AMC 1968-80 VIN (serial number) decoder

Examples:

23456

A = AMC
2 = Year (1972)
C = transmission type (3 speed auto on floor)
7 = car series (Javelin)
9 = body type (2 door hardtop)
8 = body class (Javelin AMX)
Z = engine (401-4v)
1 = assembly location (Kenosha)
23456 = production sequence number

23000

A = AMC
7 = year (1977)
A = transmission type ()
6 = car series (Pacer)
6 = body type (2 door sedan)
7 = model = Pacer
C = engine (258-2v)
2 = assembly location (Kenosha)
23000 = production sequence number

Manufacturer
letter	1968	1969	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980
A	American Motors Corporation
other	brand X
Year
number	1968	1969	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980
0			1970										1980
1				1971
2					1972
3						1973
4							1974
5								1975
6									1976
7										1977
8	1968										1978
9		1969										1979
Transmission
letter	1968	1969	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980
A	3spd/auto/ column
C	3spd/auto/ floor	3spd/auto/ console	3spd/auto/ floor
D								3spd/man/ floor overdrive
E					3spd/man/ floor full-synchro	3spd/man/ floor
F	4spd/man/ console			3spd/man/ floor	3spd/man/ floor 2-3 synchro	3spd/man/ floor
M	4spd/man/ floor									4spd/man/ floor
O	3spdOD/ man/ column							3spdOD/ man/ column
S	3spd/man/ column	3spd/man/ column (or 3spd/man/ floor, Javelin)	3spd/man/ column or floor	3spd/man/ column
Car Series
number	1968	1969	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980
0	American	Rambler	Hornet								Concord
1	Rebel			Matador 2 Door
3	AMX
4			Gremlin									Spirit
6								Pacer
7	Javelin
8	Ambassador							Matador 4 Door/Wagon
?													Eagle
Body Type
number	1968	1969	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980
3						2 door hatchback
5	4 door sedan
6	2 door sedan						2 door sedan (coupe)
7	2 door convertible
8	4 door wagon									station wagon
9	2 door hardtop
Group (Body Class) (Model)
number	1968	1969	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980
0	American, 550	Rambler, Rebel	Hornet, Rebel	Gremlin 2 seat, Hornet
1				Hornet SC360
2	Ambassador			Ambassador DPL
4										Gremlin
5	440, 770, DPL	440, Javelin, DPL	Javelin, DPL	Gremlin 4 seat, Javelin, Ambassador SST	Gremlin, Ambassador SST	Gremlin				Gremlin
7	AMX, Rogue, SST			Hornet SST, Hornet wagon, Javelin SST, Matador, Ambassador Brougham.	Hornet SST, Hornet wagon, Javelin SST, Matador, Ambassador Brougham.	Ambassador, Hornet, Javelin, Matador,		Hornet, Matador, Pacer			Concord, Gremlin, Matador, Pacer
8				Javelin AMX				Javelin AMX, Matador X
9											AMX
P							Police
T							Taxi
Engine
letter	1968	1969	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980
A	199-1v			258-1v
B	232-1v					258-1v L/C
C	232-2v								258-2v
E				232-1v
G										121-2v
H			304-2v
K										121-2v
M	290-2v		304-4v		?	304-4v
N	290-4v		360-2v
P			360-4v
S	343-2v		390-2v
T	343-4v
W	390-2v
X	390-4v
Y			390-4v "Machine"*
Z				401-4v
Assembly Location
number	1968	1969	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980
0						Kenosha w/REABS
1						Kenosha
2
3
4
5
6
7						Brampton
8						Brampton w/REABS
9						Brampton
K						kit (export)

* The Rebel "Machine" engine used a unique intake and exhaust.

Data compiled by John Rosa, from his Javelin Home Page, where it is available in Excel and plain text formats, and by G. T. Paine.

Revisions:

1973-78 additions from AMC Parts Catalog F-10478 R1
1975-80 lifted from Chilton American Motors 1975-86 Repair & Tune-up Guide ISBN 0-8019-7746-0

Original HTML formatting by Jim Stone, updated and enhanced by G. T. Paine.

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