1928 Plymouth 1937 Plymouth Plymouth: The First Decade

Where is the VIN?
I can't find the number that is in my paperwork on the car!
Plymouth Serial Numbers
VIN Codes
VIN Format 1959 through 1965
VIN Format 1966 through 1974
VIN Format 1975 through 1980
Serial number lookup and VIN decoder notes

Where is the VIN?

One question that keeps coming up is: Where is the VIN (“Vehicle Identification Number”) located on the car? The quick and flippant answer is that there is no VIN on the a pre-1950s Plymouth.

US Manufactures started using VINs in 1954 and the current 17 character version of the number was mandated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 1981. In the 1930s, 1940s and most of the 1950s, Plymouth cars were shipped with three different numbers: A serial number, an engine number and a body number.

It seems that Chrysler used the serial number as the way of tracking the car. From this point of view you would consider the serial number to be the “VIN”. However, many states used the engine number when titling and registering cars.

NumberEraLocationDescription
Serial 1928-29 Medallion on instrument panel The “FedCo system” of alpha-numeric encoding a number was used. In theory, the code can be translated to a straight sequence number by converting the letters to numbers as follows [Chrysler 1934a]:
W
0
P
1
C
2
H
3
R
4
Y
5
S
6
L
7
E
8
D
9

For example, one of the Detroit plant's run of sequence numbers in 1929 is listed as “Y-000-WP” through “Y-403-EP”. This would be translated to 5-000-01 through 5-403-81 (500001 through 540381).

The FedCo numbers were on a medallion that was designed to be tamper proof.

Looking at the FedCo era numbers for Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge and DeSoto we find a number of letters (A, B, F, G, J, K, N, O and Z) that cannot be decoded using the above scheme. These letters are always found as prefixes to characters that can be decoded using the WPCHRYSLED scheme.

Simply discarding the dashes and translating the letters to numbers can be a problem. For example, the Plymouth serial number range of Y-000-WP through Y-403-EP (500001 through 540381) overlaps with a range for the 1926 Chrysler 58 which is listed as having FedCo numbers from YC-200-P through YR-056-S (522001 through 540566). The most obvious way to resolve that conflict is to consider the locations of the dashes to be significant.

1930-42 Tag on right front door post A 7 or 8 digit numeric string.
1946-57 Tag on left front door post
1955-58

Starting in 1955 for Chrysler and 1958 for Plymouth serial numbers started looking more like VIN numbers. There was three or four character alphanumeric string followed by a dash then a sequence number. For example, LP1E-1001 was the first number for six cylinder cars built in the Evansville factory in 1958.

In the 1955-57 Chrysler variation the year seems to have been encorporated into the first part. For example, W56L-1001 and W56-1001 as the first numbers for a 1956 8 cylinder Chrysler with an engineering code of C71.

Engine 1928-59 Flat metal boss on engine block above generator

The engine number is always prefixed with an engineering code for a vehicle. For example PD86123. In some years the engines were shared among differently coded cars. For example PG cars were equipped with PF numbered engines.

Starting sometime in the 1930s, the engine number was also stamped on the left frame rail somewhere around the rear wheel kick-up.

Body 1928-29 Tag on floor board near drivers seat. At least in the 1930s, the body numbers seem to have come in different formats depending on which plant the body was built. Even the style of the tag varied from plant to plant.
1930-56 Tag on engine side of firewall.

I can't find the number that is in my paperwork on the car!

Some states used the serial number to register the car. And some states used the engine number. If the number on your registration starts with a letter (e.g. “Q”, “U” or “P”) it is probably the original engine number. If your engine number does not match, it is possible that your engine has been changed over the years. If the car was built sometime after the mid to late 1930s, then you may find the original engine number stamped on the left frame rail somewhere around the rear wheel kick-up.

Barring major accident repair, it is very likely that the serial number tag is still on the car. Depending on your state, it may be possible to change the registration to use the serial number. You will likely need to prove that the serial number is the correct one for the engine number listed on the registration forms. If your car was built in North America between 1930 and 1967 you can get the original “Build Card” from the Chrysler Historical Collection. The build car will show the serial number, engine number and body number that the car left the factory with.

Plymouth Serial Numbers

Serial numbers are from [Chrysler 1973]. In parentheses below the 1928-29 “FedCo” numbers are the translated numeric strings. In the case of Canadian built cars the unknown letter “G” is left as a question mark.

Pre-WW2 vehicles with a model code ending in “X” were export models. The one exception is the 1933 PCXX (Standard 6) built for domestic US sale. The export version of the 1933 Standard 6 was the PCXXX.

The value in the “Total” column is the difference between the start and end numbers.

YearCylindersModel NameModel CodePlantStart SerialClose SerialTotal
19284 QDetroitHL-950-P
(37-950-1)
HD-999-D
(39-999-9)
20,499
RW-000-P
(40-000-1)
RH-977-H
(43-977-3)
39,773
WindsorGP-000-P
(?1-000-1)
GP-582-E
(?1-582-8)
5,828
19294 UDetroitRR-120-P
(44-120-1)
RD-999-D
(49-582-8)
54,628
Y-000-YP
(5-000-51)
Y-403-EP
(5-503-81)
40,331
WindsorGP-583-W
(?1-583-0)
GC-499-L
(?2-499-7)
34,165
19304Finer30-UDetroit1,500,0011,570,18870,188
Windsor9,300,0019,305,3275,327
19314 PA
PAX
Detroit1,570,3011,667,96397,663
Windsor9,305,4019,307,9332,533
Special DeLuxePADetroit1,668,0001,668,0012
19324ThriftPADetroit1,669,0011,669,644644
Detroit1,670,0011,674,2504,250
New FinerPB
PBX
PBY
Detroit1,680,0011,758,00178,001
Windsor9,307,9519,310,9653,015
19336 PC
PCX
Detroit1,759,0011,817,04458,044
Los Angeles3,000,0013,000,604604
StandardPCXX
PCXXX
Detroit1,817,1011,858,41941,319
Los Angeles3,000,6103,001,395786
DeLuxePD
PDX
Detroit2,000,0012,186,951186,951
Los Angeles3,002,5013,007,6785,178
19346DeLuxePE
PEX
Detroit2,188,0012,397,536209,536
Los Angeles3,007,7013,019,34711,647
Windsor9,321,9119,326,5444,634
 PF
PFX
Detroit1,859,0011,894,74035,740
Los Angeles3,100,0013,101,3581,358
Windsor9,313,2769,315,0001,725
9,315,3769,316,221846
SpecialPF*
PFX*
Detroit1,909,0011,941,94532,945
Los Angeles3,092,0013,094,3532,353
StandardPGDetroit1,020,0011,039,03919,039
Los Angeles3,150,0013,151,4721,472
19356BusinessPJ*
PJX*
Detroit1,039,1011,111,64572,545
Los Angeles3,151,5013,157,1165,616
Windsor9,396,0769,397,3451,270
DeLuxePJ
PJX
Detroit2,397,6012,641,320243,720
Los Angeles3,019,4013,040,56721,167
Windsor9,326,5519,332,2815,731
StandardPJDetroit1,675,0011,675,03232
Windsor9,386,5519,387,355805
19366StandardP1
P1X
Detroit1,111,7011,183,56971,869
Evansville9,000,1019,012,72412,624
Los Angeles3,157,1513,162,3655,215
Windsor9,376,5519,376,669119
9,397,3519,400,0002,650
DeLuxeP2
P2X
Detroit2,641,4012,987,635346,235
Evansville9,025,1019,062,16837,068
Los Angeles3,040,6013,077,39736,797
Windsor9,332,2869,339,6847,399
19376 P3
P3X
Detroit1,184,0011,237,46053,460
Evansville9,085,5519,097,49311,943
Los Angeles3,101,4013,105,1593,759
Windsor9,376,6769,381,1574,482
DeLuxeP4
P4X
Detroit10,101,00110,468,044367,044
Evansville9,190,0009,199,0749,075
9,950,0019,999,02149,021
Los Angeles3,162,5013,205,87943,379
Windsor9,339,6919,349,5619,871
Commercial CarPT50
PT50X
Detroit8,850,1018,861,66411,564
Evansville9,182,7019,185,1872,487
Los Angeles9,206,6019,208,1131,513
19386 P5
P5X
Detroit1,240,0011,296,61556,615
Evansville9,097,6019,107,72510,125
Los Angeles3,105,3013,109,4074,107
Windsor9,381,1619,385,0973,937
DeLuxeP6
P6X
Detroit10,470,00110,625,650155,650
Evansville20,001,00120,025,90024,900
Los Angeles3,206,0013,220,99714,997
Windsor9,349,5669,358,6629,097
Commercial CarPT57Detroit8,618,7018,624,1355,435
Evansville9,185,3019,186,4161,116
Los Angeles9,208,2019,208,797597
19396Road KingP7
P7X
Detroit1,298,0011,377,47579,475
Evansville9,150,4019,164,59314,193
Los Angeles3,110,0013,114,6804,680
Windsor9,603,5869,607,6054,020
DeLuxeP8
P8X
Detroit10,630,00110,879,874249,874
Evansville20,027,00120,062,19935,199
Los Angeles3,222,0013,242,20320,203
Windsor9,358,6269,368,5109,885
Commercial CarPT81Detroit8,624,2018,630,4186,218
Los Angeles9,208,8519,209,340490
19406Road KingP9
P9X
Detroit1,378,0011,454,30376,303
Evansville9,062,2019,081,37519,175
Los Angeles3,114,8013,121,3856,585
Windsor9,368,5169,373,1934,678
DeLuxeP10
P10X
Detroit10,883,00111,122,538239,538
Evansville20,063,00120,104,16541,165
Los Angeles3,242,5013,269,06626,566
Windsor9,607,6119,616,7609,150
Commercial CarPT105Detroit8,631,0018,637,7306,730
Los Angeles9,209,3519,210,053703
19416DeLuxeP11
P11X
Detroit15,000,10115,135,030134,930
Evansville22,001,00122,036,66735,667
Los Angeles3,121,5013,133,96212,462
Windsor9,821,2419,829,8538,613
Special DeLuxeP12
P12X
Detroit11,123,00111,399,250276,250
Evansville20,105,10120,147,92142,821
Los Angeles3,269,3013,296,57227,272
Windsor9,616,7619,624,4577,697
Commercial CarPT125Detroit81,000,10181,006,1076,007
Los Angeles9,210,1019,210,700600
19426DeLuxeP14SDetroit15,135,50115,153,93518,435
Evansville22,037,00122,041,3564,356
Los Angeles3,134,5013,136,2661,766
Windsor9,829,8569,836,9867,131
Special DeLuxeP14CDetroit11,399,50111,494,04894,548
Evansville20,148,00120,164,43616,436
Los Angeles3,297,0013,306,7569,756
19466DeLuxeP15SDetroit15,154,00115,206,93552,935
Evansville22,042,00122,053,03911,039
Los Angeles26,000,00126,003,5883,588
Windsor9,624,461  
Special DeLuxeP15CDetroit11,496,00111,643,103147,103
Evansville20,165,00120,185,18520,185
Los Angeles25,000,00125,009,7529,752
19476DeLuxeP15SDetroit15,206,93615,252,27845,343
Evansville22,053,04022,063,36910,330
Los Angeles26,003,58926,010,8397,251
Special DeLuxeP15CDetroit11,643,10411,854,385211,282
Evansville20,185,18620,233,16747,982
Los Angeles25,009,75325,035,58525,833
19486DeLuxeP15SDetroit15,252,27915,292,20939,931
Evansville22,063,37022,073,64610,277
Los Angeles26,010,84026,018,8528,013
Special DeLuxeP15CDetroit11,854,38612,116,123261,738
Evansville20,233,16820,299,13865,971
Los Angeles25,035,58625,071,43035,845
19496DeLuxeP17Detroit18,000,10118,040,46740,367
Evansville24,000,10124,011,89011,790
Los Angeles28,000,10128,003,8143,714
San Leandro28,500,10128,503,1623,062
DeLuxeP18Detroit15,300,00115,358,92858,928
Evansville22,080,00122,096,25216,252
Los Angeles26,025,00126,030,1005,100
San Leandro26,500,10126,503,4233,323
Special DeLuxeP18Detroit12,120,00112,384,178264,178
Evansville20,304,00120,366,48662,486
Los Angeles25,075,00125,097,09422,094
San Leandro25,500,10125,510,64010,540
19506DeLuxeP19Detroit18,041,00118,119,09478,094
Evansville24,012,00124,035,53823,538
Los Angeles28,004,00128,009,8485,848
San Leandro28,503,50128,511,1777,677
DeLuxeP20Detroit15,359,50115,456,08496,584
Evansville22,097,00122,125,80328,803
Los Angeles26,030,50126,035,8705,370
San Leandro26,504,00126,510,5696,569
Special DeLuxeP20Detroit12,384,50112,627,867243,367
Evansville20,367,00120,428,44861,448
Los Angeles25,097,50125,110,38512,885
San Leandro25,511,00125,527,26216,262
19516ConcordP22Detroit18,126,00118,192,30966,309
Evansville24,042,00124,056,62814,628
Los Angeles28,011,00128,015,5574,557
San Leandro28,513,00128,518,9945,994
DeLuxe
Cambridge
P23SDetroit15,460,00115,577,561117,561
Evansville22,132,00122,159,46827,468
Los Angeles26,040,00126,045,6205,620
San Leandro26,512,00126,518,0686,068
Special DeLuxe
Cranbrook
P23CDetroit12,635,00112,906,467271,467
Evansville20,435,00120,484,92449,924
Los Angeles25,112,00125,125,24713,247
San Leandro25,531,00125,545,96214,962
19526ConcordP22Detroit18,192,50118,223,60031,100
Evansville24,056,70124,063,8337,133
Los Angeles28,015,70128,018,5552,855
San Leandro28,519,10128,522,3523,252
DeLuxe
Cambridge
P23SDetroit15,577,80115,662,66084,860
Evansville22,159,60122,181,52021,920
Los Angeles26,045,70126,049,9914,291
San Leandro26,518,20126,523,5465,346
Special DeLuxe
Cranbrook
P23CDetroit12,906,70113,066,238159,538
Evansville20,485,00120,516,07531,075
Los Angeles25,125,30125,134,1908,890
San Leandro25,546,10125,555,9579,857
19536Cambridge
Cranbrook
P24-1
P24-2
Detroit13,070,00113,505,004435,004
Evansville20,520,00120,657,000137,000
Los Angeles25,136,00125,161,84625,846
San Leandro25,560,00125,588,34528,345
19546Plaza
Savoy
Belvedere
P25-1
P25-2
P25-3
Detroit13,506,00113,829,336323,336
Evansville20,658,00120,739,82981,829
Los Angeles25,163,00125,175,37712,377
San Leandro25,590,00125,606,28416,284
19556Plaza
Belvedere
Savoy
P26-1
P26-2
P26-3
Detroit13,835,00114,119,261284,261
Evansville20,745,00120,819,35874,358
Los Angeles25,180,00125,200,10920,109
8Plaza
Belvedere
Savoy
P27-1
P27-2
P27-3
Detroit15,663,00115,871,476208,476
Evansville22,182,00122,244,74962749
Los Angeles26,524,00126,550,29026,290
19566Plaza & Taxi
Savoy
Belvedere
P28-1
P28-2
P28-3
Detroit14,120,00114,272,723152,723
Evansville20,820,00120,857,92737,927
Los Angeles25,202,00125,212,96010,960
8Plaza & Taxi
Savoy
Belvedere & Fury 1
P29-1
P29-2
P29-3
Detroit15,873,00116,080,450207,450
Evansville22,247,00122,325,90778,907
Los Angeles26,552,00126,590,89738,897
19576Plaza Sub. & Taxi
Savoy Sub & Taxi
Belvedere Suburban
P30-1
P30-2
P30-3
Detroit14,280,001  
Evansville20,860,001  
Los Angeles25,215,001  
8Plaza Sub. & Taxi
Savoy Sub. & Taxi
Belvedere Sub. & Fury
P31-1
P31-2
P31-3
Detroit16,083,001  
Evansville22,330,001  
Los Angeles26,595,001  
19586Plaza Suburban
Savoy Suburban
Belvedere Suburban
LP1-L
LP1-M
LP1-H
DetroitLP1-1001  
EvansvilleLP1E-1001  
Los AngelesLP1L-1001  
NewarkLP1N-1001  
8Plaza Suburban
Savoy Suburban
Belvedere Suburban
LP2-L
LP2-M
LP2-H
DetroitLP2-1001  
EvansvilleLP2E-1001  
Los AngelesLP2L-1001  
NewarkLP2N-1001  
Fury 1LP2-SDetroitLP2-1001  

VIN Codes

So you found this page but you have a newer Chrysler product that actually has a VIN number and you want to know what it means. The following has been gleaned from various sources on the Internet.

VIN Format 1959 through 1965

For 1959 a ten character string was used with the following encoding:
12345-10
YLCPNNNNNN

For 1960-65 the encoding changed to:

12345-10
LCYPNNNNNN
L Car Line
Code 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965
1 Plymouth 6 Cylinder Valiant 6 Cyl.
2 Plymouth 8 Cylinder Plymouth 6 Cyl. Dart 6 Cyl.
3 Dodge Plymouth 8 Cyl. Plymouth 6 Cyl.
116" wheelbase
4 DeSoto Dodge 6 Cyl. Dodge 6 Cyl.
117" wheelbase
5 Chrysler Dodge 8 Cyl. Dodge 880 Plymouth 6 Cyl.
119" wheelbase
6 Imperial Dodge Matador/Polara DeSoto Dodge 880 Dodge 8 Cyl.  
7   DeSoto Lancer Lancer 6 Cyl. Dart 6 Cyl.  
8   Chrysler  
9   Imperial  
V   Valiant 8 Cyl.
L   Dart 8 Cyl.
R   Plymouth 8 Cyl.
116" wheelbase
W   Dodge 8 Cyl.
117" wheelbase
P   Plymouth 8 Cyl.
119" wheelbase
D   Dodge 8 Cyl.
121.5" wheelbase
C   Chrysler
Y   Imperial
C Price Class
1Low
2Medium
3High
4Premium
5Low Station Wagon
6Medium Station Wagon
7High Station Wagon
8Taxi
9Police
0Fleet
Y“M” for 1959, last digit of model year for 1960-65
P Assembly Plant
Code19591960-65
1 Jefferson Plymouth/Lynch Road (Detroit)
2 Dodge Dodge/Hamtramck (Detroit)
3 Evansville Jefferson (Detroit)
4 Los Angeles  
5 Newark Los Angeles
6 Plymouth Detroit Newark
7 Imperial St. Louis
8 Valley Park (St. Louis)  
9   Windsor
NNNNNN Each plant consecutively numbered all vehicles starting at 100001 regardless of make and model, except for Detroit built Valiant and Dart models which begin with 500001.

VIN Format 1966 through 1974

For 1966 through 1974 a thirteen character string was used with the following encoding:
123-45678-13
LCBEYPNNNNNN
L Car Line
Code 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974
B Plymouth Barracuda Plymouth Barracuda (“A” Body) Plymouth Barracuda (“E” Body)
C Chrysler Newport, 300, New Yorker Chrysler Newport, 300, New Yorker (“C” Body) Chrysler (“C” Body)
D Dodge Polara, Monaco Dodge Polara, Monaco (“C” Body)
J   Dodge Challenger (“E” Body)
L Dodge Dart Dodge Dart (“A” Body) Dodge Dart, Demon (“A” Body) Dodge Dart, Dart Sport (“A” Body)
P Plymouth Fury Plymouth Fury, VIP (“C” Body) Plymouth Fury (“C” Body) Plymouth Fury, Gran Coupe/Sedan (“C” Body) Plymouth Fury (“C” Body)
R Plymouth Belvedere, Satellite Plymouth Belvedere, Satellite (“B” Body) Plymouth Satellite, Sebring (“B” Body)
V Plymouth Valiant Plymouth Valiant (“A” Body) Plymouth Valiant, Duster (“A” Body) Plymouth Valiant, Duster, Scamp (“A” Body)
W Dodge Coronet Dodge Coronet (“B” Body) Dodge Charger, Coronet (“B” Body)
X Dodge Charger Dodge Charger (“B” Body)  
Y Imperial Crown, LeBaron Imperial Crown, LeBaron (“C” Body) Imperial LeBaron (“C” Body)
C Price Class
Code 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974
E Economy  
L Low
M Medium
H High
P Premium
S Special
K Police
T Taxi
O Super Stock  
N   New York Taxi  
G   New York Taxi Dodge Taxi
B Body
Code 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974
21 2 Door Sedan 2 Door Sedan or Coupe 2 Door Coupe
23 2 Door Hardtop
27 Convertible  
29 2 Door Sports Hardtop
41 4 Door Sedan
43 4 Door Hardtop
45 6 Passenger Station Wagon
46 9 Passenger Station Wagon
E Engine
Code 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974
A 170 1-1BBL 6 Cylinder “G” engine  
B 225 1-1BBL 6 Cylinder “RG” engine 198 1-1BBL 6 Cylinder “G” engine
C Special Order 6 Cylinder engine 225 1-1 BBL 6 Cylinder “RG” engine
D 273 1-2BBL 8 Cylinder “LA” engine  
E 318 1-2BBL 8 Cylinder “LA” engine 273 1-2BBL 8 Cylinder “LA” engine (High Performance)   Special Order 6 Cylinder engine
F 361 1-2BBL 8 Cylinder “B” engine 318 1-2BBL 8 Cylinder “LA” engine  
G 383 1-2BBL 8 Cylinder “B” engine 318 1-2BBL 8 Cylinder “LA” engine
H 426 2-4BBL 8 Cylinder “RB” engine (Hemi) 383 1-4BBL 8 Cylinder “B” engine 340 1-4BBL 8 Cylinder “LA” engine (High Performance)  
J 440 1-4BBL 8 Cylinder “RB” engine 426 2-4BBL 8 Cylinder “RB” engine (Hemi) 340 3-2BBL 8 Cylinder “LA” engine (High Performance)  
K Special Order 8 Cylinder engine 440 1-4BBL 8 Cylinder “RB” engine 360 1-2BBL 8 Cylinder “LA” engine
L   440 1-4BBL 8 Cylinder “RB” engine (High Performance) 383 1-2BBL 8 Cylinder “B” engine   360 1-4BBL 8 Cylinder “LA” engine (High Performance)
M   Special Order 8 Cylinder engine   400 1-2BBL 8 Cylinder “B” engine
N   383 1-4BBL 8 Cylinder “B” engine (High Performance)  
P   340 1-4BBL 8 Cylinder “LA” engine (High Performance)   400 1-4BBL 8 Cylinder “B” engine (High Performance)
R   426 2-4BBL 8 Cylinder “RB” engine (Hemi)  
T   440 1-4BBL 8 Cylinder “RB” engine
U   440 1-4BBL 8 Cylinder “RB” engine (High Performance)
V   440 3-2BBL 8 Cylinder “RB” engine (High Performance)  
Z   Special Order 8 Cylinder engine
Y Last digit of year. For example "8" for 1968.
P Plant
Code 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974
1 Lynch Road, Michigan  
2 Hamtramck, Michigan  
3 Jefferson, Michigan  
4 Belvedere, Illinois  
5 Los Angeles, California  
6 Newark, Delaware  
7 St. Louis, Missouri  
8 Export  
9 Windsor, Ontario, Canada  
A   Lynch Road, Michigan
B   Hamtramck, Michigan
C   Jefferson, Michigan
D   Belvedere, Illinois
E   Los Angeles, California  
F   Newark, Delaware
G   St. Louis, Missouri
H   New Stanton, Pennsylvania  
R   Windsor, Ontario, Canada

VIN Format 1975 through 1980

Coming sometime...

Serial/VIN Decoder Notes

The decoder on this page attempts to identify the type of number (FedCo serial number, numerical serial number, odd late 1950s serial/VIN number, 1959 VIN, 1960-65 VIN, 1966-74 VIN, pre-VIN engine number etc.) and either decode the number if it is a VIN or lookup the number in one of several tables if it is a serial or engine number. Information based on that decode or lookup is then presented.

The tables and VIN decoding generally cover passenger vehicles built in the US and Canada from 1924 through 1974. Engine numbers are incomplete at present. It does not include Dodge trucks nor Dodge cars built before Chrysler acquired Dodge. For trucks, see Phil Street’s excellent 1936-1980 Dodge and Plymouth truck decoder

Future plans include recognizing early Dodge passenger car serial numbers and decoding 1975-80 VIN numbers.

There are lots of serial number ranges that needed to be looked up and typed in. There are probably errors in that transcription process. The information about VIN numbers was acquired from a number of web searches and not all sites agreed on meanings and values. So do not consider the results of this calculator as definitive.

If you find an error with the calculator on this page, please let me know so I can fix it.

Serial Number Specific Notes

In the “serial number era” there is no information about engine, wheel base, paint, trim or body style imbedded in the number. However there was a separate series of numbers for each manufacturing plant and engineering code for the car. In that era there typically were few or no wheelbase or engine options for a given engineering code. So based on the engineering code determined from the serial number, the calculator displays typical information for that type of car.

Engine Number Specific Notes

Engine numbers were prefixed with the engineering code for the primary vehicle the engine was built for. However sometimes multiple lines or model variations used the same engine. For example, in 1934 both the PF and the PG models used engines numbered with a PF prefix.

In addition, later engineering codes had numbers in them and there can be ambiguity depending on where a separator is placed. For example an engine number of C12345 could be from a 1930 Chrysler 66 (engineering code C) or a 1935 Chrysler Airflow (engineering code C1). Where ambiguity exists, the search will return back multiple answers and the user is left to determine which is appropriate. In the above example the Model 66 used a six cylinder engine while the Airflow used an eight cylinder engine.

VIN Specific Notes

I am not an expert on any Mopar cars. My detailed information is centered on 1933 Plymouth and the further away from that the car is, the less I know. Once you get into the 1960s Mopar vehicles my ability to filter and analyze information sources to distill things down to a close approximation to reality is limited. The sources I've found for VIN numbers on the web have some conflicting information which I hope I've dealt with adequately.

The VIN coding allows for all sorts of combinations that may never have existed. For example, assembly plants only built certain models but the VIN system allows for any plant to be specified for any model. Another example, I doubt that a large hemi engine was ever factory assembled in a Valiant but the VIN numbers allow for it. I don't have enough information to check for these types of mismatches and the decoder will happily decode nonsense combinations.