Ford Verification Letter - questions?

[pete r]

G’day,

The good people at Ford sent me a verification letter for my AU1 XR8. It says the dealer was “3999 Ford Motor Company”. All the other verification letters I’ve seen list a particular dealer. Did Ford sell direct from the factory?

It has the Tickford body kit, Momo steering wheel and gear knob but doesn’t have a Tickford plate. I’ve heard dealers also fitted Tickford parts to new cars and so they didn’t get a Tickford plate. But this dealer is Ford itself...confusing?

We know AUs were released in September 1998 and this one being stamped July ‘98 means it was a pretty early one. Maybe Ford used it for something?

Anybody have any insights or ideas?

Cheers and beers!

[PG2]

It was more than likely a press car.

Being an early build car it was more than likely used by journalists for magazine articles.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by PG2

It was more than likely a press car.

Being an early build car it was more than likely used by journalists for magazine articles.

My thoughts too. High spec and early build.

[XR Martin]

It's probably the one they used in all the promotional pictures at the time?

[pete r]

So...then Ford would have sold it as demo stock, probably to a dealer? It would have been regarded as a used vehicle and so no dealer registered on the verification letter?

[PG2]

Originally Posted by pete r

So...then Ford would have sold it as demo stock, probably to a dealer? It would have been regarded as a used vehicle and so no dealer registered on the verification letter?

Correct. Sort of.

Back then, when Ford were finished with them they were put through the auctions (Fowles IIRC - Bossxr8 may know which auction house for sure).

Fowles were a dealer only auction. Actually, Fowles ran franchise only auctions where franchise dealers got first opportunity to bid on them, for example, only Ford dealers could bid on Fords etc.

They were a very up market auction house. Very professional. I used to be a dealer buyer and it was an auction that I always looked forward to going to.

[pete r]

Thanks PG2, this makes sense. It’s really interesting stuff

[pete r]

BTW it also has the white Tickford Instrument cluster. Maybe she’s a bit of a bitsa?

[au350hp]

GT Legend posted this 20/1/20 re Dealer Code 3999

'3999 dealer code is Ford Australia dealer code, used on any internal employee drive car, media or promotional vehicle and retirees who can purchase or lease cars for them or their family who can nominate a dealer to pick it up from.'

[Tommie]

How do you go about receiving one of these verification letters?

[ThaFlash]

email them here, i got one too recently

foacust1@ford.com

Here is a copy of my email to them

----- email ------
Good Morning,



I am wondering if you could tell me about factory options on my Falcon please?



Including info of the field campaign sticker, as I can't find anything on that.



Any info would be great. Details below, taken off attached stickers/labels.



VIN: 6FPAAAJGXXXXXXX

SIDO: 67XXXX

MODEL: 18435

ENGINE: Y

TRANS: W

TRIM: BG

PAINT: M7

BUILT: JAN 05

FT AX

RRAX



Field Campaign Sticker: Ref. No. PRGC373 - Completion Date: 4/4/11



Cheers,

XXXX

[pete r]

Also give them your personal details, they'll ask for them if you don't

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by PG2

Correct. Sort of.

Back then, when Ford were finished with them they were put through the auctions (Fowles IIRC - Bossxr8 may know which auction house for sure).

Fowles were a dealer only auction. Actually, Fowles ran franchise only auctions where franchise dealers got first opportunity to bid on them, for example, only Ford dealers could bid on Fords etc.

They were a very up market auction house. Very professional. I used to be a dealer buyer and it was an auction that I always looked forward to going to.

You remind me, when Fowles ran the Ford dealer-only-auctions it was fenced off from the regular auction stock. on some day's when i used to drop in and see what was for sale pre-auction you could clearly hear the dealer only auction taking place and drool at the prices they paid.

[pete r]

A follow up question - would the early build date and it being a 3999 car be the reason there is no Tickford plate despite it having Tickford options?

[You Yangs]

Tyres?
It states the car came with 5x 17" wheels but then says later on down the list a strange tyre size of 205/35/R15 Economy Comfort.
Weird

[pete r]

It had 17" Tickford wheels on it. The 15" has got me too, it'd be a bit of a tight fit.
And I can't imagine 205/35s being too comfortable!

[Smoke Pursuit]

To clear a few things up.

Yes this would have been an internal car, employee, media or lease car.

Odd that it doesnt have the plate but for those options to be listed they were fitted factory.

The 15 inch tyre thing was because that was the tyres it left the Ford plant on. It had the 17's fitted over at Tickford.

All said and done it should be a pretty special car if its clean!

As for dealer only Auctions they still run out of Manheims at Altona. No cheap cars there at the moment tho, they are all bringing big dollars.

[pete r]

Thanks SP. It’s not really clean but it is tidy and on its way to being clean again.

It’s a gem of a car, a joy to drive. It’s the best looking car I’ve seen. I love her to bits

[PG2]

Originally Posted by pete r

Thanks SP. It’s not really clean but it is tidy and on its way to being clean again.

It’s a gem of a car, a joy to drive. It’s the best looking car I’ve seen. I love her to bits

image

Was that car from the hunter valley?

[pete r]

Yes it is that car!

[pete r]

Uhoh...why? It has needed quite a bit of work but is getting there.

[PG2]

Originally Posted by pete r

Uhoh...why? It has needed quite a bit of work but is getting there.

Murrurundi?

No major probs that I know of with it. It did need some tidying up though.

If it is the same car, a car dealer owned it. He told me it has had a bit of work done to the engine.

What happened to the stripes?

[pete r]

It does go well, definitely cammy but not sure what sort. I’ll get around to measuring it. It now has all new bushes front and rear, wheel bearings, diff, clutch and cable and firewall repairs. Rides really well now, no noises clunks or whines.

I removed the stripes... they were a bit, you know...

[LTDHO]

Originally Posted by pete r

G’day,

The good people at Ford sent me a verification letter for my AU1 XR8. It says the dealer was “3999 Ford Motor Company”. All the other verification letters I’ve seen list a particular dealer. Did Ford sell direct from the factory?

It has the Tickford body kit, Momo steering wheel and gear knob but doesn’t have a Tickford plate. I’ve heard dealers also fitted Tickford parts to new cars and so they didn’t get a Tickford plate. But this dealer is Ford itself...confusing?

We know AUs were released in September 1998 and this one being stamped July ‘98 means it was a pretty early one. Maybe Ford used it for something?

Anybody have any insights or ideas?

Cheers and beers!

image

3999 means the first owner was a Ford employee.

These 'verification' letters are riddled with errors, some incredible obvious. I would refer to them in having any merit at all. I got one for each of my five, just out of interest, nothing more.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by LTDHO

3999 means the first owner was a Ford employee.

These 'verification' letters are riddled with errors, some incredible obvious. I would refer to them in having any merit at all. I got one for each of my five, just out of interest, nothing more.

No it means it was owned by Ford, not an employee. Although it could be a lease car, pool car or press vehicle.

[pete r]

Here’s a pic of the instrument cluster. White isn’t normal is it, was it an option in 1998?
Or maybe they used it because it was an internal Ford car - and they could?

This thing is becoming more of a mystery

[pete r]

I need to resize my pics!

[Bossxr8]

More likely a previous owner installed it.

[Tommie]

I finally got around to applying for a verification letter for my FGX XR8. First one I received last week referred to it as an N/A..? So I asked them to re-look at it. Just received second one today, they took out was the N/A reference.... Also no reference to production numbers, just details on my car? Has anyone else with an FGX XR8 received different references on the 'Engine' section. No big deal just curious.

Will ask for a letter for my BA XR8 next. May come back with a reference to it being an Ecoboost...

[GTLEGEND]

Originally Posted by You Yangs

Tyres?
It states the car came with 5x 17" wheels but then says later on down the list a strange tyre size of 205/35/R15 Economy Comfort.
Weird

I am guessing thats a typo and should be 15 x7"??