Free 1981 Honda Prelude VIN Decoder

How to decode a 1981 Honda Prelude VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 1981 Honda Prelude VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code consisting of the first three characters of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), designating the vehicle’s manufacturer, the type of vehicle, and the country where it was manufactured. For instance, a 1981 Honda Prelude produced by Honda Motor Co., Ltd would have a WMI code beginning with “JHM,” indicating it was made by Honda in Japan. The “J” signifies Japan as the country of manufacture, “H” represents Honda as the manufacturer, and “M” denotes the vehicle type, in this case, a passenger car. This coding system is crucial for vehicle identification, allowing for the precise tracing of the vehicle’s origin, manufacturer, and specific characteristics. The WMI is an integral part of global automotive industry standards, facilitating the tracking and registration of vehicles worldwide.

List of WMI Codes for a 1981 Honda Prelude

WMI: JHM

• Model Years Covered: 1981-1982, 1985-2001
• Example VIN: JHMSN5223BC025755
• Manufacturer Name: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
• Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
• City: Tokyo
• State or Province: Musashi
• Country: Japan

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1981 Honda Prelude 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 Honda Prelude:

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 Honda Prelude 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 Honda Prelude VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 1981 Honda Prelude VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 1981 Honda Prelude Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1981 Honda Prelude

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

What info can a 1981 Honda Prelude VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year, such as the year 1981 for a Prelude, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
• Body Class and Doors: It can provide insights into the body class and size, indicating, for example, that the vehicle is a Coupe with 2 doors, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
• Engine Specifications: Displacement details are encoded, revealing specifics like 1,751 CC or 106.85 CI, which can help in understanding the vehicle’s engine size and power capabilities.
• Vehicle Type and Model Specifics: The VIN decodes to show both the general type, such as Passenger Car, and more detailed information like the model name, Prelude, offering a comprehensive understanding of the vehicle’s type and specific model details.
• Manufacturing Details: It can highlight manufacturing specifics including the plant’s location, such as Sayama, Saitama, Japan, offering insight into where the vehicle was produced and potential quality standards.
• Transmission Details: Information regarding the transmission, such as it being a Manual/Standard with 5 speeds, can also be found, providing insights into the vehicle’s driving experience.
• Safety Equipment: The type of seat belt (Manual in this case) hints at the safety equipment installed in the vehicle, offering clues about its safety features and potential protective capabilities.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1981 Honda Prelude