Interesting Find - R with an "FA6" VIN

Sort of like the odd one-off R that was recently posted showing a standard dash plaque, I recently came across this car at a Chicago dealership, but hadn't noticed this oddity with the VIN - it's not an "FAT" VIN, but rather "FA6."

Here's a link to the dealership listing with pics, including one of the door jamb data tag... note VIN, but that the tag also lists the capacity as 2-front and 0-rear.

I also ran the VIN through the window sticker generator and it comes up as an R, so it looks like this one slipped through. Can't help but wonder if this would cause issues many years down the road when someone is trying to sell it as a collector car and has to prove it isn't a clone.

http://www.currieford.com/auto/new-...350r-frankfort-il-near-new-lenox-il/25147078/

Pic of the car....

Interesting. Well guess it sure would be a point to sell it below MSRP!

My 2018R is a FA6 and is JR 101

Another concern I'd have as the owner would be how insurance would work. Imagine that you give the VIN of your car to your agent and they write a policy, then you have a claim and the insurance disallows certain things - maybe that expensive rear wing, a splitter, or a wheel or two, as those are R parts and your VIN and policy were written for a standard GT350. Sheesh - this could be a real can of worms now that I think about it.

Well my insurance has my vin and insured it for the proper amount plus I have Gap through Ford so I am not woried. I think this is normal for 2018 Rs.

Offboost said:

My 2018R is a FA6 and is JR 101

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That car is JR106, so not far off from yours.

Hmmm - maybe not an oddity after all. Does anyone know if all the 2018 Rs will have have a "6" instead of a "T" as the fourth character?

Muligan said:

That car is JR106, so not far off from yours.

Hmmm - maybe not an oddity after all. Does anyone know if all the 2018 Rs will have have a "6" instead of a "T" as the fourth character?

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The postings I’ve seen of 18’ Rs in my area all seem to be FA6. Really threw me off the first time I saw it.

I thought all 2018s were FA6

That car is local to me - keep meaning to go see it.

This had me scratching my head and wondering what the "6" and "T" indicate in the VIN sequence, so I did a bit more research on decoding Mustang VIN numbers.

What I found is that it's related to the restraint systems....

6 = Seat belts, front/side airbags
T = Seat belts, front/knee airbags

That got me to thinking about whether the fact that the R is listed as a 2 seater due to the rear seat delete and whether Ford did something different with the restraint system, like leaving out some airbags - maybe the side curtain.

I then found that the convertibles all have the "T" designation - and they obviously don't have side curtain airbags.

Well, now I'm guessing, but it could be that since the rear seat is now offered for the R that Ford has decided to include the full compliment of coupe airbags in the car. Interesting, though, that they made a restraint distinction on the earlier cars.

Hoping Harry chimes in here, as he seems to always have the answers to esoteric things like this.

Tomster said:

I thought all 2018s were FA6

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Tom - Looks like you're correct... all of the 2018 Rs that I could find on the Ford Partner inventory search showed VINs with the "6".

Tomster said:

I thought all 2018s were FA6

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They are, you are correct.

Muligan said:

Tom - Looks like you're correct... all of the 2018 Rs that I could find on the Ford Partner inventory search showed VINs with the "6".

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Chris, last Fall I was told by Dearborn that both VIN designations would be used for the 2018 R's but have yet to see "FATP" used so far and obviously a change from the previous 3 MY's.

On another note I expect to hear something on my car this week and hope that you do as well.

Will let you know how I make out as the week goes on.

;)

Unrelated to VIN, truth in advertising....81K MSRP crossed out????

same same, JR003 with FA6 for 18'