How to decode a 1988 Alfa Romeo Milano VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1988 Alfa Romeo Milano VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code used to identify the manufacturer of a vehicle globally. It forms the first three characters of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), distinguishing where, by whom, and in what type the vehicle was made. For the 1988 Alfa-Romeo Milano, the WMI is “ZAR”, indicating that the vehicle was manufactured by Alfa Romeo S.p.A. in Torino, Piedmont, Italy. This specific WMI tells us that the vehicle is a passenger car produced in a country with a rich automotive history. The establishment of such identifiers is crucial for ensuring vehicles can be accurately tracked, regulated, and recalled if necessary, no matter where they are in the world.
List of WMI Codes for a 1988 Alfa Romeo Milano
WMI: ZAR
- Model Years Covered: 1987-1988
- Example VIN: ZARDB1401J1250733
- Manufacturer Name: Alfa Romeo S.p.A.
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Torino
- State or Province: Piedmont
- Country: Italy
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1988 Alfa Romeo Milano 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 1988 Alfa Romeo Milano:
| Known VDS for a 1988 Alfa Romeo Milano |
|---|
| DB140 |
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 1988 Alfa Romeo Milano 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 1988 Alfa Romeo Milano VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| J | 1988 |
11th Character in the 1988 Alfa Romeo Milano VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1988 Alfa Romeo Milano Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Milan | Lombardy | Italy | ZARDB1401J1250733 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1988 Alfa Romeo Milano
The final 6 characters in a 1988 Alfa Romeo Milano’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Check your Alfa Romeo Milano’s VIN below:
How to find a 1988 Alfa Romeo Milano’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1988 Alfa Romeo Milano is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of the 1988 Alfa Romeo Milano. The VIN is commonly found on a plate that can be seen through the windshield.
- Open the driver’s side door and inspect the door jamb. The VIN can typically be found on a sticker or plate where the door latches when it is closed.
- Look under the hood of the Alfa Romeo Milano; the VIN might also be stamped on the firewall of the engine compartment.
- Check the rear wheel well. Sometimes the VIN is placed above the tire on the frame.
- Lift the trunk carpet or look in the spare tire well. The VIN might be located there, often on a sticker or plate.
- Examine your vehicle’s insurance or registration documents, as they will always contain the VIN of your 1988 Alfa Romeo Milano.
What info can a 1988 Alfa Romeo Milano VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 1988, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
- Manufacturing Location: The VIN can provide information about where the vehicle was manufactured, in this case, Milan, Lombardy, Italy, which can give insight into the production and design influences of the vehicle.
- Vehicle Specifications: The VIN can indicate that the vehicle is a Milano model with a trim level of A3 Gold, and it is classified under the Sedan/Saloon body class, providing a detailed view into the vehicle’s design and style.
- Engine Specifications: The VIN has provided details about the engine, indicating that it is equipped with a 2.5 L engine with a displacement measured in both CC (2500.0) and CI (152.55936023683), highlighting the engine size and potential performance capabilities.
- Transmission Details: The VIN offers information about the transmission, indicating that the vehicle features an automatic transmission style with 3 speeds, providing insight into the level of control and driving experience one can expect.
- Safety Features: The VIN lists an automatic seat belt type, which can be an important safety feature indicative of the vehicle’s era and safety standards.
- Vehicle Identification: The sample VIN provided, ZARDB1401J1250733, along with the specific vehicle descriptor (ZARDB140*J1), could allow for detailed vehicle identification, potentially revealing more about the vehicle’s history and specifics not directly listed.
Don’t have your 1988 Alfa Romeo Milano’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1988 Alfa Romeo Milano
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Sedan/Saloon |
| Displacement (CC) | 2500.0 |
| Displacement (CI) | 152.55936023683 |
| Displacement (L) | 2.5 |
| Doors | 4 |
| Model | Milano |
| Model Year | 1988 |
| Plant City | Milan |
| Plant Company Name | |
| Plant Country | Italy |
| Plant State | Lombardy |
| Seat Belt Type | Automatic |
| Transmission Speeds | 3 |
| Transmission Style | Automatic |
| Trim | A3 Gold |
| Vehicle Descriptor | ZARDB140*J1 |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | ZARDB1401J1250733 |
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