How to decode a 1987 Buick Riviera VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1987 Buick Riviera VIN
World Manufacturer Identifiers (WMIs) serve as unique codes assigned to every vehicle manufacturer, revealing crucial information about the vehicle, including its make, country of origin, and vehicle type. The WMI for the 1987 Buick Riviera, “1G4”, indicates that this vehicle was manufactured by General Motors LLC in the United States, specifically in Michigan. This particular WMI designation was active during various years, including 1987, identifying vehicles as passenger cars. The city of origin for this make and model is Warren, located in the state of Michigan. This system ensures that each vehicle can be globally identified, providing a standardized method for tracking automotive history and specifications.
List of WMI Codes for a 1987 Buick Riviera
WMI: 1G4
- Model Years Covered: 1981-1985, 1987, 1989-1993, 1995-1999
- Example VIN: 1G4EZ1138HU412838
- 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 1987 Buick Riviera 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 1987 Buick Riviera:
| Known VDS for a 1987 Buick Riviera |
|---|
| EZ113 |
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 1987 Buick Riviera 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 1987 Buick Riviera VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| H | 1987 |
11th Character in the 1987 Buick Riviera VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1987 Buick Riviera Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U | Hamtramck | Michigan | United States | Na-Clcd | 1G4EZ1138HU412838 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1987 Buick Riviera
The final 6 characters in a 1987 Buick Riviera’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
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How to find a 1987 Buick Riviera’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1987 Buick Riviera is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 1987 Buick Riviera. The VIN can usually be seen through the windshield.
- Examine the door jamb on the driver’s side of your Buick Riviera. It’s common to find a VIN sticker where the door latches.
- Check the engine block of your Buick Riviera where the VIN may be stamped directly onto the engine itself.
- Inspect the frame of the vehicle; the VIN might be located on the chassis of the Buick Riviera, often towards the front.
- Review your vehicle’s registration documents, insurance card, or title, where the VIN of your 1987 Buick Riviera will be printed.
What info can a 1987 Buick Riviera VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, potentially indicating the year 1987 and offering insights into the age and market value of the vehicle.
- Make and Model: The VIN may decode to reveal the make and model of the vehicle, possibly indicating it is a Riviera.
- Engine Specifications: Details about the engine, including its configuration as V-Shaped, displacement (such as 3.8 Liters or 231.890 CI), and the type of fuel injection (Multipoint Fuel Injection - MPFI) might be gleaned from the VIN.
- Fuel Type: The primary fuel type for the vehicle can be specified, for example, Gasoline.
- Body Class and Doors: The VIN can disclose the body class of the vehicle, like Coupe, and the number of doors, possibly indicating in this case it has 2 doors.
- Manufacturing Details: Information about the manufacturing, including the plant city (Hamtramck), state (Michigan), and country (United States), can be deduced from the VIN.
- Safety Features: Basic safety equipment such as the type of seat belt (Manual) installed in the vehicle may be indicated.
Don’t have your 1987 Buick Riviera’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1987 Buick Riviera
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Coupe |
| Displacement (CC) | 3800.0 |
| Displacement (CI) | 231.89022755998 |
| Displacement (L) | 3.8 |
| Doors | 2 |
| Engine Configuration | V-Shaped |
| Engine Manufacturer | BOCF |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 6 |
| Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type | Multipoint Fuel Injection (MPFI) |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Model | Riviera |
| Model Year | 1987 |
| Plant City | Hamtramck |
| Plant Company Name | NA-CLCD |
| Plant Country | United States |
| Plant State | Michigan |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 1G4EZ113*HU |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | 1G4EZ1138HU412838 |
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