The Identification plate above illustrates the 1963 Mercury Meteor Warranty Plate. The plate is located on the rear face of the left front door. The plate number is similar to the one used for 1962. However, the "Serial Number" block has changed to read "Vehicle Warranty Number". Also, included in the 1963 "DSO" space is the two-digit code number of the district which ordered the unit.

The official Vehicle Identification Number for title or registration purposes is stamped on the face of the left front fender apron near the windshield washer reservoir, above the horns. Do not use the "Vehicle Warranty Number", which appears on the Plate, for title or registration purposes.

The First numeral of the Vehicle Warranty Number Indicates the
Production model year. (3-1963)

CODE LETTER     ASSEMBLY PLANT
F               Dearborn
K               Kansas City
S               Pilot Plant

CODE          ENGINE
F             260 V-8
L             221 V-8
U             170 Six
3             221 V-8 Low Compression
4             170 Six Low Compression
8             260 V-8 Low Compression

The two-digit numeral which follows the assembly plant code identifies the body series. This two-digit number is used in conjunction with the body type code which consists of a 2 digit number with a letter suffix. The following chart lists the model serial and body type codes.

Meteor
SERIAL   BODY  BODY TYPE
32       54A   4-Door Sedan
31       62A   2-Door Sedan

Meteor Custom
SERIAL   BODY  BODY TYPE
42       54B   4-Door Sedan
41       62B   2-Door Sedan
43       65A   2-Door Hard Top
47       65B   2-Door Hard Top S-33

Station Wagon
SERIAL   BODY  BODY TYPE
48       71A   4-Door Meteor Custom, 8-Passenger
38       71B   4-Door Meteor, 6-Passenger
38       71C   4-Door Meteor Custom, 8-Passenger
49       71D   4-Door Wood Rail, 6-Passenger, Country Cruiser
48       71E   4-Door Meteor Custom, 6-Passenger
49       71F   4-Door Wood Rail, 8-Passenger, Country Cruiser

CODE     TYPE
1        3-Speed Manual
2        3-Speed Manual with Overdrive
3        2-Speed Automatic

CODE      AXLE RATIO
1         3:00 to 1
4         3:25 to 1
5         3:50 to 1
7         3:80 to 1

A two-digit number indicates the type of trim and trim color.

CODE          TRIM SCHEME
Rib Crush Vinyl and Crush Vinyl (police and Taxi)
03            Med. Green/Med. Green
04            Med. Beige/Med. Beige
05            Red/Red

CODE          TRIM SCHEME
Hi-Sheen Body Cloth and Crush Grain Vinyl
12            Med.Blue/Lt. Blue
14            Med.Beige/Pearl Beige
15            Black/Red
16            Black/Black
17            Med.Turquoise/Lt. Turquoise Met.

CODE          TRIM SCHEME
Vachetta Ribbed Vinyl and Crush Grain Vinyl
34            Black/Black
35            Red/Red
36            Lt. Beige Met/Pearl Beige

CODE          TRIM SCHEME
Kirby Pattern Body Cloth and Crush Grain Vinyl
42            Med. Blue/Lt. Blue Met.
44            Med. Beige/Pearl Beige
45            Black/Red
46            Black/Black
47            Med. Turquoise/Lt. Turquoise Met.

CODE          TRIM SCHEME
Crush Grain Vinyl        
52            Med. Blue Met./Lt. Blue Met.
54            Lt. Beige Met./Pearl Beige
55            Red
56            Black
57            Med. Turquoise Met./Lt. Turquoise Met.
58            Lt. Gold Met.

With two-tone paint application, the lower body color code will appear
first in the warranty plate. If the "Color" space is left blank,
it indicates a special paint.

LETTER     COLOR                        "M" NUMBER*
A          Presidential Black            M-30-J-1724
B          Peacock Turquoise             M-30-J-1613
D          Ocean Turquoise Metallic      M-30-J-1451
E          Pacific Blue Metallic         M-30-J-1448
I          Castilian Gold                M-30-J-1459
J          Carnival Red                  M-30-J-1515
H          Blue Satin Metallic           M-30-J-1447
M          Sultana White                 M-30-J-1238
P          Scotch Green                  M-30-J-1454
T          Champagne                     M-30-J-1543
W          Pink Frost                    M-30-J-1555
X          Black Cherry Metallic         M-30-J-1444
Y          Cascade Blue                  M-30-J-1553
Z          Dessert Frost  Metallic       M-30-J-1427
* M-32-J acrylic paint alternate with "M-30-J

A Number Signifying the date precedes the month code letter. Second
year code letter will be used if 1963 model exceeds 12 months.

MONTH                 CODE 1ST YEAR        CODE 2ND YEAR        
January               A                    N
February              B                    P
March                 C                    Q
April                 D                    R
May                   E                    S
June                  F                    T
July                  G                    U
August                H                    V
September             J                    W
October               K                    X
November              L                    Y
December              M                    Z

Units built on a Domestic Special Order(DSO), Foreign Special Order, or other special orders will have the complete order number in this space. Also to appear in this space (1963) is the two-digit code number of the District which ordered the unit.
If the unit is a regular production unit, only the District code number
(1963) will appear.

CODE            DISTRICT
11              Boston
12              Philadelphia
13              New York
14              Washington
21              Atlanta
22              Dallas
24              Jacksonville
25              Memphis
31              Buffalo
32              Cincinnati
33              Cleveland
34              Detroit
35              Pittsburgh
41              Chicago
43              Kansas City
44              St. Louis
45              Twin City
51              Denver
52              Los Angeles
53              Oakland
54              Seattle
81              Ford of Canada
84              Home Office Reserve
90-99           Export