Ford Escort Mk2-2-door 1600 Sport tag interpretation

[steven7389]

Good day people of African Muscle Cars. I recently purchased a Ford Escort which has these tags. I need help to interpret the tag of the vehicle please...
This is the tag of a Ford Escort vehicle...
P L E A S E - H E L P!

[IndianaJones]

First off, the tag does not seem to have its original rivets.

Decoding is, as follows:

C = Source ~ Ford of Europe
X = Assembly ~ Neave plant

AT = body type ~ Escort 2 door sedan

You’ve hidden the dating letters, Serial Number and Sido number

H = Engine ~ 1600cc 63kW
N = Trans ~ Floor shift 4 speed Manual
blank = Diff ratio code

I’ve not reviewed enough trim codes to come to a conclusion, and I have a feeling that there could have been discrepancies in the trim coding.
Also I’m not sure whether your plate shows “0C” or “CC”, the first letter is not distinctive.
Trim codes usually have 2 positions, sometimes 3.

If “0C”:
blank = If there were a letter in this position it would usually indicate a vinyl roof
0 = Single color interior trim
C = Bitter Chocolate/Tan interior

If “CC”:
blank = If there were a letter in this position it would usually indicate a vinyl roof
C = Bitter Chocolate/Tan interior
C = Bitter Chocolate/Tan interior

Or it could be “CC”, with the first “C” referencing a “Tan” vinyl roof.


Paint codes
0 = Monotone
F = Signal Yellow (non-metallic)

[steven7389]

These are the seats and great interior, no tears!

[steven7389]

The dating letters are AC

[IndianaJones]

Year & month assembled
A = 1980
C = May

Is it very clearly an "A"?

[steven7389]

Yes sir it's clearly an 'A'
Is this one of the last few from the factory?

[ZA Perana]

Yes sir it's clearly an 'A'
Is this one of the last few from the factory?

Does it really matter?

[IndianaJones]

Is this one of the last few from the factory?

I wouldn't quite bet on it, as I have it, the mk3 Escort was released at the Rand Easter show of 1981, that's almost a year after your one was assembled. The first mk3 CAR magazine tested, was in the June 1981 issue, and July 1981 for Wiel magazine.
Plus, you have to remember that the mk2 Escort was pretty much still an indispensable part of Ford's motorsport activities even into 1983.

[IndianaJones]

I think your rear interior panel should look like this...

[Simsy69]

Hi.. I'm in the UK and have just purchased a mk2 escort which has been imported from South Africa. I'm struggling to get a build date from the VIN number and wondered if you could help. the VIN number starts CX AT VM and I understand the VM denotes year and month of build but can't find what they translate to.
Any help would be much appreciated - thank you...