How to decode a 1985 Ford LTD VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1985 Ford LTD VIN
WMI, which stands for World Manufacturer Identifier, is a unique three-digit code assigned to every vehicle manufacturer by country, type, and manufacturer. It forms the first segment of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which uniquely identifies individual motor vehicles. For a 1985 Ford LTD, the WMI would indicate whether the car was manufactured in the United States with a WMI of “1FA” by Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan, or in Canada with a WMI of “2FA” by Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd. in Oakville, Ontario. These specific WMIs help in identifying the exact origin and the manufacturer of the 1985 Ford LTD, indicating its production in either the U.S. or Canada. This system plays a critical role in vehicle tracking, registration, and recall processes.
List of WMI Codes for a 1985 Ford LTD
WMI: 1FA
- Model Years Covered: 1984-1986
- Example VIN: 1FABP39M2FG152962
- Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Dearborn
- State or Province: Michigan
- Country: United States WMI: 2FA
- Model Years Covered: 1983-1986
- Example VIN: 2FABP43GXFX131618
- Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd.
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Oakville
- State or Province: Ontario
- Country: Canada
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1985 Ford LTD 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 1985 Ford LTD:
| Known VDS for a 1985 Ford LTD | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BP39M | BP43F | BP393 | BP43G | BP44F | BP42F |
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 1985 Ford LTD 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 1985 Ford LTD VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| F | 1985 |
11th Character in the 1985 Ford LTD VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1985 Ford LTD Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | Chicago | Illinois | United States | 1FABP39M2FG152962 | |
| X | Talbotville | Ontario | Canada | 2FABP43GXFX131618 | |
| Z | Hazelwood (St. Louis) | Missouri | United States | 1FABP43F4FZ110426 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1985 Ford LTD
The final 6 characters in a 1985 Ford LTD’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Want to unlock even more detailed info about your vehicle?
How to find a 1985 Ford LTD’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1985 Ford LTD is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 1985 Ford LTD, which is typically viewable through the windshield.
- Examine the door jamb on the driver’s side of your Ford LTD, where a sticker or plate with the VIN might be located.
- Check the engine bay, as VINs were sometimes stamped onto the engine firewall of the 1985 Ford LTD.
- Look beneath the spare tire in the trunk area, as some Ford LTD models have the VIN located there.
- Inspect the vehicle’s frame, as VINs can sometimes be found stamped on the frame, especially near the front where the frame sections are joined.
What info can a 1985 Ford LTD VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year to be 1985, offering insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
- Vehicle Specifications: The VIN shows that the vehicle is a Ford LTD model, equipped with a V-Shaped engine configuration and operates on gasoline as its primary fuel type.
- Engine Details: The VIN provides information about the engine’s manufacturer, which is Ford in this case, along with specifics like a displacement of 5.0 liters (302 cubic inches) and an engine power ranging from 150 to 160 horsepower.
- Body Class and Size: The VIN indicates that the vehicle is a Sedan/Saloon with 4 doors, offering insights into the vehicle’s size and capacity.
- Manufacturing Information: Details about the manufacturing location are included in the VIN, pinpointing Hazelwood (St. Louis), Missouri, United States, which could be useful for understanding the origins and standards of the vehicle’s production.
- Safety Features: Details like the type of seat belt can be surmised from the VIN, with this vehicle featuring manual seat belts, giving an indication of the safety features installed.
- Fuel Efficiency and Engine Performance: The VIN provides information on the engine’s fuel injection system, labeled as Central Fuel Injection 2BBL, allowing for inferences about the vehicle’s fuel efficiency and performance characteristics.
Don’t have your 1985 Ford LTD’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1985 Ford LTD
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Sedan/Saloon |
| Displacement (CC) | 4948.893328 |
| Displacement (CI) | 302 |
| Displacement (L) | 5.0 |
| Doors | 2 |
| Engine Brake (hp) From | 150 |
| Engine Brake (hp) To | 160 |
| Engine Configuration | V-Shaped |
| Engine Manufacturer | Ford |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 8 |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Model | LTD |
| Model Year | 1985 |
| Other Engine Info | Central Fuel Injection 2BBL |
| Plant City | Talbotville |
| Plant Company Name | |
| Plant Country | Canada |
| Plant State | Ontario |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Series | CROWN VICTORIA |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 2FABP42F*FX |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | 2FABP42F0FX125965 |
Ready, Set, Bumper...
Try Bumper today and learn more about a vehicle you plan to buy or already own.
TRY Bumper Today