Free Lotus Esprit VIN Decoder

How to decode a Lotus Esprit VIN

Characters 1-3 of a Lotus Esprit VIN

The World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is the initial trio of characters at the beginning of every Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which uniquely identifies the manufacturer of a vehicle. For the Lotus Esprit, this WMI is SCC, denoting Lotus Cars Ltd as the automaker. This British manufacturer is renowned for its distinct sports and racing cars, with the Esprit being one of its most iconic models. Produced at the Lotus headquarters in Hethel, Norfolk, United Kingdom, the Esprit’s VIN helps to verify its authenticity and origin. The WMI serves as the essential DNA sequence for every Esprit, confirming it as a genuine creation of Lotus Cars Ltd.

List of WMI Codes for a Lotus Esprit

WMI: SCC

• Model Years Covered: 1986-1989, 2001-2004
• Example VIN: SCCFC20A0GHF60751
• Manufacturer Name: Lotus Cars Ltd
• Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
• City: Gaydon
• State or Province: Norfolk
• Country: United Kingdom

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a Lotus Esprit 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 Lotus Esprit:

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 Lotus Esprit 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 Lotus Esprit VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the Lotus Esprit VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known Lotus Esprit Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a Lotus Esprit

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

What info can a Lotus Esprit VIN reveal?

• Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year the Lotus Esprit was manufactured, providing insights into the age and potential historical value of the vehicle.
• Manufacturer: The VIN helps in identifying the manufacturer of the Lotus Esprit, ensuring its authenticity and origin, potentially adding to the vehicle’s historical significance.
• Vehicle Type: The VIN indicates that the Lotus Esprit is classified as a passenger car, offering insight into its intended use and design as a personal transportation vehicle.
• Body Class: The VIN can reveal the body class of the Lotus Esprit, specifying its body style, potentially indicating whether it is a coupe or another type of body design.
• Engine Specifications: The VIN may provide information on the engine of the Lotus Esprit, including details about the number of cylinders and the engine configuration, helping to understand its performance capabilities.
• Turbo: The VIN can indicate whether the Lotus Esprit is equipped with a turbocharged engine, offering details on its potential for enhanced performance.
• Safety Restraints: The VIN may provide insight into the safety features of the Lotus Esprit, including the type of seat belts and other restraint systems present in the vehicle, contributing to understanding its safety technology.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a Lotus Esprit