How to decode a 1982 Ford Thunderbird VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1982 Ford Thunderbird VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code that identifies the manufacturer of a vehicle, providing specific details such as the country of manufacture, vehicle type, and the make. For a 1982 Ford Thunderbird, the WMI would denotate Ford Motor Company as the manufacturer, spotlighting this iconic model’s origins from Dearborn, Michigan, in the United States. This 3-character code, positioned at the beginning of the vehicle’s VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), not only affirms Ford as the maker but also classifies the vehicle as a passenger car. Understanding the WMI is essential for precise vehicle identification, showcasing how each part of the VIN holds valuable information about the car’s manufacturing background and specifics. Hence, for anyone researching or verifying the 1982 Ford Thunderbird, the WMI serves as a foundational key in tracing its lineage.
List of WMI Codes for a 1982 Ford Thunderbird
WMI: 1FA
- Model Years Covered: 1981-1997, 2002-2005
- Example VIN: 1FABP4239CH131250
- 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 1982 Ford Thunderbird 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 1982 Ford Thunderbird:
| Known VDS for a 1982 Ford Thunderbird | |
|---|---|
| BP423 | BP42D |
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 1982 Ford Thunderbird 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 1982 Ford Thunderbird VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| C | 1982 |
11th Character in the 1982 Ford Thunderbird VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1982 Ford Thunderbird Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H | Lorain | Ohio | United States | 1FABP4239CH131250 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1982 Ford Thunderbird
The final 6 characters in a 1982 Ford Thunderbird’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
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How to find a 1982 Ford Thunderbird’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1982 Ford Thunderbird is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Examine the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Ford Thunderbird, near where the windshield meets the dash. It’s often visible from outside the vehicle.
- Look at the door post (where the door latches when it is closed) on the driver’s side. It is common for the VIN to be on a sticker or plate in this location.
- Check under the hood of your Ford Thunderbird for a metal plate or sticker that might display the VIN.
- Inspect the frame of the car, around the area of the front driver’s side tire for a VIN stamped into the metal. You may have to turn the wheel to fully see this area.
- Some older vehicles like the 1982 Ford Thunderbird may have the VIN located on the front engine block, which can be seen by looking under the hood.
- Finally, consider looking at the rear wheel well on the driver’s side, as sometimes the VIN might be found above the tire.
What info can a 1982 Ford Thunderbird VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 1982, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
- Manufacturing Details: It often includes specifics about the manufacturing location, such as the plant city, state, and country - in this instance, there’s a chance that the 1982 Ford Thunderbird was manufactured in Lorain, Ohio, United States.
- Vehicle Specifications: The VIN provides detailed information about the vehicle’s specifications, such as the make being Ford, the model being Thunderbird, the body class being Sedan/Saloon, and the number of doors being 2.
- Engine Details: Insights into the engine’s characteristics, such as its configuration being V-Shaped, displacement at 3.8L or 232CI, and manufacturer by Ford may possibly be derived from a VIN.
- Fuel Type: The VIN can reveal the primary fuel type the vehicle uses, which, for this Ford Thunderbird, is possibly gasoline.
- Safety Features: VINs can give information about a vehicle’s safety systems, exemplified by the Thunderbird’s possible use of active belts.
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): The VIN discloses the vehicle’s GVWR, indicating that there’s a chance that this Thunderbird falls within Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less).
Don’t have your 1982 Ford Thunderbird’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1982 Ford Thunderbird
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Sedan/Saloon |
| Displacement (CC) | 3801.798848 |
| Displacement (CI) | 232 |
| Displacement (L) | 3.8 |
| Doors | 2 |
| Engine Brake (hp) From | 120 |
| Engine Configuration | V-Shaped |
| Engine Manufacturer | Ford |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 6 |
| 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 | Thunderbird |
| Model Year | 1982 |
| Other Engine Info | Central fuel injection/2V 2 BBL |
| Other Restraint System Info | Active Belts |
| Plant City | Lorain |
| Plant Company Name | |
| Plant Country | United States |
| Plant State | Ohio |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 1FABP423*CH |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | 1FABP4239CH131250 |
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