How to decode a 1986 Ford LTD VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1986 Ford LTD VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code given to each vehicle manufacturer around the globe to identify the make and location of production of their vehicles. For instance, the WMI for a 1986 Ford LTD produced by Ford Motor Company in Canada has the prefix ‘2FA’, indicating it was manufactured at Ford’s facility in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. Conversely, the same Ford LTD produced in the United States bears the WMI ‘1FA’, signifying its production at Ford’s Dearborn, Michigan, plant. These first three characters of a vehicle’s 17-character Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) provide crucial information regarding the vehicle’s origin, manufacturer, and vehicle type, offering a concise yet comprehensive snapshot of its production background.
List of WMI Codes for a 1986 Ford LTD
WMI: 2FA
- Model Years Covered: 1983-1986
- Example VIN: 2FABP43F1GX121147
- Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd.
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Oakville
- State or Province: Ontario
- Country: Canada WMI: 1FA
- Model Years Covered: 1984-1986
- Example VIN: 1FABP4034GG135642
- Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Dearborn
- State or Province: Michigan
- Country: United States
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1986 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 1986 Ford LTD:
| Known VDS for a 1986 Ford LTD | |
|---|---|
| BP43F | BP403 |
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 1986 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 1986 Ford LTD VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| G | 1986 |
11th Character in the 1986 Ford LTD VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1986 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 | 1FABP4034GG135642 | |
| X | Talbotville | Ontario | Canada | 2FABP43F1GX121147 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1986 Ford LTD
The final 6 characters in a 1986 Ford LTD’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Check your Ford LTD’s VIN below:
How to find a 1986 Ford LTD’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1986 Ford LTD is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Examine the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 1986 Ford LTD. The VIN is typically visible through the windshield on a small plate.
- Look at the door post on the driver’s side when the door is open. The VIN can often be found on a sticker where the door latches.
- Check the engine block for the VIN as it can be stamped onto the engine in your Ford LTD.
- Inspect the frame of your 1986 Ford LTD. VIN numbers were sometimes stamped into the frame or chassis during manufacturing.
- Review your vehicle’s paperwork, including the title, registration, or insurance papers, which usually list the VIN of your Ford LTD.
What info can a 1986 Ford LTD VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, being the year 1986, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
- Body Class and Doors: A VIN can specify the body class, and for the 1986 Ford LTD, this may indicate a Sedan/Saloon with 4 doors, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
- Engine Type: The VIN can reveal engine specifications, indicating an engine with a V-shaped configuration, 8 cylinders, and a displacement of 5.0 liters (302 cubic inches), generating between 150 to 160 horsepower. The engine is notably manufactured by Ford.
- Fuel Type: The VIN decodes the primary fuel type used by the vehicle, indicating gasoline as the energy source, which can give a hint to its potential fuel efficiency.
- Plant Details: It provides manufacturing details, specifying that the vehicle was manufactured in Talbotville, Ontario, Canada, pinpointing the vehicle’s exact manufacturing location, including the city and country.
- Safety Features: The VIN indicates the vehicle’s safety features, including manual seat belt type, ensuring insights into the safety measures incorporated into the vehicle.
- Drive Type: The VIN might reveal the drive type, helping in understanding the vehicle’s handling characteristics and drive configuration.
- Market Positioning: The VIN provides series designation as CROWN VICTORIA and notes it as a Passenger Car, offering further granularity on the vehicle’s market positioning and intended use.
Don’t have your 1986 Ford LTD’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1986 Ford LTD
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Sedan/Saloon |
| Displacement (CC) | 4948.893328 |
| Displacement (CI) | 302 |
| Displacement (L) | 5.0 |
| Doors | 4 |
| 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 | 1986 |
| 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 | 2FABP43F*GX |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | 2FABP43F1GX121147 |
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