Anyone confirm correct details on compliance plate for Ford Escort Sundowner Van

Hi, have a lead on a Sundowner, can't seem to find what the compliance plate regards model etc should read....can anyone confirm details? Ta Billy

Hey dude did some snooping on the net and found some Ford info.

According to this a Sundowner is either 7P or 8P depending on engine size.

The VIN on the engine or car will be 6 characters long, for example, JG63UM or AL1JYM. These are decoded as follows;

First character = Product source.
A = USA, C = UK, J = Australia and S = Japan. Am not sure what U is, could be Thailand, Korea or the likes. At any rate, this code shows up for the Laser’s, Meteor’s and Telstar’s.

Second character = Assembly plant.
G = Broadmeadows - (Passenger), L = Broadmeadows – (Truck), H = Brisbane and K = Sydney

3rd & 4th characters = Body Series
See below

5th & 6th characters = year and month of production respectively

Therefore;
A = USA source
L = Assembled at Broadmeadows Truck plant
1J = F100 4x2
Y = 1981
M = March

Typically, most A and C sourced cars came in the form of parts manufactured overseas and then fully assembled here in Australia e.g. F Series, Escorts & Cortina’s.

The complete list of Body Series codes are shown below.
1C = Transit 125 End/Side Load Van
1D = Transit Sundowner Van
1J = F100 4x2
1K = F700
1T = F100 Bronco
2C = Transit 125 Kombi
2D = Transit 175 Side Load Van
2J = F250
2K = F750
2P = Escort 2-Door GL Van 2000cc (CK build)
2R = Laser 5-Door L Sedan. (UK/UG build).
3C = Transit 125 Chassis Cab
3H = Telstar 4-Door GL Sedan. (UG build).
3J = F350
3K = F800 and F8000
3P = Escort 2-Door GL Sedan 2000cc (CK build)
3R = Laser 3-Door GL Sedan. (UK/UG build).
3S = Meteor 4-Door GL Sedan. (UK/UG build).
4C = Transit 125 Bus
4H = Telstar TX5. (UG build).
4J = F500
4K = F100 4x4
4P = Escort 4-Door GL Sedan 2000cc (CK build)
4R = Laser 5-Door GL Sedan. (UK/UG build).
5C = Transit 175 Van
5H = Telstar 4-Door S Sedan. (UG build).
5K = F350 4x4
5P = Escort 4-Door XL/GL Sedan 1600cc (CK build)
5R = Laser 3-Door Sport. (UK/UG build).
6C = Transit 175 Chassis Cab
6J = F600
6P = Escort 4-Door Ghia Sedan 2000cc (CK build)
7C = Transit 175 Chassis Windshield
7H = Telstar 4-Door Ghia Sedan. (UG build).
7P = Escort Sundowner Van 1600cc (CK build)
8C = Transit 150 Bus
8H = Telstar 5 door TX5. (UG build).
8P = Escort Sundowner Van 20000cc (CK build)
8R = Laser 5-Door Ghia. (UK/UG build).
8S = Meteor 4-Door Ghia Sedan. (UK/UG build).
9C = Transit 125 PMG Kombi
11 = Futura Sedan. (JH/JG build).
12 = Futura Taxi. (JH/JG build).
14 = Capri Deluxe Sedan. (CK build)
17 = Capri GT Sedan. (CK build)
21 = Falcon Sedan. (JH/JG build).
22 = Falcon Taxi. (JH/JG build).
23 = Falcon 500 Sedan. (JH/JG build).
24 = Falcon 500/GL Taxi. (JH/JG build).
25 = Falcon S Sedan. (JH/JG build).
26 = Falcon S Wagon. (JH/JG build).
30 = Capri XL Sedan. (CK build)
30 = Falcon Wagon. (JH/JG build).
31 = Falcon 500 Wagon. (JH/JG build).
32 = Fairmont GXL. (JH/JG build).
33 = Falcon GT Sedan. (JH/JG build).
34 = Fairmont Sedan. (JH/JG build).
35 = Fairmont Wagon. (JH/JG build).
36 = Fairmont Ghia Wagon. (JH/JG build). (Released October 1986)
36 = Fairlane Custom. (JH/JG build). (dis-continued may 1976)
37 = Fairlane 500. (JH/JG build).
38 = Fairlane Custom Taxi. (JH/JG build).
39 = Fairlane 500 Taxi. (JH/JG build).
40 = Escort 2-Door L Sedan 1600cc (CK build)
40 = Falcon utility. (JH/JG build).
41 = Escort 2-Door RS 2000 (CK build)
41 = Falcon 500 utility. (JH/JG build).
42 = Escort 4-Door L Sedan (CK build)
42 = Falcon Van. (JH/JG build).
43 = Escort 4-Door L Sedan (CK build)
43 = Falcon 4wd Ute. (JH/JG build).
44 = Falcon GLS Ute. (JH/JG build).
44 = Escort 2-Door XL/GL Sedan 1600cc (CK build)
45 = Falcon 500 Van. (JH/JG build).
46 = Escort 2-Door Ghia Sedan 1600cc (CK build)
47 = Falcon Sundowner Van. (JH/JG build).
48 = Escort 2-Door XL Super Luxury (CK build)
49 = Escort 2-Door GT Sedan 1600cc (CK build)
50 = Escort 2-Door L Van 1600cc (CK build)
51 = Escort 2-Door XLGL Van 1600cc (CK build)
52 = Cortina L Sedan (Taxi) 4-cyl. (CK/CG build)
53 = Cortina XR Sedan Bench Seat. (CK/CG build)
54 = Cortina XL Wagon Bench Seat. (CK/CG build)
55 = Cortina GL Sedan Bucket Seat (Taxi). (CK/CG build)
56 = Cortina GL Sedan 4-Cyl (XL Sedan Bucket Seats) . (CK/CG build)
57 = Cortina Ghia Sedan 4-Cyl (XLE Sedan). (CK/CG build)
58 = Cortina GL Sedan 6-Cyl. (CK/CG build)
59 = Cortina GL Wagon 6-Cyl. (CK/CG build)
60 = Cortina Ghia Sedan 6-Cyl. (CK/CG build)
61 = Cortina L Sedan Taxi 6-Cyl. (CK/CG build)
62 = Galaxie Sedan. AK/JG build).
63 = Fairlane marquis. (JH/JG build).
64 = Fairlane Ghia. (JH/JG build).
65 = Falcon 500 coupe. (JG build).
66 = Falcon GT coupe. (JG build).
67 = Fairmont coupe. (JG build).
70 = Landau hardtop. (JG build).
71 = LTD. (JH/JG build).
75 = Cortina Fordor Deluxe and LSedan Bench Seat. (CK/CG build)
76 = Cortina GL Wagon 4-Cyl (XL Wagon Bucket Seats). (CK/CG build)
78 = Cortina GT and GTL Sedans. (CK/CG build)
79 = Cortina L Sedan 4-Cyl. (CK/CG build)
80 = Cortina L Wagon 4-Cyl. (CK/CG build)
81 = Cortina L Sedan 6-Cyl. (CK/CG build)
82 = Cortina L Wagon 6-Cyl. (CK/CG build)
83 = Cortina Ghia Wagon 4-Cyl. (CK/CG build)
84 = Cortina Ghia Wagon 6-Cyl. (CK/CG build)

To make it easier, I have split them into their own groups.

Falcon Passenger
11 = Futura Sedan. (JH/JG build).
12 = Futura Taxi. (JH/JG build).
21 = Falcon Sedan. (JH/JG build).
22 = Falcon Taxi. (JH/JG build).
23 = Falcon 500 Sedan. (JH/JG build).
24 = Falcon 500/GL Taxi. (JH/JG build).
25 = Falcon S Sedan. (JH/JG build).
26 = Falcon S Wagon. (JH/JG build).
30 = Falcon Wagon. (JH/JG build).
31 = Falcon 500 Wagon. (JH/JG build).
32 = Fairmont GXL/Ghia Sedan. (JH/JG build).
33 = Falcon GT Sedan. (JH/JG build).
34 = Fairmont Sedan. (JH/JG build).
35 = Fairmont Wagon. (JH/JG build).
36 = Fairmont Ghia Wagon. (JH/JG build). (Released October 1986)
65 = Falcon 500 coupe. (JG build).
66 = Falcon GT coupe. (JG build).
67 = Fairmont coupe. (JG build).

Falcon Commercial
40 = Falcon utility. (JH/JG build).
41 = Falcon 500 utility. (JH/JG build).
42 = Falcon Van. (JH/JG build).
43 = Falcon 4wd ute. (JH/JG build).
44 = Falcon GLS ute. (JH/JG build).
45 = Falcon 500 Van. (JH/JG build).
47 = Falcon Sundowner Van. (JH/JG build).

Cortina
52 = Cortina L Sedan (Taxi) 4-cyl. (CK/CG build)
53 = Cortina XR Sedan Bench Seat. (CK/CG build)
54 = Cortina XL Wagon Bench Seat. (CK/CG build)
55 = Cortina GL Sedan Bucket Seat (Taxi). (CK/CG build)
56 = Cortina GL Sedan 4-Cyl (XL Sedan Bucket Seats). (CK/CG build)
57 = Cortina Ghia Sedan 4-Cyl (XLE Sedan). (CK/CG build)
58 = Cortina GL Sedan 6-Cyl. (CK/CG build)
59 = Cortina GL Wagon 6-Cyl. (CK/CG build)
60 = Cortina Ghia Sedan 6-Cyl. (CK/CG build)
61 = Cortina L Sedan Taxi 6-Cyl. (CK/CG build)
75 = Cortina Fordor Deluxe and L Sedan Bench Seat. (CK/CG build)
76 = Cortina GL Wagon 4-Cyl (XL Wagon Bucket Seats). (CK/CG build)
78 = Cortina GT and GTL Sedans. (CK/CG build)
79 = Cortina L Sedan 4-Cyl. (CK/CG build)
80 = Cortina L Wagon 4-Cyl. (CK/CG build)
81 = Cortina L Sedan 6-Cyl. (CK/CG build)
82 = Cortina L Wagon 6-Cyl. (CK/CG build)
83 = Cortina Ghia Wagon 4-Cyl. (CK/CG build)
84 = Cortina Ghia Wagon 6-Cyl. (CK/CG build)

Capri
14 = Capri Deluxe Sedan. (CK build)
17 = Capri GT Sedan. (CK build)
30 = Capri XL Sedan. (CK build)

Laser
2R = Laser 5-Door L Sedan. (UK/UG build).
3R = Laser 3-Door GL Sedan. (UK/UG build).
4R = Laser 5-Door GL Sedan. (UK/UG build).
5R = Laser 3-Door Sport. (UK/UG build).
8R = Laser 5-Door Ghia. (UK/UG build).

Meteor
3S = Meteor 4-Door GL Sedan. (UK/UG build).
8S = Meteor 4-Door Ghia Sedan. (UK/UG build).

Telstar
3H = Telstar 4-Door GL Sedan. (UG build).
4H = Telstar TX5. (UG build).
5H = Telstar 4-Door S Sedan. (UG build).
7H = Telstar 4-Door Ghia Sedan. (UG build).

Escort
40 = Escort 2-Door L Sedan 1600cc (CK build)
41 = Escort 2-Door RS 2000 (CK build)
42 = Escort 4-Door L Sedan (CK build)
43 = Escort 4-Door L Sedan (CK build)
44 = Escort 2-Door XL/GL Sedan 1600cc (CK build)
46 = Escort 2-Door Ghia Sedan 1600cc (CK build)
48 = Escort 2-Door XL Super Luxury (CK build)
49 = Escort 2-Door GT Sedan 1600cc (CK build)
50 = Escort 2-Door L Van 1600cc (CK build)
51 = Escort 2-Door XLGL Van 1600cc (CK build)
2P = Escort 2-Door GL Van 2000cc (CK build)
3P = Escort 2-Door GL Sedan 2000cc (CK build)
4P = Escort 4-Door GL Sedan 2000cc (CK build)
5P = Escort 4-Door XL/GL Sedan 1600cc (CK build)
6P = Escort 4-Door Ghia Sedan 2000cc (CK build)
7P = Escort Sundowner Van 1600cc (CK build)
8P = Escort Sundowner Van 20000cc (CK build)

Fairlane/Galaxie/LTD
36 = Fairlane Custom. (JH/JG build). (dis-continued may 1976)
37 = Fairlane 500. (JH/JG build).
38 = Fairlane Custom Taxi. (JH/JG build).
39 = Fairlane 500 Taxi. (JH/JG build).
62 = Galaxie Sedan. (AK/JG build).
63 = Fairlane Marquis/Sportsman. (JH/JG build). (ZH = Marquis & ZJ onwards = Sportsman).
64 = Fairlane Ghia. (JH/JG build).
70 = Landau hardtop. (JG build).
71 = LTD. (JH/JG build).

F Series
1J = F100 4x2
4K = F100 4x4
1T = F100 Bronco
2J = F250
3J = F350
5K = F350 4x4
4J = F500
6J = F600
1K = F700
2K = F750
3K = F800 and F8000

Transit
1C = Transit 125 End/Side Load Van
2C = Transit 125 Kombi
3C = Transit 125 Chassis Cab
4C = Transit 125 Bus
5C = Transit 175 Van
6C = Transit 175 Chassis Cab
7C = Transit 175 Chassis Windshield
8C = Transit 150 Bus
9C = Transit 125 PMG Kombi
1D = Transit Sundowner Van
2D = Transit 175 Side Load Van

Ta Rob, I'd just found a similar page after some frustrating surfing.....

Here's something else to add to your shopping list Billy.

Didn't know they made them until I seen these.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Ford-Escort-SUNDOWNER-Decal-Kits-/261126960765?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3ccc61367d

Hi Billy, Escorts are classified by the model number on the compliance plate. Mk 2 Sundowners are;
41788 12/77 - 12/78 1.6L
41789 12/77 - 12/78 2.0L
41988 12/78 - end of production 1.6L
41989 12/78 - end of production 2.0L

I have a 41789, as well as a Transit Sundowner.

Post your paint, trim and trans prefixes and I can decifer them as well.

Cheers,

David.

bc escort van 4/1980
ck8pxg 90998 r 35
is what I've been given , so it appears to be a 2L Sundowner by the ck8p, x should be 1980 g? 90998? r? 35? Ford werent real helpful

Hi Billy,

Contact Ford Australia Customer Service by email or phone with the VIN and they will send you a report on the Sundowner. I just recently did my sundowner and they even told me that it was optioned with integrated airconditioner!

They are helpful if you give them the correct VIN and your identification as well as ownership.

I have done this also with my other Fords.