Scheme guide · 1968–1970
American Motors 13-character VIN, 1968–1970
What each character of a 1968–1970 American Motors, Rambler, AMC VIN means, with the factory or regulatory source for every code.
3 sources · 58 sourced codes · decode a VIN
Character by character
| Positions | Field | How it is read |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturer | See the code table below |
| 2 | Model year | See the code table below |
| 3 | Transmission | See the code table below |
| 4 | Car line (series) | See the code table below |
| 5 | Body style | See the code table below |
| 6 | Model (trim class) | See the code table below |
| 7 | Engine | See the code table below |
| 8 | Plant (first digit of the serial) | See the code table below |
| 9–13 | Sequential serial (remaining digits) | Production sequence number |
Where to find it: The 1970 factory key: the VIN is visible through the windshield on the driver side of the instrument panel (1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, footer). The 1968 and 1969 keys do not state a location, and this pack does not supply one for those years.
Manufacturer codes
| Code | Meaning | Applies to | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
A |
Built by American Motors Corporation | all | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, 'Built By American Motors Corporation' box; 1969 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1969 key, 'Built By American Motors Corporation' box; 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, 'Built By American Motors Corporation' box |
Model year codes
| Code | Meaning | Applies to | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
8 |
1968 | all | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, '1968 Model' box |
9 |
1969 | all | 1969 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1969 key, '1969 Model' box |
0 |
1970 | all | 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, '1970 Model' box |
Transmission codes
| Code | Meaning | Applies to | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
S |
Standard (3-speed) column shift | model year 1968 | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, 'Type of Transmission' box |
S |
Standard 3-speed column shift (floor-mounted shift on Javelin) | model year 1969 | 1969 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1969 key, 'Type of Transmission' box and its asterisk note |
S |
3-speed manual column shift (floor-mounted shift on Javelin) | model year 1970 | 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, 'Type of Transmission' box |
O |
Overdrive column shift | model years 1968–1969 | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, 'Type of Transmission' box; 1969 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1969 key, 'Type of Transmission' box |
A |
Automatic column shift | model years 1968–1970 | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, 'Type of Transmission' box; 1969 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1969 key, 'Type of Transmission' box; 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, 'Type of Transmission' box |
C |
Automatic console shift | model years 1968–1970 | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, 'Type of Transmission' box; 1969 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1969 key, 'Type of Transmission' box; 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, 'Type of Transmission' box |
M |
Four-speed floor shift | model years 1968–1970 | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, 'Type of Transmission' box; 1969 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1969 key, 'Type of Transmission' box; 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, 'Type of Transmission' box |
F |
3-speed manual floor shift (Gremlin) | model year 1970 | 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, 'Type of Transmission' box |
Car line (series) codes
| Code | Meaning | Applies to | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
0 |
American | model year 1968 | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, 'Series' box |
0 |
Rambler | model year 1969 | 1969 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1969 key, 'Carline' box |
0 |
Hornet | model year 1970 | 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, 'Carline' box |
1 |
Rebel | model years 1968–1970 | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, 'Series' box; 1969 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1969 key, 'Carline' box; 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, 'Carline' box |
3 |
AMX | model years 1968–1970 | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, 'Series' box; 1969 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1969 key, 'Carline' box; 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, 'Carline' box |
4 |
Gremlin | model year 1970 | 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, 'Carline' box |
7 |
Javelin | model years 1968–1970 | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, 'Series' box; 1969 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1969 key, 'Carline' box; 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, 'Carline' box |
8 |
Ambassador | model years 1968–1970 | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, 'Series' box; 1969 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1969 key, 'Carline' box; 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, 'Carline' box |
Body style codes
| Code | Meaning | Applies to | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
5 |
4-door sedan | model years 1968–1970 | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, 'Body Style' box; 1969 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1969 key, 'Body Style' box; 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, 'Body Style' box |
6 |
2-door sedan | model years 1968–1970 | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, 'Body Style' box; 1969 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1969 key, 'Body Style' box; 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, 'Body Style' box |
7 |
2-door convertible | model year 1968 | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, 'Body Style' box |
8 |
4-door station wagon | model years 1968–1970 | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, 'Body Style' box; 1969 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1969 key, 'Body Style' box; 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, 'Body Style' box |
9 |
2-door hardtop or 2-door sport coupe | model years 1968–1970 | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, 'Body Style' box; 1969 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1969 key, 'Body Style' box; 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, 'Body Style' box |
Model (trim class) codes
| Code | Meaning | Applies to | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
0 |
American Basic or Rebel 550 | model year 1968 | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, 'Model' box |
0 |
Rambler Basic or Rebel Basic | model year 1969 | 1969 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1969 key, 'Model' box |
0 |
Gremlin 2-passenger, Hornet Basic or Rebel Basic | model year 1970 | 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, 'Model' box |
2 |
Ambassador Basic | model years 1968–1970 | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, 'Model' box; 1969 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1969 key, 'Model' box; 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, 'Model' box |
5 |
440, Javelin, 770 or DPL | model year 1968 | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, 'Model' box |
5 |
440, Javelin or DPL | model year 1969 | 1969 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1969 key, 'Model' box |
5 |
Gremlin 4-passenger, Javelin or DPL | model year 1970 | 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, 'Model' box |
7 |
Rogue, AMX, Javelin SST, Rebel SST or Ambassador SST | model years 1968–1969 | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, 'Model' box; 1969 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1969 key, 'Model' box |
7 |
Hornet SST, AMX, Javelin SST, Rebel SST or Ambassador SST | model year 1970 | 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, 'Model' box |
Engine codes
| Code | Meaning | Applies to | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
A |
199 CID Six, 128 hp | model years 1968–1970 | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, 'Engines' box; 1969 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1969 key, 'Engines' box; 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, 'Engines' box |
B |
232 CID Six, 145 hp | model years 1968–1969 | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, 'Engines' box; 1969 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1969 key, 'Engines' box |
C |
232 CID Six, 155 hp | model years 1968–1969 | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, 'Engines' box; 1969 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1969 key, 'Engines' box |
M |
290 CID V-8, 200 hp | model years 1968–1969 | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, 'Engines' box; 1969 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1969 key, 'Engines' box |
N |
290 CID V-8, 225 hp | model years 1968–1969 | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, 'Engines' box; 1969 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1969 key, 'Engines' box |
S |
343 CID V-8, 235 hp | model years 1968–1969 | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, 'Engines' box; 1969 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1969 key, 'Engines' box |
T |
343 CID V-8, 280 hp | model years 1968–1969 | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, 'Engines' box; 1969 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1969 key, 'Engines' box |
X |
390 CID V-8, 315 hp | model years 1968–1969 | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, 'Engines' box; 1969 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1969 key, 'Engines' box |
E |
232 CID Six, 145 hp | model year 1970 | 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, 'Engines' box |
G |
232 CID Six, 155 hp | model year 1970 | 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, 'Engines' box |
H |
304 CID V-8, 210 hp | model year 1970 | 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, 'Engines' box |
N |
360 CID V-8, 245 hp | model year 1970 | 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, 'Engines' box |
P |
360 CID V-8, 290 hp | model year 1970 | 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, 'Engines' box |
X |
390 CID V-8, 325 hp | model year 1970 | 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, 'Engines' box |
Y |
390 CID V-8, 340 hp | model year 1970 | 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, 'Engines' box |
Plant (first digit of the serial) codes
| Code | Meaning | Applies to | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Kenosha | model years 1968–1970 | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, 'Plant Location' box (1–6 = Kenosha); 1969 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1969 key, 'Plant Location' box; 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, 'Plant Location' box |
2 |
Kenosha | model years 1968–1970 | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, 'Plant Location' box (1–6 = Kenosha); 1969 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1969 key, 'Plant Location' box; 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, 'Plant Location' box |
3 |
Kenosha | model years 1968–1970 | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, 'Plant Location' box (1–6 = Kenosha); 1969 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1969 key, 'Plant Location' box; 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, 'Plant Location' box |
4 |
Kenosha | model years 1968–1970 | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, 'Plant Location' box (1–6 = Kenosha); 1969 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1969 key, 'Plant Location' box; 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, 'Plant Location' box |
5 |
Kenosha | model years 1968–1970 | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, 'Plant Location' box (1–6 = Kenosha); 1969 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1969 key, 'Plant Location' box; 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, 'Plant Location' box |
6 |
Kenosha | model years 1968–1970 | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, 'Plant Location' box (1–6 = Kenosha); 1969 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1969 key, 'Plant Location' box; 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, 'Plant Location' box |
7 |
Brampton | model years 1968–1970 | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, 'Plant Location' box (7–9 = Brampton); 1969 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1969 key, 'Plant Location' box; 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, 'Plant Location' box |
8 |
Brampton | model years 1968–1970 | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, 'Plant Location' box (7–9 = Brampton); 1969 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1969 key, 'Plant Location' box; 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, 'Plant Location' box |
9 |
Brampton | model years 1968–1970 | 1968 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1968 key, 'Plant Location' box (7–9 = Brampton); 1969 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1969 key, 'Plant Location' box; 1970 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1970 key, 'Plant Location' box |
Cautions for this scheme
- A decode reads what the factory keys say each character means. It does not prove the car is original, correct, or the car the VIN plate was made for; the VIN records the invoiced build, not later engine, transmission, or trim changes.
- Model-year digits repeat each decade. A VIN reading 8 or 0 in position 2 can also be offered by the 1973–1980 AMC pack (8 = 1978, 0 = 1980); the other positions usually show which reading fits.
- Position 6 (Model) groups several trim lines under one digit. It does not by itself separate, for example, a Rogue from an AMX or a Javelin SST; read it together with the car line in position 4.
- The VIN does not carry option packages. SC/Rambler (1969) and Rebel Machine (1970) cars decode only through the car-line, body, model, and engine codes the factory keys list; no key in this pack assigns either package a code of its own.
- AMC also fitted a separate body identification plate (body number, model, trim and paint codes). It is not decoded here.
- 1971 and 1972 VINs are not decoded by this pack. 1972 is decoded by the amc-1971-1972 pack from the 1972 factory key; 1971 has no sourced factory key or service-manual VIN page yet, so its year digit is left out rather than filled in from the neighbouring years.