How to decode a 1988 Chevrolet Corvette VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1988 Chevrolet Corvette VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code that identifies the manufacturer of a vehicle, providing insights into where the vehicle was built and its brand. The WMI forms the first three characters of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which is a comprehensive code that also includes details about the vehicle’s model, year, manufacturing plant, and serial number. For the Chevrolet Corvette 1988, the WMI “1G1” signifies that it was manufactured by General Motors LLC in the United States, specifically in Warren, Michigan. This highlights the car’s American roots and General Motors as its parent company. The WMI, therefore, serves as an essential tool for tracking the origin and authenticity of vehicles globally.
List of WMI Codes for a 1988 Chevrolet Corvette
WMI: 1G1
- Model Years Covered: 1981-1982, 1984-2024
- Example VIN: 1G1YY3180J5107662
- 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 1988 Chevrolet Corvette 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 Chevrolet Corvette:
| Known VDS for a 1988 Chevrolet Corvette | |
|---|---|
| YY318 | YY218 |
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 Chevrolet Corvette 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 Chevrolet Corvette VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| J | 1988 |
11th Character in the 1988 Chevrolet Corvette VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1988 Chevrolet Corvette Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Bowling Green | Kentucky | United States | Bowling Green Assembly Plant | 1G1YY3180J5107662 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1988 Chevrolet Corvette
The final 6 characters in a 1988 Chevrolet Corvette’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Check your Chevrolet Corvette’s VIN below:
How to find a 1988 Chevrolet Corvette’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1988 Chevrolet Corvette is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 1988 Chevrolet Corvette. The VIN should be visible through the windshield on the lower corner.
- Examine the driver’s side door jamb on your Corvette. The VIN can usually be found on a sticker or plate where the door latches.
- Check the front of the engine block. The VIN might be stamped onto the engine itself in your Chevrolet Corvette.
- Inspect the rear wheel well. The VIN might be visible just above the tire on your 1988 Corvette.
- Look for the VIN under the spare tire in the trunk area of your Chevrolet Corvette, as it might be located there on some models.
What info can a 1988 Chevrolet Corvette VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being possibly the year 1988, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
- Body Class and Size: Through a VIN, the body class and size of a vehicle can possibly be discerned, indicating a Corvette might be designed as a Coupe with 2 doors, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
- Engine Specifications: Details about the engine, including its possibly configured as V-Shaped, displacement of 5.7L, 5700 CC, or 347.83 CI, and possibly 8 cylinders, can be possibly learned from a VIN.
- Fuel Specifications: The type of fuel a vehicle might use, for example, gasoline, and its delivery system, such as Throttle Body Fuel Injection (TBI), are types of information a VIN might possibly provide.
- Manufacturing Details: A VIN can possibly reveal where a vehicle was possibly manufactured, including the specific city (Bowling Green), state (Kentucky), and country (United States), along with the name of the manufacturing plant (Bowling Green Assembly Plant).
- Safety Equipment: The type of seat belt (e.g., Manual) equipped in a vehicle, might signify its safety features, possibly being identified through a VIN.
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: Information on a vehicle’s weight class can possibly be obtained, with a VIN indicating it might fall within Class 1 (6,000 lb or less or 2,722 kg or less).
Don’t have your 1988 Chevrolet Corvette’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1988 Chevrolet Corvette
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Convertible/Cabriolet |
| Displacement (CC) | 5700.0 |
| Displacement (CI) | 347.83534133997 |
| Displacement (L) | 5.7 |
| Doors | 2 |
| Engine Configuration | V-Shaped |
| Engine Manufacturer | CPC |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 8 |
| Fuel Delivery / Fuel Injection Type | Throttle Body Fuel Injection (TBI) |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating To | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) |
| Model | Corvette |
| Model Year | 1988 |
| Plant City | Bowling Green |
| Plant Company Name | Bowling Green assembly plant |
| Plant Country | United States |
| Plant State | Kentucky |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 1G1YY318*J5 |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | 1G1YY3180J5107662 |
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