Free 1983 Chevrolet Malibu VIN Decoder

How to decode a 1983 Chevrolet Malibu VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1983 Chevrolet Malibu VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is the first three characters of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which uniquely identify the vehicle’s manufacturer, country of origin, and vehicle type. For the 1983 Chevrolet Malibu, the WMI “1G1” indicates that this vehicle was manufactured by General Motors LLC in the United States, specifically in Warren, Michigan. As part of the VIN, this code is pivotal in providing specific information about the vehicle, including its manufacture year, which for this example spans from 1981 to 1983 and resumes from 1997 to 2024. This identifier also reveals that the 1983 Chevrolet Malibu is classified as a passenger car, providing a quick reference to understand key aspects of the vehicle’s origin and category.

List of WMI Codes for a 1983 Chevrolet Malibu

WMI: 1G1

• Model Years Covered: 1981-1983, 1997-2024
• Example VIN: 1G1AW35H2DR282719
• Manufacturer Name: General Motors LLC
• Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
• City: Warren
• State or Province: Michigan
• Country: United States

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1983 Chevrolet Malibu 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 1983 Chevrolet Malibu:

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 1983 Chevrolet Malibu 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 1983 Chevrolet Malibu VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 1983 Chevrolet Malibu VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1983 Chevrolet Malibu Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1983 Chevrolet Malibu

The final 6 characters in a 1983 Chevrolet Malibu’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

What info can a 1983 Chevrolet Malibu VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year as 1983, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
• Body Class and Doors: It may indicate the vehicle’s body class as a Wagon with 4 doors, offering clues to its design and functionality.
• Engine Details: The VIN encodes specifics about the engine, such as it being a V-Shaped, 5.0L (5000 CC or 305.1187204736 CI) with 8 cylinders, manufactured by Chevrolet.
• Fuel Type: The VIN may indicate the primary fuel type for this vehicle as Gasoline, highlighting its fuel consumption nature and potential environmental impact.
• Safety Features: The inclusion of Manual seat belts is a safety feature detail that can be deduced, reflecting the safety standards at the time of manufacture.
• Manufacturing Location: Details about the vehicle’s manufacturing, including being assembled in Arlington, Texas, United States, can be gleaned, offering insights into its production origin.
• Vehicle Descriptor and Sample VIN: The VIN provides a unique vehicle descriptor “1G1AW35H*DR” and a sample VIN “1G1AW35H2DR282719”, illustrating how to decode and identify specific vehicles among similar models.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1983 Chevrolet Malibu