Free 1981 Ford F-250 VIN Decoder

How to decode a 1981 Ford F-250 VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1981 Ford F-250 VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code designated to every vehicle manufacturer around the globe for the purpose of identifying the make and location of manufacture of a vehicle. In the case of the 1981 Ford F-250, the WMI is “1FT,” signaling that it was manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States, specifically in Dearborn, Michigan. This alphanumeric code is the first part of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which provides crucial details about the vehicle, including its model year, manufacturing plant, and specific attributes. For this Ford truck, the WMI not only denotes its American heritage but also links it to one of the leading automotive companies in the world. Understanding the WMI is essential for accurately identifying a vehicle’s origins and authenticity.

List of WMI Codes for a 1981 Ford F-250

WMI: 1FT

• Model Years Covered: 1981-2024
• Example VIN: 1FTEX26G1BKA53735
• Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company
• Vehicle Type: Truck
• City: Dearborn
• State or Province: Michigan
• Country: United States

WMI: 2FT

• Model Years Covered: 1981, 1983-1999
• Example VIN: 2FTFF26G7BCA84127
• Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd.
• Vehicle Type: Truck
• City: Oakville
• State or Province: Ontario
• Country: Canada

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1981 Ford F-250 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 1981 Ford F-250:

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 1981 Ford F-250 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 1981 Ford F-250 VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 1981 Ford F-250 VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1981 Ford F-250 Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1981 Ford F-250

The final 6 characters in a 1981 Ford F-250’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Ford F-250’s VIN below:

What info can a 1981 Ford F-250 VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 1981, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
• Manufacturing Details: The production details provided by the VIN, such as the plant city being Oakville and the country as Canada, may indicate where the vehicle was assembled.
• Vehicle Specifications: The VIN offers specific details about the make and model, identifying it as a Ford F-250. It also includes crucial information like the engine manufacturer, displacement, and fuel type, suggesting that it has a 5.8L V-Shaped engine by Ford, possibly running on Gasoline.
• Engine and Performance: Details about the engine include its configuration as V-Shaped, displacement measurements in CC, CI, and L, and its horsepower range from 150 to 210, which may offer insights into the vehicle’s performance capabilities.
• Body and Design: The VIN reveals the vehicle’s body class as a Pickup with a Regular cab type and a 4WD drive type, providing a somewhat clear picture of the truck’s physical layout and drivetrain.
• Safety Features: The VIN indicates the seat belt type as Manual, hinting at the vehicle’s safety equipment available at the time of manufacture.
• Weight Class: The gross vehicle weight rating is classified as Class 2F: 7,001 - 8,000 lb (3,175 - 3,629 kg), giving a rough idea of the vehicle’s size and weight category, which might be crucial for understanding towing capabilities and registration requirements.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1981 Ford F-250

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