Free 1988 GMC Safari VIN Decoder

How to decode a 1988 GMC Safari VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1988 GMC Safari VIN

World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code used to identify the manufacturer of vehicles globally. It consists of the first three characters in the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), revealing essential details about the vehicle, including the manufacturer, vehicle type, and the country of manufacturing. For instance, a WMI beginning with “1GK” signifies a vehicle manufactured by General Motors LLC, classified as a Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV), and made in the United States, specifically in Warren, Michigan. This identification system provides a standardized way to decode critical manufacturing information about vehicles. Applied to vehicles like the 1988 GMC Safari, the WMI offers a quick reference to understand its origins and general classification.

List of WMI Codes for a 1988 GMC Safari

WMI: 1GK

• Model Years Covered: 1987-1988, 1992-2005
• Example VIN: 1GKDM15Z9JB536913
• 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 1988 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 1988 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 1988 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 1988 GMC Safari VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 1988 GMC Safari VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1988 GMC Safari Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1988 GMC Safari

The final 6 characters in a 1988 GMC Safari’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

What info can a 1988 GMC Safari VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, such as 1988, offering insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
• Manufacturing Location: It may identify the plant city and country where the vehicle was manufactured, such as Baltimore in the United States, providing details about the vehicle’s production history.
• Vehicle Specifications: The VIN could encode basic model information like the make being “Safari,” along with engine details such as a V-Shaped, 4.3L displacement and 6 cylinders engine, offering information about the vehicle’s design and performance capabilities.
• Body Class and Drive Type: The VIN can disclose the body class as a Van and the drive type as 4x2, providing insights into the vehicle’s design and drive configuration.
• Engine and Fuel Specifications: Details about the engine manufacturer “CPC,” the type of fuel injection used (Throttle Body Fuel Injection - TBI), and the primary fuel type as gasoline may be indicated, offering insights into the vehicle’s power and fuel efficiency.
• Safety and Weight Class: The VIN provides information on brake system type, indicating it uses hydraulic brakes, and defines the gross vehicle weight rating, classifying the vehicle in Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb, providing insights into the vehicle’s safety features and weight class.
• Additional Engine Information: It can also offer specifics like the engine’s orientation being a 90 Degree configuration, providing further details about the vehicle’s engine design.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1988 GMC Safari