Quote:
Originally Posted by terrypm
I would also hope our first 86 cars would have vin numbers 1-86 also. They are called the "First 86" right?
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We should be able to tell from the VIN which one we got (1 - 86) but I don't know that they will be numbered that way, and they may not even be sequential.
I'm not sure how VINs work when you build multiple "brands" on the same assembly line. I suppose it would be possible we could have holes in the sequence, and it may start somewhere other than 1. I don't think the VIN identifies the brand, it identifies the manufacturer.
Here's what I was able to find after a quick search:
NHTSA and ISO Standard Comparison
ISO Standard
VIN Position
NHTSA
WMI
1-3
WMI
VDS
4-8
VDS
9
Check Digit
VIS
10
Year
11
Manufacturing Plant
12-17
Sequential Number
<500 vehicles
Manufacturer Identifier
12-14
Manufacturer Identifier
Sequential Number
15-17
Sequential Number
Components of a VIN
Positions 1-3: WMI (World Manufacturer Identifier)
This is an alpha-numeric, three digit code that occupies positions one through three of the VIN. It identifies the manufacturer and country of origin of the vehicle. The first digit of the WMI tells you the general geographic area of manufacturer. The second designates the country of origin. The third digit designates the manufacturer. In addition, from 1981 to 2010 the third digit is used to indicate the category of vehicle.
For manufacturers producing < 500 of a given type of vehicle annually, the third digit of the WMI will be “9”, and will not uniquely identify the manufacturer. In these cases, the 12th -14th digits will also be assigned by a regulatory body, and will need to be considered along with the WMI to uniquely identify the manufacturer of the vehicle.
Positions 4-8: VDS (Vehicle Descriptor Section)
The fourth to eighth digits are set aside to capture descriptive elements of the vehicle. This is the meat of the VIN from a decoding standpoint. Almost all of the valuable information encoded in a VIN is found here. However, some elements of the vehicle captured are left to the manufacturer. Complicating things further, each manufacturer has a unique system of encoding information into the VIN. The amount and type of information varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. However, some common data is always captured including engine, body type, restraint system and GVW Range(for Light Duty Vehicles and MPV's)
For MY2010 forward, all light duty/passenger vehicles are required to use the 4th digit to identify the category of vehicle.
Position 9: The Check Digit / Vehicle Checksum
The ninth digit of the VIN is used to provide a check digit that can used to verify the validity of an encountered VIN using a calculation. The check digit can be any number between one and nine, as well as “X” which represents the number ten for calculation purposes. In VIN decoders it is used, along with a check for characters I, O and Q, to determine if a VIN is valid. While only required in North America, it is utilized extensively abroad.
Position 10: Model Year
The model year is required to be captured in the 10th digit for all US vehicles. There are 30 characters approved for use in position 10 (I,O,Q,U,Z and 0 are excluded). Since the VIN Standard has been in use for over 30 years one should consider the 7th digit to determine the vehicles model year. If the 7th digit is numeric the model year is between 1981 and 2009. If it is an alpha character it is MY2010 or later.
Position 11: The Manufacturing Plant
The eleventh digit is used to identify the specific plant and plant location that the vehicle was manufactured in.
Position 12-17: The Serial Number
This is the sequentially assigned final portion of the VIN. In cases of small manufacturers, less than 500 vehicles annually, digits 12-14 are assigned to uniquely identify the manufacturer.