Free 1997 Land Rover Defender VIN Decoder

How to decode a 1997 Land Rover Defender VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1997 Land Rover Defender VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code made up of the first three characters of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which indicates the vehicle’s manufacturer, country of production, and vehicle type. In the case of the 1997 Land Rover Defender, the WMI is “SAL,” specifying that the vehicle was manufactured by Jaguar Land Rover Limited. This particular WMI tells us that this multipurpose passenger vehicle was produced in Whitley, Coventry, in the United Kingdom. The use of WMIs ensures that every vehicle can be uniquely identified, providing essential information about its manufacturer and origin at a glance. This system is widely utilized across the global automotive industry for vehicle identification and registration purposes.

List of WMI Codes for a 1997 Land Rover Defender

WMI: SAL

• Model Years Covered: 1993-1995, 1997, 2020-2024
• Example VIN: SALDV2240VA109387
• Manufacturer Name: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
• Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
• City: Whitley
• State or Province: Coventry
• Country: United Kingdom

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1997 Land Rover Defender 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 Land Rover Defender:

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 Land Rover Defender 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 Land Rover Defender VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 1997 Land Rover Defender VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1997 Land Rover Defender Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1997 Land Rover Defender

The final 6 characters in a 1997 Land Rover Defender’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Land Rover Defender’s VIN below:

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What info can a 1997 Land Rover Defender VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 1997, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
• Body Class and Doors: A VIN can specify the body class. For the 1997 vehicle, this may indicate a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) with a 2 door configuration, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and functionality.
• Engine Type: The VIN can provide details about the engine, such as it being a V-Shaped, 8 cylinder with a displacement of 3.9 liters, offering insights into the vehicle’s performance capabilities.
• Weight Class: The VIN can also indicate the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, classified under Class 2E, which ranges from 6,001 to 7,000 lb (2,722 - 3,175 kg), providing an estimate of the vehicle’s maximum safe weight.
• Manufacturing Information: The VIN can provide manufacturing details, such as the vehicle being manufactured in Solihull, England, United Kingdom, offering insights into its origin and potential build quality.
• Transmission Details: The VIN can also include information about the vehicle’s transmission, like it being equipped with an automatic transmission that supports 4 speeds, which could influence the driving experience.
• Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): An example VIN like SALDV2240VA109387 decodes specific details about the vehicle, serving as a unique identifier that can unlock extensive information about its specifications and history.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1997 Land Rover Defender