How to decode a 1981 Honda Civic VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1981 Honda Civic VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is the first three characters of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), indicating the manufacturer and the vehicle type. This unique code is standardized globally to identify the maker of a vehicle, providing specific information including the manufacturing country, company, and vehicle type. For instance, a 1981 Honda Civic has a WMI that designates Honda Motor Co., Ltd. as the manufacturer, with the production facilities located in Japan. This system allows for precise identification and tracing of vehicles, essential for registration, recall processes, and historical research. The WMI not only highlights the global nature of automotive manufacturing but also ensures a standardized method for vehicle identification worldwide.
List of WMI Codes for a 1981 Honda Civic
WMI: JHM
- Model Years Covered: 1981-1983, 1985-2012, 2018-2019, 2022-2023
- Example VIN: JHMST3431BS031303
- Manufacturer Name: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Tokyo
- State or Province: Musashi
- Country: Japan
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1981 Honda Civic 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 Honda Civic:
| Known VDS for a 1981 Honda Civic | |
|---|---|
| ST343 | WD552 |
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 Honda Civic 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 Honda Civic VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| B | 1981 |
11th Character in the 1981 Honda Civic VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1981 Honda Civic Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | Suzuka | Mie | Japan | JHMST3431BS031303 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1981 Honda Civic
The final 6 characters in a 1981 Honda Civic’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Check your Honda Civic’s VIN below:
How to find a 1981 Honda Civic’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1981 Honda Civic is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 1981 Honda Civic. The VIN can usually be seen through the windshield.
- Open the driver’s side door and examine the door pillar (the door jamb area). The VIN might be found on a sticker or a metal plate where the door latches when closed.
- Inspect the engine bay. The VIN can often be found stamped on the firewall inside the engine compartment of your Honda Civic.
- Check any official documentation related to your Honda Civic, such as the title, registration, or insurance policy, where the VIN will be recorded.
- Some 1981 Honda Civics may have the VIN stamped on the rear wheel well or underneath the spare tire in the trunk area.
- Look at the vehicle’s inspection stickers or the certificates of vehicle inspections as they often require the VIN to be recorded.
What info can a 1981 Honda Civic VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, like the year 1981, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
- Body Class: Decoding the VIN can determine the body class of the vehicle, indicating that it is a Sedan/Saloon, offering insights into its design and structure.
- Engine Specifications: The VIN can disclose engine details such as displacement in liters (1.488 L) and cubic inches (90.803 CI), providing insights into the vehicle’s performance capabilities.
- Transmission Details: Information regarding the transmission, including the style (Automatic) and the number of speeds (3), can be identified, giving a glimpse into the vehicle’s operational dynamics.
- Manufacturing Location: The VIN enables revealing the location where the vehicle was manufactured, including the city (Suzuka), country (Japan), and state (Mie), offering a trace of its origin.
- Safety Features: Basic safety features like the type of seat belt (Manual) are sometimes encoded within the VIN, hinting at the vehicle’s safety standards.
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: The VIN can provide the vehicle’s weight classification, in this case, indicating a Class 1 rating with 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less), which helps in understanding the vehicle’s size and potential usage.
Don’t have your 1981 Honda Civic’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1981 Honda Civic
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Sedan/Saloon |
| Displacement (CC) | 1488 |
| Displacement (CI) | 90.803331212 |
| Displacement (L) | 1.488000 |
| Doors | 4 |
| 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 | Civic |
| Model Year | 1981 |
| Plant City | Suzuka |
| Plant Company Name | |
| Plant Country | Japan |
| Plant State | Mie |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Transmission Speeds | 3 |
| Transmission Style | Automatic |
| Trim | GL ,LX |
| Vehicle Descriptor | JHMST343*BS |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | JHMST3431BS031303 |
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