How to decode a 1991 Pontiac Firebird VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1991 Pontiac Firebird VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is the first three characters of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which uniquely identify the manufacturer of the vehicle. In the context of the 1991 Pontiac Firebird, the WMI “1G2” denotes a vehicle manufactured by General Motors LLC, specifically indicating a passenger car category. This detail reveals that the car was crafted in the United States, with its production grounded in Warren, Michigan. The WMI is a critical element in decoding automotive history, tracing back to the origins and specifications of vehicles such as the iconic 1991 Pontiac Firebird. It aids in vehicle tracking, registration, insurance, and recall actions, signifying the global standard for classifying automotive manufacturers.
List of WMI Codes for a 1991 Pontiac Firebird
WMI: 1G2
- Model Years Covered: 1981-1992
- Example VIN: 1G2FW33F2ML241416
- Manufacturer Name: General Motors LLC
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Warren
- State or Province: Michigan
- Country: United States
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1991 Pontiac Firebird VIN
These characters correspond to components like:
- Engine type
- Transmission
- Model or trim
- Body style
- Gross vehicle weight range
Below find the known vehicle descriptor codes for a 1991 Pontiac Firebird:
| Known VDS for a 1991 Pontiac Firebird | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FW33F | FW23F | FS23F | FS23E | FW238 | FS23T | FS238 | FS33E |
Auto manufacturers have some discretion to decide how they want to code this section, but its contents and decoded results are generally consistent.
Character 9 is the “check digit” in a 1991 Pontiac Firebird VIN.
Based on a formula developed by the US Department of Transportation, it helps reduce fraud by ensuring the validity of the VIN.
10th Character in the 1991 Pontiac Firebird VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| M | 1991 |
11th Character in the 1991 Pontiac Firebird VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1991 Pontiac Firebird Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Oklahoma City | Oklahoma | United States | Oklahoma City Assembly | 1G2FW2383M6209942 |
| L | Van Nuys | California | United States | Cpc | 1G2FW33F2ML241416 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1991 Pontiac Firebird
The final 6 characters in a 1991 Pontiac Firebird’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Check your Pontiac Firebird’s VIN below:
How to find a 1991 Pontiac Firebird’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1991 Pontiac Firebird is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Pontiac Firebird, which is typically visible through the bottom corner of the windshield.
- Examine the door pillar on the driver’s side when you open the door, as the VIN may be found on a sticker or a plate where the door latches.
- Check under the hood for a VIN plate mounted on the firewall of your 1991 Pontiac Firebird.
- Inspect the rear wheel wells; sometimes the VIN can be found stamped onto the frame.
- Observe the front frame, usually on the driver’s side, which might have the VIN for the vehicle stamped onto the metal.
- Look at your vehicle’s title, registration, or insurance documents, as the VIN will be printed on all official Pontiac Firebird paperwork.
What info can a 1991 Pontiac Firebird VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 1991, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
- Plant Location: The VIN might indicate that this particular Firebird was produced in Van Nuys, California, United States, offering a glimpse into its manufacturing origin.
- Vehicle Specifications: The VIN can provide insights into the vehicle specifics, revealing it as a Convertible/Cabriolet with a V-Shaped, 8-cylinder engine manufactured by CPC, boasting a 5.0L displacement.
- Engine Details: Through the VIN, one can learn about the engine’s configuration and fuel system, such as this Firebird featuring a throttle body fuel injection (TBI) system and utilizing gasoline as its primary fuel type.
- Body Type and Doors: The vehicle’s body class and number of doors are encoded within the VIN, revealing this model is a Convertible/Cabriolet with 2 doors, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
- Safety Features: Safety features such as the presence of an airbag for the driver seat only can be identified from the VIN, emphasizing certain safety measures taken in the Firebird’s design.
- Seat Belt Type: From the VIN, the type of seat belt used in the vehicle can be identified as manual, highlighting another aspect of the vehicle’s safety and comfort features.
Don’t have your 1991 Pontiac Firebird’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1991 Pontiac Firebird
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback |
| Displacement (CC) | 5000.0 |
| Displacement (CI) | 305.11872047366 |
| Displacement (L) | 5.0 |
| Doors | 2 |
| Engine Configuration | V-Shaped |
| Engine Manufacturer | CPC |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 8 |
| Front Air Bag Locations | Driver Seat Only |
| Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type | Throttle Body Fuel Injection (TBI) |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Model | Firebird |
| Model Year | 1991 |
| Plant City | Van Nuys |
| Plant Company Name | CPC |
| Plant Country | United States |
| Plant State | California |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 1G2FS23E*ML |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | 1G2FS23E0ML212252 |
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