Free 1981 Ford E-150 VIN Decoder

How to decode a 1981 Ford E-150 VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1981 Ford E-150 VIN

World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) codes are the initial sections of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), uniquely identifying the manufacturer of the vehicle worldwide. For instance, a 1981 Ford E-150 would have a VIN starting with “1FT”, where “1” denotes the vehicle was manufactured in the United States, “F” signifies it was produced by Ford Motor Company, and “T” indicates it is a truck. This coding system is essential for identifying vehicles accurately and is used globally. The WMI is crucial for registering vehicles, conducting recalls, and in law enforcement activities. It ensures each vehicle has a unique identifier that ties back to its manufacturer, model, and year of production.

List of WMI Codes for a 1981 Ford E-150

WMI: 1FT

• Model Years Covered: 1981-1984, 1988-2014
• Example VIN: 1FTDE14F2BHB13282
• Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company
• Vehicle Type: Truck
• City: Dearborn
• State or Province: Michigan
• Country: United States

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1981 Ford E-150 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 1981 Ford E-150:

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 1981 Ford E-150 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 1981 Ford E-150 VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 1981 Ford E-150 VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1981 Ford E-150 Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1981 Ford E-150

The final 6 characters in a 1981 Ford E-150’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

What info can a 1981 Ford E-150 VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, suggesting the vehicle is likely from the early 1980s, potentially being a 1981 model.
• Vehicle Type and Body Class: The VIN provides insight into the vehicle being a Truck with a specific Body Class of a Cargo Van. This detail can offer a general understanding of the vehicle’s purpose and design.
• Engine Specifications: Through the VIN, one can determine the engine’s characteristics, such as a V-Shaped configuration, 5 L (302 CI) displacement, and horsepower ranging from 143 to 150, manufactured by Ford with 8 cylinders. These details provide valuable information about the vehicle’s power and performance.
• Fuel Type: The primary Fuel Type for the vehicle is Gasoline, which can provide insights into fuel compatibility and, potentially, fuel efficiency.
• Drive Type: The Vehicle’s Drive Type is identified as 4x2, offering a glimpse into its drive system and potential off-road capability.
• Manufacturing Details: Details such as the manufacturing Plant City (Lorain), Plant Country (United States), and Plant State (Ohio) are encoded in the VIN, offering insight into the vehicle’s production location.
• Model, Series, and Trim: The VIN decodes to reveal the Model as an E-150, Series as Econoline, and Trim as Regular Cargo Van, providing a view of the vehicle’s market position and features. These details can offer specific information about the vehicle’s model and potential features.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1981 Ford E-150