American Motors Corporation VIN Decoding, 1966-1988
Assembled from AMC materials in the National Automotive Historic Collection by Kelsey Wright
We are just starting our AMC VIN decoding section and it is still rather incomplete.
AMC cars, 1966-1969
A thirteen digit vehicle identification number (VIN) plate is welded to the top of the right wheel-house panel under the hood.
1970-1980
The VIN is stamped on a metal plate which is riveted into a depression at the upper left corner of the instrument panel and is also printed on a non-removable label affixed to the left front door adjacent to the door latch. There is some question as to whether this system lasted to 1980 on some cars.
The serial number is 100,001 through 699,999 if the vehicle is Kenosha built and it is 700,001 through 999,999 if it is Brampton built.
1981-1988
The VIN was a seventeen digit number, the last 6 digits being a serial number. The model year started at "A" in 1980. This system may have started in 1980 on Eagle Premier, 1981 on other cars. [This section is rather incomplete]
Engines built for sale in Georgia and Tennessee have an additional, nonrepeating number, on the engine block.
Engine Codes (see AMC engines page)
Body plate decoding
A unit body number plate riveted to the left front door below the door lock is visible when the door is open. Milwaukee built bodies start with Body Number 000001. Kenosha Main Body Plant built bodies start with Body number 000001. Kenosha Lake Front Plant built bodies started with Body Numbers A-1 and R-1. Brampton built bodies start with body number 700001. This plate includes the model, body, trim, paint code, and car built sequence numbers. The model number identifies the body style. This number when followed by numbers 2-5 or 7 designates the different groups of optional appointment built into the car as original equipment. The numbers on the plate must be listed when any references are made to the body or when ordering parts and material for the body. When reference is made to various parts of the body, both the name of the part and its location are essential. For example, a door, seat cushion, seat back, or fender should referred to as right or left, front or rear.
Assembled from AMC materials in the National Automotive Historic Collection by Kelsey Wright
We are just starting our AMC VIN decoding section and it is still rather incomplete.
AMC cars, 1966-1969
A thirteen digit vehicle identification number (VIN) plate is welded to the top of the right wheel-house panel under the hood.
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8-13 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A - American Motors Corp. | Year | Plant | Transmission | Body Type | Class of Body | Series, Engine | Serial Number |
Year (last digit of year)
Plant:
| Body Type:
Class of Body:
| Transmission:
|
The VIN is stamped on a metal plate which is riveted into a depression at the upper left corner of the instrument panel and is also printed on a non-removable label affixed to the left front door adjacent to the door latch. There is some question as to whether this system lasted to 1980 on some cars.
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8-13 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A - AMC | Year | Transmission | Series | Body Type | Group | Engine | Plant, Serial Number |
Year:
Series:
| Body Type:
Group:
| Transmission:
|
The serial number is 100,001 through 699,999 if the vehicle is Kenosha built and it is 700,001 through 999,999 if it is Brampton built.
1981-1988
The VIN was a seventeen digit number, the last 6 digits being a serial number. The model year started at "A" in 1980. This system may have started in 1980 on Eagle Premier, 1981 on other cars. [This section is rather incomplete]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6&7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Country | X - American Motors (Canada) Inc. | Type | Engine | Transaxle | Series | Restraint System/Trim Package | Check Digit | Year | Plant |
Country:
Type:
| Transaxle:
Series:
| Restraint System/Trim Package:
Model Year:
Assembly Plant:
|
Engines built for sale in Georgia and Tennessee have an additional, nonrepeating number, on the engine block.
Engine Codes (see AMC engines page)
A (1970) 199 OHV six, 1V (1971-1979) 258 OHV six (4.2 liter), 1 barrel B (1980+) 2.5 liter four-cylinder C (1979+) 258 (4.2 liter) OHV six, 2 barrel E (1970) 232 OHV six, 2V (1971-1979) 232 (3.8) OHV six, 1V F (1966-1970) 232 OHV six, 1V G (1966-1970) 232 OHV six, 2V (1977-79) 2-Liter Four, 2V H (1966-1979) 304 V8, 2V J (1966) 327 V8, 2V (Low Comp.) (1988) 3.0L (182 CID) V6, MPI, Renault, Gas K (1966) 327 V8, 4V (High Comp.) M (1966) 232 OHV Six, 2V (1974?) 304 (5.0) V8, 2V, 210 hp N (1966) 287 V8 (low comp.) 2V (1970-1978) 360 V8, 2V | P (1966) 327 V8 (low comp.) 2V (1970-1976) 360 V8, 4V Q (1966) 327 V8 (high comp.) 4V S (1966) 232 OHV six 2V T (1966) 287 V8 (high comp.) U (1966) 327 V8 (high comp.) 4V W (1966) 327 V8 (low comp.) 2V X (1970) 390 V8, 4V, 325 HP Y (1970) 390 V8, 4V, 340 HP Z (1971-1976) 401 V8, 4V (1988) 2.5L (150 CID) I-4, TBI, AMC, Gas |
A unit body number plate riveted to the left front door below the door lock is visible when the door is open. Milwaukee built bodies start with Body Number 000001. Kenosha Main Body Plant built bodies start with Body number 000001. Kenosha Lake Front Plant built bodies started with Body Numbers A-1 and R-1. Brampton built bodies start with body number 700001. This plate includes the model, body, trim, paint code, and car built sequence numbers. The model number identifies the body style. This number when followed by numbers 2-5 or 7 designates the different groups of optional appointment built into the car as original equipment. The numbers on the plate must be listed when any references are made to the body or when ordering parts and material for the body. When reference is made to various parts of the body, both the name of the part and its location are essential. For example, a door, seat cushion, seat back, or fender should referred to as right or left, front or rear.
A | A | A | X | B | B | X | C | C | C | X | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | X |
|
|
E | E | X | F | F | X | G | G | G | X |