Free 1997 Ford Thunderbird VIN Decoder

How to decode a 1997 Ford Thunderbird VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1997 Ford Thunderbird VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code assigned to every vehicle manufacturer. It forms the first three characters of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which provides specific information about the vehicle, including its place of manufacture, brand, and vehicle type. For example, the 1997 Ford Thunderbird has a WMI of “1FA”, indicating it was manufactured by Ford Motor Company in the United States. This WMI is specific to Ford’s passenger cars produced in their Dearborn, Michigan facility. Identifying a vehicle’s WMI is essential for verification, registration, and historical research purposes, offering a glimpse into a car’s origin and classification.

List of WMI Codes for a 1997 Ford Thunderbird

WMI: 1FA

• Model Years Covered: 1981-1997, 2002-2005
• Example VIN: 1FALP6240VH103462
• Manufacturer Name: Ford Motor Company
• Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
• City: Dearborn
• State or Province: Michigan
• Country: United States

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1997 Ford Thunderbird 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 1997 Ford Thunderbird:

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 1997 Ford Thunderbird 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 1997 Ford Thunderbird VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 1997 Ford Thunderbird VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1997 Ford Thunderbird Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1997 Ford Thunderbird

The final 6 characters in a 1997 Ford Thunderbird’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

What info can a 1997 Ford Thunderbird VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 1997, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
• Engine Type: It may indicate a V-shaped configuration with a 4.6 liter displacement, produced by Ford with electronic fuel injection (EFI) from the Romeo Engine Plant, providing details about the power and performance of the vehicle.
• Body Class and Doors: A VIN can specify the body class, in this case, it may indicate a Sedan/Saloon with 2 doors, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
• Fuel Type: The VIN can possibly reveal the primary fuel type for the vehicle, such as gasoline for the Ford Thunderbird, allowing for an understanding of the vehicle’s energy source.
• Safety Features: The VIN might provide information regarding safety equipment, including front airbag locations in the 1st row, and other restraint systems, offering insights into the vehicle’s safety characteristics.
• Plant Information: It is possible that the VIN may disclose manufacturing details, including the plant city, country, and state where the vehicle was produced, providing insights into the vehicle’s production location.
• Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): The VIN could categorize the vehicle within a specific weight class, in this case, as Class 1 with 6,000 lb or less, offering insights into the vehicle’s weight specifications.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1997 Ford Thunderbird