[net.auto] VIN coding scheme

parnass@ihuxf.UUCP (08/09/83)

	    A recent news item asks:

       ----------------------------
       Does anyone know	what the parts of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
       are? I have a new Corvette and want to discover what's in a number.
       Thanks in advance.
       -------------------------



	    The	shop manuals for my '80	Chevy Blazer and  '74  Jeep
	    CJ-5  both	contained  an  explanation  of	the Vehicle
	    Identification  Number  (VIN)  with	 respect  to  those
	    particular vehicles.

	    The	VIN system for the Chevy/GMC light duty	trucks goes
	    something like this:

	       o+ 1st letter: Division (C=Chevy,	T=GMC)

	       o+ 2nd letter: Chassis Type (e.g.	 Conventional  Cab,
		 Chevy	Van  &	Sport  Van,  Conventional  Cab 4X4,
		 Forward Control)

	       o+ 3rd letter: Engine Type (e.g. D=4.1L  250  CID	 L6
		 2bbl, W=7.4L 454 CID V8 4bbl, etc.)

	       o+ 1st numeric digit: Model (e.g.	1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, 1
		 ton, 1/2 ton with HD suspension)

	       o+ 2nd  numeric  digit:  Body  Style  (e.g.   Blazer,
		 Chassis Cab, Motor Home Chassis, etc.)

	       o+ 4th letter: Model Year	(A=1980)

	       o+ 5th letter: Assembly Plant (i.e.  A=GMAD  Lakewood
		 GA, F=Chevrolet Flint MI, etc.)

	       o+ last numeric digits: Plant Sequential Number


	    The	example	VIN listed in my book is CCD13AF100007.

	    Another number of interest is the Engine  Code  Number,
	    which  indicates  manufacturing plant, month and day of
	    manufacture, and transmission type.	 This coding scheme
	    may	well be	peculiar to GMC	products.

		    Robert S. Parnass  - Bell Laboratories - Naperville, IL
			    ihnp4!ihuxf!parnass

jim@grkermit.UUCP (Jim Morton) (08/10/83)

	the Vehicle ID Number coding scheme is outlined for just about
	every type of car in the back pages of any N.A.D.A. Used Car
	Guide. (used car "bluebook" - actually it's orange).

	Jim Morton,  GenRad Inc., Concord, MA  	...decvax!genrad!grkermit!jim