Decoding 

VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)
Body Number Plate
Build Date
Paint Code
Trim Code
Engine Codes
Transmission Codes
Rear Axle Codes
Production Numbers 

VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)

Sample VIN:     1G2AW87H6DL200001

1 (Origin)...................................... USA

G (Manufacture)........................... General Motors

2 (Make)...................................... Pontiac

A (Restraint System)...................... Non-Passive

W (Series)..................................... S = Firebird

                                                      W = trans Am

                                                       X = S/E

87 (Body Style)............................. 2 Door Coupe

H (Engine)..................................... 2 = 2.5L 151 CID (RPO LQ9) 

                                                      1 = 2.8L 173 CID (RPO LC1)

                                                      L = 2.8L H.O. 173 CID (RPO LL1)

                                                      H = 5.0L 305 CID (RPO LG4)

                                                      S = 5.0L 305 CID (RPO LU5) Crossfire F.I.

                                                      7 = 5.0L H.O 305 CID (RPO L69) Mid Year Introduction

6 (Check Digit, See below)............ (1-9)

D (Model Year)............................. 1983

L (Plant Code)................................ L = Van Nuys, CA

                                                       N = Norwood, OH

200001 ......................................... Sequence Number

How to Calculate the Check digit

To determine the check digit you need to take the VIN and assign any letters in the VIN with the set numbers below:

A = 1, B = 2, C = 3, D = 4, E = 5, F = 6, G = 7, H = 8, J = 1, K = 2, L = 3, M = 4, N = 5, O = 6, P = 7, R = 9, S = 2, T = 3, U = 4, V = 5, W = 6, X = 7, Y = 8, Z = 9

Any numbers in the VIN remain the same and you will end up with a 17 digit number. Then multiply each of the 17 digits by a set "weight" (multiplier). The weight applied to each digit is as follows:

1st = 8, 2nd = 7, 3rd = 6, 4th = 5, 5th = 4, 6th = 3, 7th = 2, 8th = 10, 9th = 0, 10th = 9, 11th = 8, 12th = 7, 13th = 6, 14th = 5, 15th = 4, 16th = 3, 17th = 2

After multiplying each VIN digit by the associated weight - add up the results of all 17 products. Then divide by 11 and the remainder is your check digit.

If the remained is 10, then the check digit is 'X'.

Here's an example:

VIN = 1G1BL52P7TR115520 (note '7' is the check digit)

VIN 1 G 1 B L 5 2 P 7 T R 1 1 5 5 2 0

Assigned Values 1 7 1 2 3 5 2 7 7 3 9 1 1 5 5 2 0

Multiplier 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 10 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

Add the products: (1 X 8) + (7 X 7) + (1 X 6) ... (0 X 2) = 337 Divide 337 by 11 which gives you 30, and a remainder of 7 which is the same as the 9th digit of the VIN.
 

Body Number Plate

 Used on Van Nuys built cars (early builds)

Used on Norwood built cars

Build Date

Sample Build Date 09D

Paint type

Lacuquer.....................L

Enamel.......................E

Water........................W

1983 Paint Code

Color	Code	Sample
White	11
Silver Sand Metallic	15
Black	19
Light Royal Blue Metallic	22
Dark Royal Blue Metallic	27
Gold Metallic	55
Beige	59
Light Brown Metallic	62
Dark Gold Metallic	65
Dark Brown Metallic	67
Bright Red	75
Dark Sand Gray Metallic	82

1983  Trim Code  

* = Luxury trim group B20

** = Recaro

1983 Engine Codes

Transmission Codes

Turbo Hydra-matic 200C

Sample: 83CN1001

83 ..................................................Year (83)

CN ..............................................Application

1001 ...............Production Sequence Number