Numbers Decoding
Vin 1970-1980
| Division/Make | Carline/Series | Body Type | Engine | Model Year | Plant | Sequence Number | |
|
2 |
W |
8 |
7 |
Z |
8 |
L |
xxxxx |
| *1 | *2 | *3 | *4 | *5 | *6 | *7 | *7 |
*1 Division
| Code | Division/Make |
| 1 | Chevrolet |
| 2 | Pontiac |
| 3 | Oldsmobile |
| 4 | Buick |
| 5 | GMC Truck |
| 6 | Cadillac |
| 7 | GM of Canada |
| 0 | GM Overseas |
*2 Series
| Code | Series |
| S | Firebird |
| T | Firebird Esprit |
| U | Firebird Formula |
| W | Firebird Trans Am |
*3 Body Type
| Code | Body Type |
| 87 | 2 door Hardtop |
*4 Engine
| Code | Engine | Displacement | Source |
| A | V-6 | 231ci | Buick |
| W,Y | V-8 | 301 | Pontiac |
| U,G,H | V-8 | 305 | Chevrolet |
| L,R,X | V-8 | 350 | Chevrolet |
| X | V-8 | 350 | Chevrolet |
| Z | V-8 | 400 | Pontiac |
| K | V-8 | 403 | Oldsmobile |
*5 Year
| Code | Year |
| 6 | 1976 |
| 7 | 1977 |
| 8 | 1978 |
| 9 | 1979 |
| A | 1980 |
| B | 1981 |
*7 Plant
| Code | Plant |
| N | Norwood, OH |
| L | Van Nuys, CA |
*8 Sequential Number
| Code | Number |
| 000001 | First produced that year |
| 999999 | Last produced that year |
The 1970 and 1971 uses "28" instead of "W" to indicate a Trans Am. The
1970 and 1971 does not have an engine code in the VIN. The 1972 through
1974 use a "V" to indicate Trans Am. The 1975 through 1981 use "W" for
the Trans Am. The 1979 uses "X" for the Trans Am 10th Anniversary
Edition. The 1980 uses "X" for the Trans Am Indianapolis 500 Pace Car
and the 1981 uses "X" for the Daytona 500 Pace Car/Recaro Edition.
The 1970 and 1971 used sequence numbers 100001 through 600000 for V-8
equipped cars and 600001 through 999999 for 6 cylinder cars. The 1972,
1975 and 1976 sequence numbers are 500001 and up. All other years use
100001 and up.