Free 1987 GMC Safari VIN Decoder

How to decode a 1987 GMC Safari VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1987 GMC Safari VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique sequence of three letters or numbers allocated by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) which identifies the manufacturer of a specific vehicle. For the 1987 GMC Safari, the WMI is “1GK,” indicating it was manufactured by General Motors LLC in Warren, Michigan, United States. This specific WMI signifies that the vehicle is classified as a Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV), reflecting its design to transport people and goods with versatility. The use of the WMI is critical in the automotive industry for vehicle identification, allowing for the tracking of safety recalls, registrations, and warranty claims. This system ensures that each vehicle can be accurately traced back to its manufacturer, model year, and type, providing essential information for regulatory compliance, safety, and ownership purposes.

List of WMI Codes for a 1987 GMC Safari

WMI: 1GT

• Model Years Covered: 1987, 1992, 1994-1995, 1997-2005
• Example VIN: 1GTCM15Z0HB533805
• Manufacturer Name: General Motors LLC
• Vehicle Type: Truck
• City: Warren
• State or Province: Michigan
• Country: United States

WMI: 1GK

• Model Years Covered: 1987-1988, 1992-2005
• Example VIN: 1GKDM15Z7HB521367
• Manufacturer Name: General Motors LLC
• Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
• City: Warren
• State or Province: Michigan
• Country: United States

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

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 GMC Safari 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 GMC Safari VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 1987 GMC Safari VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1987 GMC Safari Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1987 GMC Safari

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

Check your GMC Safari’s VIN below:

What info can a 1987 GMC Safari VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year, potentially indicating that it is a 1987 model, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
• Body Class: A VIN decode may indicate that the vehicle falls into the Van body class, offering insights into the vehicle’s size and intended use.
• Engine Type: The VIN can provide detailed engine information, potentially indicating a V-Shaped, 4.3 Liter, 6-cylinder engine, manufactured by CPC with Throttle Body Fuel Injection (TBI).
• Drive Type and Fuel Efficiency: It’s possible to determine a vehicle’s drive type, such as 4x2, and its primary fuel type, for instance, gasoline, which are critical for assessing fuel efficiency and performance.
• Manufacturing Information: The VIN can divulge where a vehicle was manufactured, pointing to Baltimore, Maryland in the United States, and potentially the manufacturing plant’s name if available.
• Vehicle Weight Class: Identifiable through the VIN, a vehicle’s gross vehicle weight rating can offer insights into its classification, such as being in Class 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg), which is useful for understanding its size and capabilities.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1987 GMC Safari

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