How to decode a 1981 Mercury Cougar VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1981 Mercury Cougar VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code that specifically identifies the manufacturer of a vehicle. Essentially, it’s the first three characters of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), providing key information about where and by whom a vehicle was manufactured. For example, the 1981 Mercury Cougar has a WMI of “1ME,” indicating it was produced by Ford Motor Company. This particular model’s manufacturing took place in Dearborn, Michigan, United States, signifying its production by an American automaker. The WMI plays an essential role in vehicle identification, allowing for easy recognition of the vehicle’s manufacturing origin and company.
List of WMI Codes for a 1981 Mercury Cougar
WMI: 1ME
- Model Years Covered: 1981, 1983-1997
- Example VIN: 1MEBP90F6BH603650
- 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 1981 Mercury Cougar 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 Mercury Cougar:
| Known VDS for a 1981 Mercury Cougar |
|---|
| BP90F |
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 Mercury Cougar 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 Mercury Cougar VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| B | 1981 |
11th Character in the 1981 Mercury Cougar VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1981 Mercury Cougar Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H | Lorain | Ohio | United States | 1MEBP90F6BH603650 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1981 Mercury Cougar
The final 6 characters in a 1981 Mercury Cougar’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
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How to find a 1981 Mercury Cougar’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1981 Mercury Cougar is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 1981 Mercury Cougar. The VIN can typically be seen through the windshield.
- Inspect the door jamb on the driver’s side of your Mercury Cougar. There should be a label or sticker where the door latches when closed, which contains the VIN.
- Check the firewall of the engine compartment, where the manufacturer often places a VIN plate on older vehicles like the 1981 Mercury Cougar.
- Examine the frame near the windshield washer container under the hood, as some vehicles have the VIN in this location.
- Search for the VIN underneath the spare tire in the trunk; sometimes, it’s included there for additional verification.
- Look at your vehicle registration, title, and insurance paperwork. While not physically on the car, these documents will list the VIN of your 1981 Mercury Cougar.
What info can a 1981 Mercury Cougar VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, suggesting it may be from the year 1981, offering insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
- Body Class and Doors: The VIN may indicate that the vehicle is classified as a Passenger Car with a Sedan/Saloon body structure, giving detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
- Engine Type and Specifications: The report details include that the engine may be a V-Shaped Ford engine with 8 cylinders and a displacement of 5.0 liters, possibly showcasing a horsepower range between 140.00 to 155.00 hp.
- Fuel Efficiency and Type: It seems that this vehicle runs on Gasoline, which could be vital for understanding the vehicle’s fuel consumption and environmental impact.
- Manufacturing Location: The manufacturing plant’s location is identified as Lorain, Ohio, United States, which may highlight where the vehicle was possibly assembled.
- Safety Features: Information on safety features possibly mentions “Active Belts”, indicating the type of restraint system employed for passenger safety.
- Unique Identifiers: The Vehicle Descriptor and Sample VIN may provide unique identification for this specific model, which is possibly a 1981 Cougar, underscoring its unique characteristics and specifications.
Don’t have your 1981 Mercury Cougar’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1981 Mercury Cougar
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Sedan/Saloon |
| Displacement (CC) | 4948.893328 |
| Displacement (CI) | 302 |
| Displacement (L) | 5.0 |
| Doors | 2 |
| Engine Brake (hp) From | 140.00 |
| Engine Brake (hp) To | 155.00 |
| Engine Configuration | V-Shaped |
| Engine Manufacturer | Ford |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 8 |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Model | Cougar |
| Model Year | 1981 |
| Other Engine Info | Central Fuel Injection/2V 2BBL |
| Other Restraint System Info | Active Belts |
| Plant City | Lorain |
| Plant Company Name | |
| Plant Country | United States |
| Plant State | Ohio |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 1MEBP90F*BH |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | 1MEBP90F6BH603650 |
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