIN stamped near the strut tower starts with something like this 15CA****** or 153A****** or similar and also use the late 1966 onwards ID tag it will be a very early 1967 built MK1. Use the MK2 identification chart to get the month of build
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Brief description on English ID tags
The English Cortina's had a tag with the main area being called 'VEHICLE NUMBER' the underneath had the PAINT CODE. The vehicle number worked like this...EG: BA75EM12345 ( The first 2 letters are not the paint code)
To decipher this is easy 'B' means Built in Britain. 'A' Means the assembly plant' Dagenham' Next 2 number indicate the body type.75 = 4 door deluxe column change. Next two numbers indicate the year and month of build = July 1965. The rest of the numbers are just the VIN.
All efforts are made to keep data as accurate as possible.
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MK2 Cortina
For Australian cars. Same basic application of numbers and letters as in the MK1 Cortina
Example: CG74HG
C= Australia built
G = Broadmeadows, H = Brisbane, K = Sydney.
The two numbers next say the model type 74, 76 & 78
Followed by another two letters which refers to year and date of manufacture
74 |
220 & 240 |
76 |
440 |
78 |
GT & GT-L |
91 |
Lotus |
Below explains the month and year of manufacture. so using the example above, the 2 letters after the number CG74HG you will get the year and month of your car
Month built |
G = 1967 |
H = 1968 |
J = 1969 |
K = 1970 |
L = 1971 |
January |
C |
B |
J |
L |
C |
February |
K |
R |
U |
Y |
K |
March |
D |
A |
M |
S |
D |
April |
E |
G |
P |
T |
E |
May |
L |
C |
B |
J |
L |
June |
Y |
K |
R |
U |
Y |
July |
S |
D |
A |
M |
S |
August |
T |
E |
G |
P |
T |
September |
J |
L |
C |
B |
J |
October |
U |
Y |
K |
R |
U |
November |
M |
S |
D |
A |
M |
December |
P |
T |
E |
G |
P |
Model code explaination for 1967 models
MODEL
CODE |
BODY
TYPE |
12712 |
'220'
2 door |
12714 |
'240'
2 door Deluxe bucket seats |
12733 |
'440'
4 door Deluxe bench seat |
12734 |
'440'
4 door Deluxe buckets seats |
12738 |
'GT'
Sedan 4 door bucket seats |
Model code explaination for 1968 models
MODEL
CODE |
BODY
TYPE |
12812 |
'220'
2 door |
12814 |
'240'
2 door Deluxe bucket seats |
12833 |
'440'
4 door Deluxe bench seat |
12834 |
'440'
4 door Deluxe buckets seats |
12838 |
'GT'
Sedan 4 door bucket seats |
Model code explaination for 1969 to early70 models
MODEL
CODE |
BODY
TYPE |
12912 |
'220'
2 door |
12914 |
'240'
2 door Deluxe bucket seats |
12916 |
'240L'
2 door |
12933 |
'440'
4 door Deluxe bench seat |
12934 |
'440'
4 door Deluxe buckets seats |
12935 |
'440' L
4 door Deluxe bench seat |
12936 |
'440' L
4 door Deluxe buckets seats |
12938 |
'GT'
Sedan 4 door bucket seats |
12939 |
'GT L'
Sedan 4 door bucket seats |
Model code explanation for 1971 models
MODEL
CODE |
BODY
TYPE |
12133 or 12033 |
'440'
4 door Deluxe bench seat |
12134 or 12034 |
'440'
4 door Deluxe buckets seats |
12135 or 12035 |
'440' L
4 door Deluxe bench seat |
12136 or 12036 |
'440' L
4 door Deluxe buckets seats |
12138 or 12038 |
'GT'
Sedan 4 door bucket seats |
12139 or 12039 |
'GT L'
Sedan 4 door bucket seats |
Engine code
ENGINE
CODE |
L |
D |
F |
TYPE |
79 cid or 1300cc |
91cid or1500 & 1600cc |
91cid or 1500 & 1600cc
'GT' |
Transmission code
|
V |
T |
X |
Z |
TYPE |
4
speed Floor shift |
4
speed Column shift |
4
speed 'GT close ratio' |
3
speed Automatic |
Exterior paint codes for MK2 Cortinas HERE
Engine number prefex sometimes found 12CA =1200 15CA=1500
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