How to decode a 1985 Subaru GL VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1985 Subaru GL VIN
World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) codes are unique three-letter codes assigned to every vehicle manufacturer globally, playing a crucial role in defining a vehicle’s origin, manufacturer, and type. For the 1985 Subaru GL, the WMI is “JF1” or “JF2”, where the first character “J” signifies that the vehicle was manufactured in Japan. The “F” indicates the manufacturer, Subaru Corporation, known for its commitment to safety and innovation. The third character, “1” or “2”, distinguishes the vehicle type, with “1” referring to passenger cars and “2” designating multipurpose passenger vehicles. This specific classification system aids in vehicle identification and regulatory compliance, ensuring every vehicle is traceable back to its manufacturer, model, and type.
List of WMI Codes for a 1985 Subaru GL
WMI: JF1
- Model Years Covered: 1984-1988
- Example VIN: JF1AF43B1FB107567
- Manufacturer Name: Subaru Corporation
- Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
- City: Shibuya-Ku
- State or Province: Tokyo
- Country: Japan WMI: JF2
- Model Years Covered: 1983-1988
- Example VIN: JF2AC53B2FF221290
- Manufacturer Name: Subaru Corporation
- Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
- City: Shibuya-Ku
- State or Province: Tokyo
- Country: Japan
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1985 Subaru GL 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 1985 Subaru GL:
| Known VDS for a 1985 Subaru GL | |
|---|---|
| AF43B | AC53B |
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 1985 Subaru GL 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 1985 Subaru GL VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| F | 1985 |
11th Character in the 1985 Subaru GL VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1985 Subaru GL Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B | Gunma | Japan | JF1AF43B1FB107567 | ||
| F | Gunma | Japan | JF2AC53B2FF221290 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1985 Subaru GL
The final 6 characters in a 1985 Subaru GL’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Check your Subaru GL’s VIN below:
How to find a 1985 Subaru GL’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1985 Subaru GL is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 1985 Subaru GL, you can usually see the VIN through the windshield on a plate mounted on top of the dashboard.
- Examine the driver’s side door frame of your Subaru GL, the VIN is often located on a sticker or plate where the door latches when closed.
- Check under the hood of your 1985 Subaru GL; the VIN might be stamped onto the engine block or on a plaque somewhere in the engine compartment.
- Look at the rear wheel well; sometimes the VIN is stamped above the tire on your Subaru GL.
- Inspect the front frame of the Subaru GL near the windshield washer fluid container, as VINs are sometimes placed there on older vehicles.
- Investigate the vehicle’s documents, such as the title, registration, or insurance policy, where the VIN of your 1985 Subaru GL should be accurately recorded.
What info can a 1985 Subaru GL VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, possibly indicating the year 1985, offering insights into the vehicle’s age and potential market value.
- Body Class and Doors: A VIN can specify the body class and design of the vehicle, potentially indicating a Passenger Car with a Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback body style, providing detailed insights into the vehicle’s structure.
- Engine Specifications: Key engine details, including displacement and the number of cylinders, can be decoded from the VIN, potentially showing this vehicle has a 1.8 L, 4-cylinder engine.
- Fuel Type: The primary fuel type a vehicle uses is typically encoded within the VIN, which in this case might indicate the vehicle runs on gasoline.
- Transmission Information: Insights into the vehicle’s transmission, including the number of speeds and the style, may be inferred from the VIN, potentially indicating a 5-speed manual/standard transmission in this case.
- Manufacturing Information: The VIN can pinpoint manufacturing details such as the plant city and country, possibly suggesting this vehicle was assembled in Gunma, Japan, providing insights into its production origin.
- Safety Features: While not always detailed, certain safety features like seat belt type can occasionally be deduced from the VIN, which in this case might specify a manual seat belt type.
Don’t have your 1985 Subaru GL’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1985 Subaru GL
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback |
| Displacement (CC) | 1800 |
| Displacement (CI) | 109.842739370 |
| Displacement (L) | 1.800000 |
| Doors | 2 |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 4 |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From | Class 1B: 3,001 - 4,000 lb (1,360 - 1,814 kg) |
| Model | GL |
| Model Year | 1985 |
| Plant City | Gunma |
| Plant Company Name | |
| Plant Country | Japan |
| Seat Belt Type | Manual |
| Transmission Speeds | 5 |
| Transmission Style | Manual/Standard |
| Vehicle Descriptor | JF1AF43B*FB |
| Vehicle Type | Passenger Car |
| Sample_VIN | JF1AF43B1FB107567 |
Ready, Set, Bumper...
Try Bumper today and learn more about a vehicle you plan to buy or already own.
TRY Bumper Today