---
title: "Cowl Tag — Ford F100 Glossary | fordf100s.com"
description: "An F-100 firewall tag with build data such as paint code, body style, trim, date of manufacture, and other factory details."
canonical_url: "https://www.fordf100s.com/glossary/cowl-tag/"
last_updated: "2026-09-16"
---

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Glossary Term

#  Cowl Tag — Ford F100 Glossary 

An F-100 firewall tag with build data such as paint code, body style, trim, date of manufacture, and other factory details.

fordf100s.com · Updated September 16, 2026 

Definition

An identification tag mounted on the firewall or cowl area of an F-100, containing build data including paint codes, body style, trim, and date of manufacture.

The Cowl Tag is a stamped metal plate attached to the firewall or cowl area of an F-100 truck. It contains factory build information that can include the paint code, body type code, trim code, date of production, and assembly plant designation. The Cowl Tag often duplicates some information found on the Data Plate but may also contain additional codes not found elsewhere on the truck.

The tag is typically located on the top of the cowl under the hood, near where the hood meets the windshield, though the exact position varies by generation. On some years it is riveted to the firewall on the passenger side. Finding and reading the Cowl Tag is an important step in documenting any F-100, especially for trucks where the Data Plate is missing or damaged.

Decoding a Cowl Tag requires generation-specific reference charts, since Ford used different coding systems across model years. Online decoder tools and Ford truck reference books can help translate the stamped codes into meaningful specifications. For buyers, a legible Cowl Tag that matches the VIN and Data Plate adds confidence that the truck has not been significantly altered from its original configuration.

Related Terms

[ Data Plate ](/glossary/data-plate/)[ VIN Plate ](/glossary/vin-plate/)[ Concours ](/glossary/concours/) 

## Keep Exploring

[RestorationYour First F-100 Project Truck: Beginner's GuideBuying your first F-100 project truck? Learn which generation to choose, what to inspect, budget planning, tools, and mistakes to avoid.](/restoration/first-project-truck-guide/)[GenerationsAll GenerationsBrowse every F100 generation](/generations/)[ToolVIN DecoderDecode supported Ford F100 VIN formats](/vin-decoder/)

VIN Decoder

 Decode supported F-100 VIN formats, or use the 1961-1983 data plate decoder for source-backed paint, trim, axle, and transmission codes. 

[Decode a VIN → ](/vin-decoder/) [1961-1983 Data Plate Decoder → ](/data-plate-decoder/)