Where is the SPF Serial Number Located??

[baypally208]

When looking at SPF's. Where is the serial number located??

Thanks!

-Drew

[Bill Wells]

Drew...


SPF serials are in several places. Two most prominent locations are :

1. in the engine bay, on the passenger side footbox area near the firewall, stamped on a Superformance Data VIN metal plate ...or..

2. on the crossmember behind radiator in front of engine, a number is stamped INTO the metal crossmember.

IF someone registered their car using a different serial , as has been done by some thru various title co's, or had it registered in a state that requires their own unique vin to be installed, then it is possible the two locations above have been covered up by the new vin plate or sticker. in Mich, my SPF is registered as a 1998 Assembled Vehicle with a unique MIch state VIN assigned , different from the SPF vin. in addition, Mich made their OWN VIN and affixed it to my car, However, I have both the two spf vin locations showing the spf vin and the mich vin exposed under the hood.

SPF serial sequencing differs over time and is in 3 formats :

1. AC9CSLK1897AM1xxx. a 17 digit format with the xxx (the LAST 3 digits) being the spf chassis number . these existed on cars
032 thru 577 as well as 579, 580, 582,583, 584 and 586.

2. SPxxx, a 5 digit format. used on cars 578, 581, 585, 587, 588, 589 and 590. the last 3 digits being the chassis number.

3. SPOxxxx, a 7 digit form. used on cars 591 and newer, the last digits being the chassis number.

Bill, SPF 156

[speedyzdc]

My vin plate is located in the engine compartment just behind the dash on the passengers side. Also stamped into cross-member of the frame on the drivers side behind the radiator.

[baypally208]

Hmmm...

There's a chrome shield installed that covers the front and engine-side areas of the PS footwell. Nothing is visible there. The original owner (I bought the car from him) installed his own serial-number plate in the top drivers-side area of the crossmember because the Cal DMV told him to "make one up" if he couldn't find one... The cross member has no other visible markings. The owner bought this chassis directly from SPF in 1997 and had it powered at Dayan Cobra in Orange County CA.

Other Ideas??

[baypally208]

One more question...

I'm not exactly thrilled about the made-up vin although he registered the car in california as a 1965. The registration was done in 1997 and has been renewed ever since. Here's the question: should I try to find the Superformance number and re-register this car under an SB100 using the SPF number (I assume they have this info at superformance, I'll call them tomorrow) or just do a standard transfer using the existing registration?

I want to do things right and make sure that the registration is 100% kosher with the State Of California.


-Drew

[Bill Wells]

there is one other area where the serial may or may not be : the chassis number MAY also be stamped into the hood hinges. check either hood hinge plate where it is bolted to the hood. the number could also be stamped into the hinge plate there, perhaps filled with paint and hard to read, but still maybe visible. not sure this is 100% the case with all spf's , but worth a chance looksee. otherwise you have to remove one of the plates the prior owner installed to see what serial is underneath. do you have copies of the original purchase papers between orig owner and spf ? serial should be listed there too.

most SPF savvy shoppers will want to know what the SPF chassis number is, whether that is what the state accepts or not, as it tells them at what level certain SPF production 'running changes' were on the car at time of production. ie, early cars had different features/standard items than the newer cars. you say the car was first registered in 1997, then it is an earlier car...my 156 was built in 3Q 1996 but i have no idea what serial sequencing was built during 97 Cal Yr.

check with your state dmv to see what is kosher. it could be that the current 'whatever'serial is ok with them.

it could be he wasnt simply told 'to make one up', but clerly crafted one
that would resemble a Ford serial number from the 60's, ie, a 65 mustang
convertible serial would read "5R08C(or A, or K or ?) followed by 6 digits beginning at 100,001". that of course is deceptive and
is what some, not all, of the "title washing' co's have done. if so, this
could be a legal issue in Calif ( or maybe elsewhere), again, check with DMV
to ensure what is ok and what is not.

cars registered as 65's in most cases are worth more to some as used cars as
they can be registered in many states or metro areas as an antique vehicle ,
carry a lower cost insurance rating and are emissions exempt. something else
to consider if registered now as a 65 and ok with state dmv vs changing it
to something that might say it is a 1996-2004 serial car.

IF from Calif, make sure you have full understanding of how current
registration falls under SB100 and how a different serial (spf real one)
would be impacted. it might be easier to keep what ya got if it is is
already SB100 legal , unlike some that have been determined to NOT BE SB100
legal (calif folks, step in and help out here please).

good luck. Bill.