How to decode a 1983 Chevrolet Malibu VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1983 Chevrolet Malibu VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is the first three characters of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which uniquely identify the vehicle’s manufacturer, country of origin, and vehicle type. For the 1983 Chevrolet Malibu, the WMI “1G1” indicates that this vehicle was manufactured by General Motors LLC in the United States, specifically in Warren, Michigan. As part of the VIN, this code is pivotal in providing specific information about the vehicle, including its manufacture year, which for this example spans from 1981 to 1983 and resumes from 1997 to 2024. This identifier also reveals that the 1983 Chevrolet Malibu is classified as a passenger car, providing a quick reference to understand key aspects of the vehicle’s origin and category.
List of WMI Codes for a 1983 Chevrolet Malibu
WMI: 1G1
- Model Years Covered: 1981-1983, 1997-2024
- Example VIN: 1G1AW35H2DR282719
- 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 1983 Chevrolet Malibu 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 1983 Chevrolet Malibu:
| Known VDS for a 1983 Chevrolet Malibu | |
|---|---|
| AW35H | AW35A |
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 1983 Chevrolet Malibu 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 1983 Chevrolet Malibu VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| D | 1983 |
11th Character in the 1983 Chevrolet Malibu VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1983 Chevrolet Malibu Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | Arlington | Texas | United States | 1G1AW35H2DR282719 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1983 Chevrolet Malibu
The final 6 characters in a 1983 Chevrolet Malibu’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
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How to find a 1983 Chevrolet Malibu’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1983 Chevrolet Malibu is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Examine the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Chevrolet Malibu. Typically, the VIN can be seen through the windshield on a small plate attached to the dashboard.
- Look inside the door frame or on the door post of the driver’s side door of your Chevrolet Malibu. The VIN is often placed on a label or sticker where the door latches when closed.
- Check under the hood of your Chevrolet Malibu. The VIN might be stamped on the front of the engine block.
- Inspect the rear wheel well of your Chevrolet Malibu. Sometimes the VIN can be found above the tire on the frame.
- Lift the trunk mat or look in the trunk area of your Chevrolet Malibu. You may find the VIN on the spare tire wheel well or on the trunk’s lid.
- If your Chevrolet Malibu still has its original paperwork or maintenance book, the VIN should also be printed in those documents.
What info can a 1983 Chevrolet Malibu VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year as 1983, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
- Body Class and Doors: It may indicate the vehicle’s body class as a Wagon with 4 doors, offering clues to its design and functionality.
- Engine Details: The VIN encodes specifics about the engine, such as it being a V-Shaped, 5.0L (5000 CC or 305.1187204736 CI) with 8 cylinders, manufactured by Chevrolet.
- Fuel Type: The VIN may indicate the primary fuel type for this vehicle as Gasoline, highlighting its fuel consumption nature and potential environmental impact.
- Safety Features: The inclusion of Manual seat belts is a safety feature detail that can be deduced, reflecting the safety standards at the time of manufacture.
- Manufacturing Location: Details about the vehicle’s manufacturing, including being assembled in Arlington, Texas, United States, can be gleaned, offering insights into its production origin.
- Vehicle Descriptor and Sample VIN: The VIN provides a unique vehicle descriptor “1G1AW35H*DR” and a sample VIN “1G1AW35H2DR282719”, illustrating how to decode and identify specific vehicles among similar models.
Don’t have your 1983 Chevrolet Malibu’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1983 Chevrolet Malibu
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Wagon |
| Displacement (CC) | 5000 |
| Displacement (CI) | 305.1187204736 |
| Displacement (L) | 5 |
| Doors | 4 |
| Engine Configuration | V-Shaped |
| Engine Manufacturer | Chevrolet |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 8 |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Model | Malibu |
| Model Year | 1983 |
| Plant City | Arlington |
| Plant Company Name | |
| Plant Country | United States |
| Plant State | Texas |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 1G1AW35H*DR |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | 1G1AW35H2DR282719 |
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