Scheme guide · 1973–1980
American Motors 13-character VIN, 1973–1980
What each character of a 1973–1980 AMC, American Motors VIN means, with the factory or regulatory source for every code.
5 sources · 74 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 | Series (car line) | See the code table below |
| 5 | Body type | See the code table below |
| 6 | Model / group | 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: 1973: stamped on a metal plate riveted in a depression at the upper left corner of the instrument panel, and also printed on a non-removable label on the left front door next to the latch (1973 TSM p. A-1). 1976 and 1978: embossed on a metal plate riveted to the upper corner of the instrument panel between the left windshield wiper pivot and the left A-pillar, readable through the windshield (1976 TSM p. A-3; 1978 TSM p. A-6). 1975 and 1980 keys: visible through the windshield on the driver side of the instrument panel.
Manufacturer codes
| Code | Meaning | Applies to | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
A |
American Motors Corporation | all | 1973 AMC Technical Service Manual, section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-1, Vehicle Identification Number chart; 1975 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1975 key, 'Built By American Motors Corporation' box; 1976 AMC Technical Service Manual (Gremlin, Hornet, Matador), section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-3, VIN Decoding Chart; AMC 1978 Technical Service Manual, Vol. 1, General Information, p. A-6, VIN Decoding Chart; 1980 AMC Automobiles Identification Number Key, 1980 key, 'Built by American Motors Corporation' box |
Model year codes
| Code | Meaning | Applies to | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
3 |
1973 | all | 1973 AMC Technical Service Manual, section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-1, VIN chart, 'Year 1973' |
5 |
1975 | all | 1975 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1975 key, '1975 Model' box |
6 |
1976 | all | 1976 AMC Technical Service Manual (Gremlin, Hornet, Matador), section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-3, VIN Decoding Chart, 'Year 1976' |
8 |
1978 | all | AMC 1978 Technical Service Manual, Vol. 1, General Information, p. A-6, VIN Decoding Chart, 'Year 1978' |
0 |
1980 | all | 1980 AMC Automobiles Identification Number Key, 1980 key, '1980 Model' box |
Transmission codes
| Code | Meaning | Applies to | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
A |
Automatic column shift | model years 1973–1980 | 1973 AMC Technical Service Manual, section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-1, 'Transmission Type' box; 1975 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1975 key, 'Type of Transmission' box; 1976 AMC Technical Service Manual (Gremlin, Hornet, Matador), section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-3, 'Transmission Type' box; AMC 1978 Technical Service Manual, Vol. 1, General Information, p. A-6, 'Transmission Type' box; 1980 AMC Automobiles Identification Number Key, 1980 key, 'Type of Transmission' box |
C |
Automatic floor shift | model year 1973 | 1973 AMC Technical Service Manual, section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-1, 'Transmission Type' box |
C |
Automatic console shift | model year 1975 | 1975 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1975 key, 'Type of Transmission' box |
C |
Automatic floor shift | model years 1976–1978 | 1976 AMC Technical Service Manual (Gremlin, Hornet, Matador), section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-3, 'Transmission Type' box; AMC 1978 Technical Service Manual, Vol. 1, General Information, p. A-6, 'Transmission Type' box |
C |
Automatic console shift | model year 1980 | 1980 AMC Automobiles Identification Number Key, 1980 key, 'Type of Transmission' box |
S |
Standard 3-speed column shift | model year 1973 | 1973 AMC Technical Service Manual, section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-1, 'Transmission Type' box |
S |
3-speed manual column shift | model years 1975–1976 | 1975 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1975 key, 'Type of Transmission' box; 1976 AMC Technical Service Manual (Gremlin, Hornet, Matador), section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-3, 'Transmission Type' box |
F |
3-speed floor shift | model year 1973 | 1973 AMC Technical Service Manual, section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-1, 'Transmission Type' box |
M |
4-speed floor shift | model year 1973 | 1973 AMC Technical Service Manual, section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-1, 'Transmission Type' box |
M |
4-speed manual floor shift | model years 1978–1980 | AMC 1978 Technical Service Manual, Vol. 1, General Information, p. A-6, 'Transmission Type' box; 1980 AMC Automobiles Identification Number Key, 1980 key, 'Type of Transmission' box |
E |
3-speed manual floor shift | model years 1975–1978 | 1975 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1975 key, 'Type of Transmission' box; 1976 AMC Technical Service Manual (Gremlin, Hornet, Matador), section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-3, 'Transmission Type' box; AMC 1978 Technical Service Manual, Vol. 1, General Information, p. A-6, 'Transmission Type' box |
O |
3-speed manual column shift with overdrive | model years 1975–1976 | 1975 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1975 key, 'Type of Transmission' box; 1976 AMC Technical Service Manual (Gremlin, Hornet, Matador), section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-3, 'Transmission Type' box |
D |
3-speed manual floor shift with overdrive | model years 1975–1976 | 1975 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1975 key, 'Type of Transmission' box; 1976 AMC Technical Service Manual (Gremlin, Hornet, Matador), section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-3, 'Transmission Type' box |
Series (car line) codes
| Code | Meaning | Applies to | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
0 |
Hornet | model years 1973–1976 | 1973 AMC Technical Service Manual, section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-1, 'Series' box; 1975 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1975 key, 'Carline' box; 1976 AMC Technical Service Manual (Gremlin, Hornet, Matador), section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-3, 'Series' box |
0 |
Concord, AMX | model year 1978 | AMC 1978 Technical Service Manual, Vol. 1, General Information, p. A-6, 'Series' box |
0 |
Concord | model year 1980 | 1980 AMC Automobiles Identification Number Key, 1980 key, 'Series' box |
1 |
Matador | model year 1973 | 1973 AMC Technical Service Manual, section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-1, 'Series' box |
1 |
Matador coupe (2-door) | model years 1975–1978 | 1975 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1975 key, 'Carline' box ('Matador (Coupe)'); 1976 AMC Technical Service Manual (Gremlin, Hornet, Matador), section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-3, 'Series' box ('Matador 2-Dr.'); AMC 1978 Technical Service Manual, Vol. 1, General Information, p. A-6, 'Series' box ('Matador 2-Dr.') |
3 |
Eagle | model year 1980 | 1980 AMC Automobiles Identification Number Key, 1980 key, 'Series' box |
4 |
Gremlin | model years 1973–1978 | 1973 AMC Technical Service Manual, section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-1, 'Series' box; 1975 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1975 key, 'Carline' box; 1976 AMC Technical Service Manual (Gremlin, Hornet, Matador), section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-3, 'Series' box; AMC 1978 Technical Service Manual, Vol. 1, General Information, p. A-6, 'Series' box |
4 |
Spirit, AMX | model year 1980 | 1980 AMC Automobiles Identification Number Key, 1980 key, 'Series' box |
6 |
Pacer | model year 1975 | 1975 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1975 key, 'Carline' box |
6 |
Pacer | model years 1978–1980 | AMC 1978 Technical Service Manual, Vol. 1, General Information, p. A-6, 'Series' box; 1980 AMC Automobiles Identification Number Key, 1980 key, 'Series' box |
7 |
Javelin | model year 1973 | 1973 AMC Technical Service Manual, section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-1, 'Series' box |
8 |
Ambassador | model year 1973 | 1973 AMC Technical Service Manual, section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-1, 'Series' box |
8 |
Matador sedan or wagon (4-door) | model years 1975–1978 | 1975 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1975 key, 'Carline' box ('Matador (Sed./Wag.)'); 1976 AMC Technical Service Manual (Gremlin, Hornet, Matador), section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-3, 'Series' box ('Matador 4-Dr.'); AMC 1978 Technical Service Manual, Vol. 1, General Information, p. A-6, 'Series' box ('Matador 4-Dr. Sedan/Station Wagon') |
Body type codes
| Code | Meaning | Applies to | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
3 |
2-door hatchback | model years 1973–1978 | 1973 AMC Technical Service Manual, section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-1, 'Body Type' box; 1975 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1975 key, 'Body Style' box; 1976 AMC Technical Service Manual (Gremlin, Hornet, Matador), section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-3, 'Body Type' box; AMC 1978 Technical Service Manual, Vol. 1, General Information, p. A-6, 'Body Type' box |
3 |
2-door liftback | model year 1980 | 1980 AMC Automobiles Identification Number Key, 1980 key, 'Body Style' box |
5 |
4-door sedan | model years 1973–1980 | 1973 AMC Technical Service Manual, section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-1, 'Body Type' box; 1975 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1975 key, 'Body Style' box; 1976 AMC Technical Service Manual (Gremlin, Hornet, Matador), section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-3, 'Body Type' box; AMC 1978 Technical Service Manual, Vol. 1, General Information, p. A-6, 'Body Type' box; 1980 AMC Automobiles Identification Number Key, 1980 key, 'Body Style' box |
6 |
2-door sedan | model years 1973–1976 | 1973 AMC Technical Service Manual, section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-1, 'Body Type' box; 1975 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1975 key, 'Body Style' box ('2-Dr. Sedan (Coupe)'); 1976 AMC Technical Service Manual (Gremlin, Hornet, Matador), section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-3, 'Body Type' box |
6 |
2-door sedan or hatchback | model years 1978–1980 | AMC 1978 Technical Service Manual, Vol. 1, General Information, p. A-6, 'Body Type' box; 1980 AMC Automobiles Identification Number Key, 1980 key, 'Body Style' box |
8 |
4-door station wagon | model years 1973–1976 | 1973 AMC Technical Service Manual, section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-1, 'Body Type' box; 1975 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1975 key, 'Body Style' box; 1976 AMC Technical Service Manual (Gremlin, Hornet, Matador), section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-3, 'Body Type' box |
8 |
Station wagon | model year 1978 | AMC 1978 Technical Service Manual, Vol. 1, General Information, p. A-6, 'Body Type' box |
8 |
4-door station wagon, or 2-door station wagon (Pacer) | model year 1980 | 1980 AMC Automobiles Identification Number Key, 1980 key, 'Body Style' box |
9 |
2-door hardtop | model year 1973 | 1973 AMC Technical Service Manual, section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-1, 'Body Type' box |
Model / group codes
| Code | Meaning | Applies to | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
5 |
Gremlin | model years 1973–1975 | 1973 AMC Technical Service Manual, section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-1, 'Group' box; 1975 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1975 key, 'Model' box |
7 |
Hornet, Hornet Hatchback, Javelin, Matador, Ambassador Brougham | model year 1973 | 1973 AMC Technical Service Manual, section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-1, 'Group' box |
8 |
Javelin AMX | model year 1973 | 1973 AMC Technical Service Manual, section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-1, 'Group' box |
7 |
Hornet, Pacer, Matador | model year 1975 | 1975 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1975 key, 'Model' box |
P |
Police | model years 1975–1976 | 1975 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1975 key, 'Model' box; 1976 AMC Technical Service Manual (Gremlin, Hornet, Matador), section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-3, 'Model/Group' box |
3 |
Gremlin Standard | model year 1976 | 1976 AMC Technical Service Manual (Gremlin, Hornet, Matador), section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-3, 'Model/Group' box |
5 |
Gremlin Custom | model year 1976 | 1976 AMC Technical Service Manual (Gremlin, Hornet, Matador), section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-3, 'Model/Group' box |
7 |
Hornet, Matador | model year 1976 | 1976 AMC Technical Service Manual (Gremlin, Hornet, Matador), section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-3, 'Model/Group' box |
4 |
Gremlin (2-liter) | model year 1978 | AMC 1978 Technical Service Manual, Vol. 1, General Information, p. A-6, 'Model/Group' box |
5 |
Gremlin (base) | model year 1978 | AMC 1978 Technical Service Manual, Vol. 1, General Information, p. A-6, 'Model/Group' box |
7 |
Pacer, Gremlin (Custom), Concord, Matador | model year 1978 | AMC 1978 Technical Service Manual, Vol. 1, General Information, p. A-6, 'Model/Group' box |
9 |
AMX | model years 1978–1980 | AMC 1978 Technical Service Manual, Vol. 1, General Information, p. A-6, 'Model/Group' box; 1980 AMC Automobiles Identification Number Key, 1980 key, position-6 'Body Type' box |
0 |
Base | model year 1980 | 1980 AMC Automobiles Identification Number Key, 1980 key, position-6 'Body Type' box |
5 |
DL | model year 1980 | 1980 AMC Automobiles Identification Number Key, 1980 key, position-6 'Body Type' box |
7 |
Limited | model year 1980 | 1980 AMC Automobiles Identification Number Key, 1980 key, position-6 'Body Type' box |
Engine codes
| Code | Meaning | Applies to | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
A |
258 CID Six, 1-barrel | model years 1973–1978 | 1973 AMC Technical Service Manual, section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-1, 'Engine' box; 1975 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1975 key, 'Engines' box; 1976 AMC Technical Service Manual (Gremlin, Hornet, Matador), section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-3, 'Engine' box; AMC 1978 Technical Service Manual, Vol. 1, General Information, p. A-6, 'Engine' box |
E |
232 CID Six, 1-barrel | model years 1973–1978 | 1973 AMC Technical Service Manual, section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-1, 'Engine' box; 1975 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1975 key, 'Engines' box; 1976 AMC Technical Service Manual (Gremlin, Hornet, Matador), section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-3, 'Engine' box; AMC 1978 Technical Service Manual, Vol. 1, General Information, p. A-6, 'Engine' box |
H |
304 CID V-8, 2-barrel | model years 1973–1978 | 1973 AMC Technical Service Manual, section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-1, 'Engine' box; 1975 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1975 key, 'Engines' box; 1976 AMC Technical Service Manual (Gremlin, Hornet, Matador), section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-3, 'Engine' box; AMC 1978 Technical Service Manual, Vol. 1, General Information, p. A-6, 'Engine' box |
N |
360 CID V-8, 2-barrel | model years 1973–1978 | 1973 AMC Technical Service Manual, section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-1, 'Engine' box; 1975 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1975 key, 'Engines' box; 1976 AMC Technical Service Manual (Gremlin, Hornet, Matador), section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-3, 'Engine' box; AMC 1978 Technical Service Manual, Vol. 1, General Information, p. A-6, 'Engine' box |
P |
360 CID V-8, 4-barrel | model years 1973–1976 | 1973 AMC Technical Service Manual, section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-1, 'Engine' box; 1975 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1975 key, 'Engines' box; 1976 AMC Technical Service Manual (Gremlin, Hornet, Matador), section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-3, 'Engine' box |
Z |
401 CID V-8, 4-barrel | model years 1973–1976 | 1973 AMC Technical Service Manual, section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-1, 'Engine' box; 1975 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1975 key, 'Engines' box (the Z line carries a footnote mark '(a)' whose text is not on the sheet); 1976 AMC Technical Service Manual (Gremlin, Hornet, Matador), section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-3, 'Engine' box |
C |
258 CID Six, 2-barrel | model years 1978–1980 | AMC 1978 Technical Service Manual, Vol. 1, General Information, p. A-6, 'Engine' box; 1980 AMC Automobiles Identification Number Key, 1980 key, 'Engines' box |
G |
2-liter Four, 2-barrel | model year 1978 | AMC 1978 Technical Service Manual, Vol. 1, General Information, p. A-6, 'Engine' box |
B |
151 CID Four, 2-barrel | model year 1980 | 1980 AMC Automobiles Identification Number Key, 1980 key, 'Engines' box |
Plant (first digit of the serial) codes
| Code | Meaning | Applies to | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Kenosha | model years 1973–1980 | 1973 AMC Technical Service Manual, section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-1, 'Plant of Manufacture and Sequential Serial Number' box (100,001 thru 699,999 Kenosha); 1975 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1975 key, 'Plant Location' box (1-6 = Kenosha); 1976 AMC Technical Service Manual (Gremlin, Hornet, Matador), section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-3, 'Plant of Manufacture and Serial Number' box; AMC 1978 Technical Service Manual, Vol. 1, General Information, p. A-6, 'Point of Manufacture and Serial Number' box; 1980 AMC Automobiles Identification Number Key, 1980 key, 'Plant Location' box (1-6 = Kenosha) |
2 |
Kenosha | model years 1973–1980 | 1973 AMC Technical Service Manual, section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-1, 'Plant of Manufacture and Sequential Serial Number' box; 1975 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1975 key, 'Plant Location' box; 1976 AMC Technical Service Manual (Gremlin, Hornet, Matador), section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-3, 'Plant of Manufacture and Serial Number' box; AMC 1978 Technical Service Manual, Vol. 1, General Information, p. A-6, 'Point of Manufacture and Serial Number' box; 1980 AMC Automobiles Identification Number Key, 1980 key, 'Plant Location' box |
3 |
Kenosha | model years 1973–1980 | 1973 AMC Technical Service Manual, section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-1, 'Plant of Manufacture and Sequential Serial Number' box; 1975 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1975 key, 'Plant Location' box; 1976 AMC Technical Service Manual (Gremlin, Hornet, Matador), section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-3, 'Plant of Manufacture and Serial Number' box; AMC 1978 Technical Service Manual, Vol. 1, General Information, p. A-6, 'Point of Manufacture and Serial Number' box; 1980 AMC Automobiles Identification Number Key, 1980 key, 'Plant Location' box |
4 |
Kenosha | model years 1973–1980 | 1973 AMC Technical Service Manual, section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-1, 'Plant of Manufacture and Sequential Serial Number' box; 1975 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1975 key, 'Plant Location' box; 1976 AMC Technical Service Manual (Gremlin, Hornet, Matador), section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-3, 'Plant of Manufacture and Serial Number' box; AMC 1978 Technical Service Manual, Vol. 1, General Information, p. A-6, 'Point of Manufacture and Serial Number' box; 1980 AMC Automobiles Identification Number Key, 1980 key, 'Plant Location' box |
5 |
Kenosha | model years 1973–1980 | 1973 AMC Technical Service Manual, section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-1, 'Plant of Manufacture and Sequential Serial Number' box; 1975 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1975 key, 'Plant Location' box; 1976 AMC Technical Service Manual (Gremlin, Hornet, Matador), section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-3, 'Plant of Manufacture and Serial Number' box; AMC 1978 Technical Service Manual, Vol. 1, General Information, p. A-6, 'Point of Manufacture and Serial Number' box; 1980 AMC Automobiles Identification Number Key, 1980 key, 'Plant Location' box |
6 |
Kenosha | model years 1973–1980 | 1973 AMC Technical Service Manual, section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-1, 'Plant of Manufacture and Sequential Serial Number' box; 1975 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1975 key, 'Plant Location' box; 1976 AMC Technical Service Manual (Gremlin, Hornet, Matador), section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-3, 'Plant of Manufacture and Serial Number' box; AMC 1978 Technical Service Manual, Vol. 1, General Information, p. A-6, 'Point of Manufacture and Serial Number' box; 1980 AMC Automobiles Identification Number Key, 1980 key, 'Plant Location' box |
7 |
Brampton | model years 1973–1978 | 1973 AMC Technical Service Manual, section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-1, 'Plant of Manufacture and Sequential Serial Number' box (700,001 thru 999,999 Brampton); 1975 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1975 key, 'Plant Location' box (7-9 = Brampton); 1976 AMC Technical Service Manual (Gremlin, Hornet, Matador), section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-3, 'Plant of Manufacture and Serial Number' box; AMC 1978 Technical Service Manual, Vol. 1, General Information, p. A-6, 'Point of Manufacture and Serial Number' box |
8 |
Brampton | model years 1973–1978 | 1973 AMC Technical Service Manual, section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-1, 'Plant of Manufacture and Sequential Serial Number' box; 1975 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1975 key, 'Plant Location' box; 1976 AMC Technical Service Manual (Gremlin, Hornet, Matador), section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-3, 'Plant of Manufacture and Serial Number' box; AMC 1978 Technical Service Manual, Vol. 1, General Information, p. A-6, 'Point of Manufacture and Serial Number' box |
9 |
Brampton | model years 1973–1978 | 1973 AMC Technical Service Manual, section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-1, 'Plant of Manufacture and Sequential Serial Number' box; 1975 Vehicle Identification Number Key, 1975 key, 'Plant Location' box; 1976 AMC Technical Service Manual (Gremlin, Hornet, Matador), section A 'Vehicle Identification—General Information', p. A-3, 'Plant of Manufacture and Serial Number' box; AMC 1978 Technical Service Manual, Vol. 1, General Information, p. A-6, 'Point of Manufacture and Serial Number' box |
Cautions for this scheme
- A decode reads what the factory charts say each character means. It does not prove the car is original or correct; 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 1968–1970 AMC pack (8 = 1968, 0 = 1970); the other positions usually show which reading fits.
- 1974, 1977 and 1979 VINs are not decoded by this pack: no factory chart for those years has been sourced yet, and the neighbouring years' codes are not carried across to them. 1979 Spirit AMX and 1977 Hornet/Gremlin AMX cars are therefore not covered. The Internet Archive's 1974, 1976, 1977 and 1979 AMC data books and product-information books carry no VIN key (searched 2026-09-23); the Vehicle Identification page of each year's Technical Service Manual, or the license-information page of that year's Car Ordering Guide and Price List, would close these years.
- Position 6 groups trim lines. In 1973 group 8 is Javelin AMX. In 1978 and 1980 group 9 is AMX; the 1978 series box lists AMX with Concord (series 0) and the 1980 box lists it with Spirit (series 4).
- The 1973 manual's own example VIN (A3S030A100001) shows a 0 in position 6, which its Group box does not list; that example decodes position 6 as an unknown code rather than guessing.
- AMC also fitted a body identification plate, riveted to the left front door next to the latch, carrying body number, model, trim and paint codes and the build sequence (1973 TSM p. A-1). It is not decoded here; the body number runs in its own series by body plant and is not the VIN serial.
- The 1976 chart covers the cars in the 1976 Technical Service Manual and omits Pacer, which AMC documented in a separate 1976 Pacer Technical Service Manual (A761010); a 1976 Pacer series code therefore decodes as unknown. The other positions of a 1976 Pacer VIN still decode through the 1976 chart where it lists the character, but the chart was not written for the Pacer, so those readings carry that caveat. The 1976 Pacer manual's VIN page, or the 1976 Car Ordering Guide's license-information page, would close this.
Where the sources disagree
- {"topic":"1973 group code in the manual\u0027s own example","claims":[{"claim":"Group codes are 5 (Gremlin), 7 (Hornet \u2026 Ambassador Brougham) and 8 (Javelin AMX).","source":{"id":"vin-amc-1973-tsm","locator":"p. A-1, \u0027Group\u0027 box"}},{"claim":"The example VIN A3S030A100001 shows 0 in the group position.","source":{"id":"vin-amc-1973-tsm","locator":"p. A-1, example VIN"}}],"resolution":"The table publishes only the codes the Group box lists; 0 in 1973 decodes as an unknown code."}