January 1966-1980 VINs

Vehicle Identification Numbers for 1966 - 1968 AMC vehicles will be found under the hood on a plate attached to the right (passenger side) wheel well panel. January 1968 and later models have this number on the dash panel on the drivers side where it can be viewed from the outside through the windshield. 1968 models produced after January 1, 1968 will have VINs in both locations.

AMC used six numbering systems, each during specific years. Each has its own section linked to this page in chronological order. All years refer to model years, not calendar years. Each Car Model Information Page has serial or VIN number information on it that pertains only to that particular model range.

AMC assigned serial numbers as orders came in, not as the cars were actually assembled. Therefore, a car with a low serial number,"000001" for example, may not be the first one actually produced. Cars were assigned a "sequential assembly number" (see Unit Body Identification Plates) in the order they were produced. Conversely, the highest serialed car for a specific year will most likely NOT be the last one built. Actual assembly took place according to assembly line demands. Sequential assembly numbers were not used prior to 1960, so there is no way of knowing in what order 1955-59 cars were assembled.

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January 1966-1967

Look back at the 55-early 66 serial numbering system and one can easily see that the code/number system was beginning to get rather cumbersome. There were also concerns in the auto and insurance industry about fraud and theft. With the various numbering systems used it was easy for an owner to purchase optional equipment and trim items to falsely upgrade a car and present it as factory original. People in the sales and service industry also had to learn each manufacturers coding system. The U.S. Government stepped in and mandated a 13 digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) system that had to be used on all cars manufactured in the U.S. after January 1, 1966. Positions were not standardized, just the maximum number of characters and that certain information (such as make, body style, engine type, and model year) had to be included. Each company adopted its own format.

Character Number   Translation 
    1              Company (A=AMC) 
    2              Last digit of model year (6=1966) 
    3              Plant Location
    4              Transmission Type
    5              Body Type 
    6              Group No. (trim level) 
    7              Series and Engine 
    8-13           Sequential Serial Number


3- Plant Location
  K - Kenosha                            B- Brampton (Ontario, Canada)


4- Transmission Types
  A- Automatic, Column Shift             M- Four Speed Manual (no console) 
  C- Automatic, Floor Shift              O- Overdrive, Column Shift
  F- Four Speed Manual w/Console         S- Three Speed Manual 


5- Body Types
  4- 2dr Station Wagon                   7- 2dr Convertible 
  5- 4dr Sedan                           8- 4dr Station Wagon 
  6- 2dr Sedan                           9- 2dr Hardtop Coupe 


6- Trim
  0- Base Model (220, 550)               5- Mid Model (770, 990)
  2- Base Ambassador (880)               7- Top Model (Rogue, 66 Rebel, 
                                                       Marlin, SST, DPL)


7- Series and Engine (1966/1967)
  A- American 199 1V                     M- Ambassador 232 2V 
  B- American 232 2V                     N- Ambassador 287/290 2V
  C- American 290 2V                     P- Ambassador 327
  D- American 290 4V                     Q- Ambassador 327/343 4V
  E- Classic 199 1V                      S- Marlin 232 2V/232 1V
  F- Classic/Rebel 232 1V                T- Marlin 287 2V/232 2V
  G- Classic/Rebel 232 2V                U- Marlin 327 4V/290 2V
  H- Classic/Rebel 287/290 2V            V- Marlin 232 1V
  J- Classic/Rebel 327 2V                W- Marlin 327 2V/343 4V
  K- Classic/Rebel 327/343 4V                 
                 

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1968-1980

There was a minor change in the coding sequence beginning in 1968. The main change was that the former Plant Location was eliminated so that the Series could be inserted. This was an AMC change, not a government mandated change. Plant location was identified by the eight character, or the first number of the Sequential Serial Number. Jeep adopted this numbering system in 1971 after its absorption into AMC. The break down is as follows:

Character Number   Translation 
    1              Company (A=AMC, J=Jeep) 
    2              Last digit of model year (6=1966) 
    3              Transmission Type 
    4              First digit of series no. (0=01) 
    5              Body Type 
    6              Group No. (trim level) 
    7              Engine Code 
    8-13           Sequential Serial Number. First for each model year is always 
                   100001 for Kenosha and Toledo (Jeep only), 700001 for Canada. 
                   All AMC export models were built at Kenosha. 

Jeep numbers were slightly different while following the same general format. The third character indicates the transmission type and hand of drive, a two character series number was used in place of the series and body type (4 & 5), position six indicated the body type, seven the weight code, and eight the engine code. All Jeep final assembly was done at the Toledo plant. "CKD" stands for "Canada, Knock-Down". These vehicles were manufactured at a Canadian facility and then sent to Toledo for final assembly. The "DJ" series are export versions of the U.S. and Canada CJs. Some Jeep models may have a fourteenth character when necessary.
 

3- Transmission Types (Cars)
  A- Automatic, Column Shift             F- Four Speed Manual 
  C- Automatic, Floor Shift              S- Three Speed Manual 
 

4- Series (Cars)
  0- American, Rogue, Hornet, Concord    5- Marlin 
  1- Classic, Rebel, Matador             6- Pacer 
  3- AMX, Eagle 4WD                      7- Javelin 
  4- Gremlin, Spirit                     8- Ambassador 
 

5- Body Types (Cars)
  2- 2dr Business Sedan                  7- 2dr Convertible 
  5- 4dr Sedan                           8- 4dr Station Wagon 
  6- 2dr Sedan                           9- 2dr Hardtop Coupe 
 

3- Transmission/Drive (Jeep) 4 & 5- Series/WB (Jeep)
  A- Automatic/Left                      14- Base Wagoneer/110 
  B- Automatic/Left (CKD)                15- Custom Wagoneer/110 
  F- Three Speed Manual/Left             25,26- Truck/120 
  G- Three Speed Manual/Right            45,46,47,48- Truck/132 
  J- Three Speed Manual/Left (CKD)       63- CJ-5 (CKD)/81 
  K- Three Speed Manual/Right (CKD)      64- CJ-6 (CKD)/101 
  M- Four Speed Manual/Left              65- DJ-5 (CKD)/81 
  N- Four Speed Manual/Right             66- DJ-6 (CKD)/101 
  O- Four Speed Manual/Left (CKD)        71- MD (Gov.) 
  P- Four Speed Manual/Right (CKD)       72- MDA (Gov.) 
                                         78- M-606 (Gov.) 
                                         83- CJ-5/84 
                                         84- CJ-6/104 
                                         85- DJ-5/84 
                                         86- DJ-6/104 
                                         87- Commando/104 
                                         88- Commando PU/104 
                                         89- Commando SW/104 
                                         93- CJ-7/93  

6- Group Numbers (Cars)
   1968-1969: 
   0- Base Model                    5- Mid Model (440, 770, 990) 
   2- Ambassador                    7- Top Model (Rogue, SST, AMX, Marlin) 

   1970: 
   0- Base Model                    2- Base Ambassador 
   5- Javelin, DPL                  7- SST, AMX 

   1971-1975: 
   5- Gremlin, Ambassador SST       7- Hornet (& SST), Javelin (& SST), Matador,
   8- Javelin AMX, Matador X           Ambassador, Ambassador Brougham 
   9- Matador Brougham              P- Police Package 

   1976-1978: 
   3- Gremlin Base (76 only)        5- Gremlin (Custom 76, Base 77-78) 
   4- Gremlin Four Cylinder         7- Pacer, Concord, Matador, Gremlin 
   9- AMX                                          (Custom 77-78) 
   P- Police Package 

   1979-1980: 
   0- Base Model                    5- D/L 
   7- Limited                       9- AMX 
 

6- Body Types (Jeep)
   1- Thriftside Truck (step side)  6- Cab/Chassis (Truck) 
   2- Townside Truck                8- Bare Chassis (Truck) 
   3- Stakebed Truck                F- Full Cab 
   4- 4 dr Wagon                    H- Half Cab 
   5- Open Body 
 

7- Engine Codes (Cars)

Codes are valid only during certain years. Many codes were used to represent different size engines in different years. A series number or model name following a year indicates for that series/model only.

Code - Engine Code - Engine
  A - 199 1V, 1968-70                   B - 232 1V, 1968-69
      258 1V, 1971-79                       151 2V(2.5L), 1980 
  C - 232 2V, 1968-69                   E - 232 1V, 1970-79
      258 2V, 1976-80 
  G - 232 2V, 1970                      H - 304 2V, 1970-78                   
      121 2V(2.0L), 1977-79                                    
  M - 290 2V, 1968-69                   N - 290 4V, 1968
                                            360 2V, 1970-78
  P - 360 4V, 1970-77                   S - 343 2V, 1968-69
  T - 343 2V, 1968-69                   X - 390 4V, 1968-70
  Y - 390 4V, 1970 Machine              Z - 401 4V, 1971-77  


7- Type/Weight Code (Jeep, GVW)
  A- CJ-5,7/3750                        T- CJ & DJ-5/3750 
  C- Custom Wagoneer/5600               U- Commando/4700 
  E- CJ-5,7/4150                        V- Commando, CJ-6/3900 
  O- Base Wagoneer/5600                 W- Truck/5000 
  P- DJ-5,6/3200                        X- Truck/6000 
  R- CJ-6/4750                          Y- Truck/7000 
  S- CJ-5/4500                          Z- Truck/8000 


8- Engine Codes (Jeep)
  A- 258 2V                             N- 360 2V 
  B- 258 2V (low comp.)                 P- 360 4V 
  E- 232 2V                             R- 134 1V F-head 
  F- 232 2V (low comp.)                 T- 134 1V F-head (low comp.) 
  H- 304 2V                             Z- 401 4V