How to decode a 1981 Honda Prelude VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1981 Honda Prelude VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code consisting of the first three characters of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), designating the vehicle’s manufacturer, the type of vehicle, and the country where it was manufactured. For instance, a 1981 Honda Prelude produced by Honda Motor Co., Ltd would have a WMI code beginning with “JHM,” indicating it was made by Honda in Japan. The “J” signifies Japan as the country of manufacture, “H” represents Honda as the manufacturer, and “M” denotes the vehicle type, in this case, a passenger car. This coding system is crucial for vehicle identification, allowing for the precise tracing of the vehicle’s origin, manufacturer, and specific characteristics. The WMI is an integral part of global automotive industry standards, facilitating the tracking and registration of vehicles worldwide.
List of WMI Codes for a 1981 Honda Prelude
WMI: JHM
- Model Years Covered: 1981-1982, 1985-2001
- Example VIN: JHMSN5223BC025755
- 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 Prelude 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 Prelude:
| Known VDS for a 1981 Honda Prelude |
|---|
| SN522 |
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 Prelude 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 Prelude VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| B | 1981 |
11th Character in the 1981 Honda Prelude VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1981 Honda Prelude Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Sayama | Saitama | Japan | JHMSN5223BC025755 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1981 Honda Prelude
The final 6 characters in a 1981 Honda Prelude’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 1981 Honda Prelude’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1981 Honda Prelude is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Examine the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 1981 Honda Prelude. It’s typically visible through the windshield on a metal or plastic plaque.
- Look at the door jamb on the driver’s side of your Honda Prelude, where you may find the VIN on a sticker or plate where the door latches when it is closed.
- Check under the hood of your 1981 Honda Prelude; the VIN might be stamped on the front of the engine block.
- Inspect the trunk area of your Honda Prelude, as the VIN can sometimes be found on the floor right below the spare tire.
- If your 1981 Prelude still contains its original service documents or owner’s manual, the VIN is usually written inside these materials.
- For the 1981 Honda Prelude, you can also examine the car frame, as the VIN may be stamped on the rear wheel well or the car’s undercarriage.
What info can a 1981 Honda Prelude VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, such as the year 1981 for a Prelude, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
- Body Class and Doors: It can provide insights into the body class and size, indicating, for example, that the vehicle is a Coupe with 2 doors, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
- Engine Specifications: Displacement details are encoded, revealing specifics like 1,751 CC or 106.85 CI, which can help in understanding the vehicle’s engine size and power capabilities.
- Vehicle Type and Model Specifics: The VIN decodes to show both the general type, such as Passenger Car, and more detailed information like the model name, Prelude, offering a comprehensive understanding of the vehicle’s type and specific model details.
- Manufacturing Details: It can highlight manufacturing specifics including the plant’s location, such as Sayama, Saitama, Japan, offering insight into where the vehicle was produced and potential quality standards.
- Transmission Details: Information regarding the transmission, such as it being a Manual/Standard with 5 speeds, can also be found, providing insights into the vehicle’s driving experience.
- Safety Equipment: The type of seat belt (Manual in this case) hints at the safety equipment installed in the vehicle, offering clues about its safety features and potential protective capabilities.
Don’t have your 1981 Honda Prelude’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1981 Honda Prelude
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Coupe |
| Displacement (CC) | 1751 |
| Displacement (CI) | 106.852575909 |
| Displacement (L) | 1.751000 |
| Doors | 2 |
| 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 | Prelude |
| Model Year | 1981 |
| Plant City | Sayama |
| Plant Company Name | |
| Plant Country | Japan |
| Plant State | Saitama |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Transmission Speeds | 5 |
| Transmission Style | Manual/Standard |
| Trim | DX |
| Vehicle Descriptor | JHMSN522*BC |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | JHMSN5223BC025755 |
Ready, Set, Bumper...
Try Bumper today and learn more about a vehicle you plan to buy or already own.
TRY Bumper Today