Superformance Serial Numbers

[Don Frederick]

Need some help.

I'm checking into a car that the owner claims is an SPF. I am dubious because of the relatively low price. Claims the serial number is as follows: AC9CRLK1398AM1446.

Is this how the SPF SNs are structured? Roughly what year would this car had been made?

Thaks for any and all help.

Don

[Bill Wells]

don, it is car #446. bill.

[Dan Semko]

Don,
My first cobra SPF 760 was built in 2000 and our new SPF 1568 was built this year. If I had to estimate a year, probably 1998 or 1999.
Hope it helps.

[SERPENT]

I took delivery of spf #606 Nov.13, 1999

[terry lee]

DON, BE REAL CAREFUL WITH THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LAST YEAR I ALMOST BOUGHT A SPF WERE THE OWNER WAS USING THE ENGINE BLOCK NUMBER AS THE VIN #. IT TOO WAS A REALLY GOOD PRICE. I BACKED AWAY AT THE LAST MINUTE, I SMELT SOMETHING REALLY FUNNY.
LOOK ON THE FRAME CROSS MEMBER IN FRONT OF THE ENGINE ON DRIVERS SIDE, THERE SHOULD BE A NUMBER STAMPED IN THE FRAME (SOMETHING LIKE THIS "SPOOOOO") THE LAST DIGITS BEING THE CAR NUMBER. ALSO CHECK VIN PLATE ON FIREWALL AT PASSENGER SIDE, IT SHOULD HAVE THE SAME NUMBERS. IF ALL ELSE FAILS, CALL A SPF DEALER TO VERIFY. THEY ARE ALL VERY HELPFUL PEOPLE.
HOPE THIS HELPS.
I LOVE MY SPF
TL

[Bill Wells]

terry, not true necessarily . yes the serial is stamped on the frame rail behind radiator/in front of the engine and should be on a vin plate too. however, the serial prefix : " AC9CSLK1897AM1XXX" is the correct serial prefix for EARLIER cars, thru prox serial 577 or so. the LAST 3 digits being the body/chassis number. beginning prox 578 the prefix was simply SPXXX and then prox 591 on the prefix became SPOxxx or SPOxxxx, the last 3 or 4 digits being the body/chassis number. I say 'prox' as i might be off a few units or so. therefor, in the case described by the original poster, the serial listed would be correct for car #446. bill.

[Dan Semko]

You're on your toes today Bill and spot on per usual! Now if you can get this monsoon mindset to go anywhere but here so we can cruise, I'll be much obliged.

[Bill Wells]

Dan, its a weekend in the midwest, so more RAIN again , of course ...its been raining since 11 am here...and more to come today and next week too. now, with the Ford 100th anniv celebration starting on thursday...no rain for that 5 day event please...bill, antique spf #156 with that goofy long serial prefix, built in summer 1996 and still running strong and standing tall with NO car problems. i like a plan when it comes together...maybe an engine goes now and then, but NO car problems. dam*, i love this spf

[Dan Semko]

Bill,
It just started here and it's absolutely pouring! It's been like this for several weekends and our SPF is starting to feel like a red headed step child! See you at the Spring Fling!

[Bill Wells]

time to buy a submarine...spf 156 and its pilot (me) WILL be at dvsf3 ! see ya thar , rain or shine.. bill.

[terry lee]

You guys have been around this alot longer than I have, so I accept your explanation for the Vin #.
I was just expressing some concern because of the shady deal that I ran across last year about this time. And Dan, I wasn't referring to your car.
The car I was reffering to was in Ft. Lauderdale; it was Silver and had a mystery title and Vin# as described in my earlier post.
I hope everyone has better weather for DV than we had for the track event at VIR a month ago. I haven't seen this much rain since I was an apprentice to Noah several years back.
Previous commitments won't allow me to make the trip north for DV this time. I may be trailering #1560 up later this summer and try to take in an event at Road America (my old stomping grounds)
TL

[Bill Wells]

terry, unfortunately some states CHANGE the VIN on the title to one they at their state DMV fabricate. in that case, there are dual serials on the car...the SPF serial ( or other brands) and the state serial they make up. in my case, i have both the SPF serial as stamped as was on my MSO and the MIchigan serial that the state DMV concocted for my car. they also applied a separate sticker with THEIR vin near the spf vin sticker . so i have two visible spf serials (frame rail and sticker) and the Michigan vin sticker. duh. now , talk about confusing. so the title in my case shows the michigan vin and not the spf vin. duh.

and yes, i have seen some cars represented as brand x.y, z and they are a, b, c..so buyer beware. i have chased some shelby mustangs that turned up bogus too...thankfully their registry proved them to be a fake...ya never know.

i say unfortunately re changed vins, as it makes it harder to describe what ya have when selling as many folks get confused. michigan is not the only state that does that. and in some cases, local dmv's accept the spf vin, go figure. one is at the mercy of the state dmv office at time of registration first time if a new car. they all dont have the same song sheet. in reality the title / registration should show BOTH vins, SPF AND STATE ASSIGNED. but oh well, mich is not like califoney, thank goodness. or it would be worse !

sorry ya can't make dvsf and sorry for the rain there too...this has been one wet and wild spring so far, limited toy car usage to say the least. bill

[Dan Semko]

Indiana has the same approach as Michigan. Once the title application is submitted, the DMV assigns a replica VIN number so in effect, there are two viable chassis numbers to potential buyers. Bottom line: ask the seller what the production number appears on the MSO. We know that the date of production doesn't necessarily coincide with the date of sale. Ask questions!