How to decode a 1997 Ford Mustang VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1997 Ford Mustang VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code assigned to every vehicle manufacturer by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). This code provides detailed information about the vehicle, including its country of manufacture, manufacturer name, and vehicle type. For the 1997 Ford Mustang, the WMI is “1FA”, indicating it was built by Ford Motor Company in the United States, specifically in Dearborn, Michigan. This particular code is designated for passenger cars produced by Ford, covering model years from 1981 to 2004 and resuming from 2015 to 2024. The WMI is the first segment of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), serving as a key identifier in the automotive industry for tracking and registration purposes.
List of WMI Codes for a 1997 Ford Mustang
WMI: 1FA
- Model Years Covered: 1981-2004, 2015-2024
- Example VIN: 1FALP45X0VF103919
- 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 1997 Ford Mustang 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 1997 Ford Mustang:
| Known VDS for a 1997 Ford Mustang | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LP45X | LP444 | LP46V | LP47V | LP42X | LP404 |
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 1997 Ford Mustang 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 1997 Ford Mustang VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| V | 1997 |
11th Character in the 1997 Ford Mustang VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1997 Ford Mustang Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F | Dearborn | Michigan | United States | 1FALP45X0VF103919 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1997 Ford Mustang
The final 6 characters in a 1997 Ford Mustang’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Check your Ford Mustang’s VIN below:
How to find a 1997 Ford Mustang’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1997 Ford Mustang is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Examine the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Ford Mustang, where the VIN is typically visible through the windshield.
- Look at the door post (where the door latches when it is closed) on the driver’s side for a Ford Mustang, as there is often a sticker with the VIN.
- The VIN may also be found under the hood of your Ford Mustang; it’s usually on a label on the front of the engine block.
- Inspect the rear wheel well of the Ford Mustang. You can sometimes find the VIN above the tire on the frame when looking from behind the wheel.
- Check beneath the spare tire in the trunk of your Ford Mustang, as the VIN is sometimes located here on a sticker or a plate.
What info can a 1997 Ford Mustang VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN may reveal the vehicle’s model year, possibly being the year 1997, offering insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
- Vehicle Type and Body Class: It can indicate that the vehicle is potentially a Passenger Car with a body class of Convertible/Cabriolet, suggesting both the type and style of the car.
- Engine Specifications: Detailed engine information, such as being manufactured by Ford with a V-Shaped, 4.6 Liter (281 CI) engine capable of possibly generating between 260 to 305 horsepower, illustrates the vehicle’s potential power.
- Fuel Type: The primary fuel type for this vehicle may be Gasoline, possibly indicating what kind of fuel it might use to operate efficiently.
- Safety Features: This dataset may include safety features like Front Air Bag Locations in the 1st Row (Driver and Passenger), along with the presence of Manual Seat Belts, potentially underscoring the vehicle’s safety equipment.
- Plant Information: Manufacturing details like the plant city possibly being Dearborn, in the state of Michigan, United States, might provide insights into the vehicle’s potential origin and production location.
- Notable Engine and Restraint Details: Additional engine info such as Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) and restraint system info highlighting 3-point seat belts in all outboard positions might be indicative of the vehicle’s potential technological and safety specifications.
Don’t have your 1997 Ford Mustang’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1997 Ford Mustang
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Coupe |
| Displacement (CC) | 4604.764984 |
| Displacement (CI) | 281 |
| Displacement (L) | 4.6 |
| Doors | 2 |
| Engine Brake (hp) From | 260 |
| Engine Brake (hp) To | 305 |
| Engine Configuration | V-Shaped |
| Engine Manufacturer | Ford |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 8 |
| Front Air Bag Locations | 1st Row (Driver and Passenger) |
| 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 | Mustang |
| Model Year | 1997 |
| Other Engine Info | EFI: Electronic Fuel Injection |
| Other Restraint System Info | Seat Belts: 3-point belts in all outboard positions. |
| Plant City | Dearborn |
| Plant Company Name | |
| Plant Country | United States |
| Plant State | Michigan |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Series | Cobra |
| Valve Train Design | Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 1FALP47V*VF |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | 1FALP47V0VF101681 |
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