When was my car built?

The Era of The Square Body Racing Comets
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kevinshi
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When was my car built?

Post by kevinshi »

Hey folks -

My warranty tag is 5H25A525287.

So my car is a 1965 model and was the 25,287th car built in its year... but is that the calendar year in which it was assembled or instead the serial number among 1965 editions?

More specifically, is there any way to tell when exactly (as much as possible) it was assembled?

The first title record I can find on my car was issued 11/26/64...
Last edited by kevinshi on Sun May 31, 2020 6:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Thanks,
kevin
1965 Caliente Convertible
5H25A525287 (76DM6204L5416)

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poboyjo65
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Re: When was my car built?

Post by poboyjo65 »

Look on the door pad,has a date. build date at top near paint code. if it is a month after aug then it will be 64,but if it is before aug then it is 65. There is no ''i'' code so skip to ''j'' when figuring the month code. A= jan b=feb.... & so on
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kevinshi
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Re: When was my car built?

Post by kevinshi »

04L - November 4th. So that is 1964?
Thanks,
kevin
1965 Caliente Convertible
5H25A525287 (76DM6204L5416)

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poboyjo65
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Re: When was my car built?

Post by poboyjo65 »

kevinshi wrote:
Sat May 30, 2020 3:56 pm
04L - November 4th. So that is 1964?
yep!
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poboyjo65
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Re: When was my car built?

Post by poboyjo65 »

kevinshi wrote:
Sat May 30, 2020 12:55 pm


The first I can find was issued 11/26/64...
the build date is a projected date from what I understand,& may not be the actual date the car was finished but very close. if it got pulled off the line to fix mistake or whatever,that might cause a delay.
I have some vins/dates wrote down trying to find one closer to my vin & figure out when my build date should be,the earliest vins I have is H ,sept. the earliest is 27H & last 5 digits are 05414,the other one is 28H & 05833.
the closest I have to yours is 5H27A525106 06L date & is a said hipo,(maybe be reason for its delay)
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kevinshi
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Re: When was my car built?

Post by kevinshi »

Augh, I mistakenly omitted a few words from my original post (now corrected).

I had written (as you quoted me) "The first I can find was issued 11/26/64..." when I meant to instead write "The first title record I can find on my car was issued 11/26/64..."

Nevertheless your additional information is super interesting, many thanks.

Also what is that building behind your car in your signature picture?
Thanks,
kevin
1965 Caliente Convertible
5H25A525287 (76DM6204L5416)

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poboyjo65
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Re: When was my car built?

Post by poboyjo65 »

That was the last standing roundhouse of the N.C.& St.L RR (Nashville,Chattanooga & St.Louis Railway). It was torn down a year or 2 back. L&N RR bought out NC& STLrr back in the 50's ,& now it is CSX I think. the turn table has been gone & building hasn't been used in several decades. It was in the next town over from me in what was once a thriving RR town.
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kevinshi
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Re: When was my car built?

Post by kevinshi »

Interesting, thanks for explaining.

It sure is an awesome backdrop for a great picture of an awfully good looking car! :-)
Thanks,
kevin
1965 Caliente Convertible
5H25A525287 (76DM6204L5416)

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poboyjo65
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Re: When was my car built?

Post by poboyjo65 »

Thank you! :D
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kevinshi
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Re: When was my car built?

Post by kevinshi »

kevinshi wrote:
Sat May 30, 2020 12:55 pm
...the 25,287th car built in its year...
...is that "year" the calendar year in which it was assembled (1964) or the model year (September 1, 1964 to August 31, 1965)?

Also that number is the count of all cars assembled in the plant (Lorraine), independent of the male/model, correct? (E.g. that is not the number of Comets built but the number of all cars built.)
Thanks,
kevin
1965 Caliente Convertible
5H25A525287 (76DM6204L5416)

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Jims65cyclone
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Re: When was my car built?

Post by Jims65cyclone »

Not sure about the calendar or model year, but it is the total number of cars built at the plant, regardless of make/model.

Jim
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poboyjo65
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Re: When was my car built?

Post by poboyjo65 »

It would be of the model year. & Pretty sure that is only comets but all models of comets at that plant. I think Albert said they would shut down & re tooled during a lot of aug. so the run for the most part would be from sep to july. but I'd guess a few cars got built in aug as they tested & dialed everything in.

Here are some production numbers,which would be all plants. but over 160 thousand comets made in 65.
https://www.mercurystuff.com/1965-models/index.html
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