Free 1987 Ford Ranger VIN Decoder

How to decode a 1987 Ford Ranger VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1987 Ford Ranger VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier, or WMI, is a unique three-letter or digit code assigned to every vehicle manufacturer to distinguish where a vehicle is made and by whom. This code forms the first segment of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which is essential in identifying specific information about a vehicle. For instance, the WMI “1FT” is designated to Ford Motor Company, indicating that the vehicle, such as a 1987 Ford Ranger, was produced by Ford in the United States. Specifically, the “1FT” marks Ford trucks manufactured in Dearborn, Michigan, providing a shorthand identification of the vehicle’s origin, type, and manufacturer. Understanding a vehicle’s WMI is crucial for recognition, registration, and tracking purposes across its lifecycle.

List of WMI Codes for a 1987 Ford Ranger

WMI: 1FT

• Model Years Covered: 1983-2011, 2019-2024
• Example VIN: 1FTCR14T0HPB31977
• Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company
• Vehicle Type: Truck
• City: Dearborn
• State or Province: Michigan
• Country: United States

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1987 Ford Ranger 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 1987 Ford Ranger:

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 1987 Ford Ranger 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 1987 Ford Ranger VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 1987 Ford Ranger VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1987 Ford Ranger Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1987 Ford Ranger

The final 6 characters in a 1987 Ford Ranger’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

What info can a 1987 Ford Ranger VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year as 1987, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
• Vehicle Specifications: The VIN indicates that the vehicle is a Ford Ranger with a V-Shaped, 6 Cylinder engine and an engine displacement of 2.9 liters, offering insights into its performance capabilities.
• Body Class and Size: From the VIN, one can understand the vehicle as classified as a Pickup with a Cab Type described as Extra/Super/Quad/Double/King/Extended, offering an idea of the vehicle’s size and passenger capacity.
• Drive Type and Brake System: This detail shows the vehicle has a 4x2 drive type, suggesting it is designed for regular roads rather than off-road, and features a Hydraulic brake system, which can give an idea about its handling and safety features.
• Fuel Efficiency and Engine Details: With a primary gasoline Fuel Type and specific engine details such as “Electronic Fuel Injection,” potential fuel efficiency and environmental impact can be inferred, alongside performance characteristics.
• Safety Features: The VIN mentions that the vehicle is equipped with manual seat belts, giving a glimpse into the safety features that were standard for the model year.
• Manufacturing Information: It’s possible to discern from the VIN that the truck was manufactured in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States, highlighting its origin and potentially influencing its collectibility and maintenance considerations.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1987 Ford Ranger

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