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How do I read Ferrari VIN numbers?
Many Ferrari owners are interested in deciphering the 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number that is inscribed on their Ferrari. The information from this FAQ is based on an article on the subject written by Lloyd W. Shaw.
The Federal Motor Vehicle Theft Law Enforcement Act of 1984 became law on October 25, 1984. The standard applies to both major parts and all motor vehicles produced during the 1987 model year and all sequential models produced thereafter.
The 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number must be inscribed on the engine, transmission, both front fenders, hood, both doors, both bumpers, both rear quarter panels and the decklid or hatchback (whichever is present). The VIN taken from the stated locations shall provide a true description of the vehicle to which it is assigned.
All Ferrari models have the VIN embossed on a metal plate affixed to the top of steering column. An example of a Ferrari VIN is shown below, and the subsequent information and chart explains how to decode the label. The chart covers VINs starting in 1983.
The second and third digits identify the marque and manufacturer. To date, Ferrari SpA has been assigned and used only two codes. "DF" for the Dino, and "FF" for the Ferrari marques manufactured by Ferrari SpA. The Dino marque has not been produced since 1980, therefore "FF" will appear in the second and third place digits of all Ferrari VINs, unless you are looking at a Dino.
The fourth digit identifies the engine type for a given model.
| A = 308 2-valve injected (U.S.A. model) | L = 512 TR European | ||
| B = 308 2-valve carb wet sump (Euro. model) | M = 308 4-valve U.S.A. 1993 | ||
| C = 308 2-valve carb dry sump (Euro. model) | M = F40 U.S.A. | ||
| C = 328 European | P = 288 GTO | ||
| D = 512 Boxer carbureted | P = F355 | ||
| E = 400 V-12 fuel injected | R = 348 U.S.A. | ||
| F = 308 Australia | S = Testarossa U.S.A. / Japan | ||
| F = 348 U.S.A. / Japan | S = 456 | ||
| G = 308 2-valve carbureted U.S.A. / Japan | T = Testarossa European | ||
| G = F40 European | U = 308 4-valve U.S.A. 1984-1985 | ||
| H = 308 2-valve injected European | V = 512M | ||
| J = 512 Boxer injected | W = 328 European | ||
| K = 208 Turbocharged European | X = 328 U.S.A. / Japan | ||
| K = 348 European | Y = 412 V-12 | ||
| L = 308 4-valve European | Z = 550 Marinello |
With only 26 letters available, it was necessary to recycle some of the letters. Always consider the entire 17 digit VIN to determine the type of engine, especially the sixth and seventh digits.
The fifth digit is used to identify the vehicle's safety system.
| A = 3-point inertia belts for front |
| B = 3-point inertia belts for front plus 3-point non-inertia belts for rear |
| C = 3-point inertia belts for front plus 2-point inertia belts for rear |
| D = 3-point inertia belts for front plus 3-point inertia belts for rear |
| G = Passive restraint system |
| P = Air bags and 3-point inertia belts for front plus inertia belts for rear |
| M = Passive restraint system |
| N = Automatic passive restraint system |
| R = Air bags and 3-point inertia belts for front |
The sixth and seventh digits are used to idenitify the vehicle model or body type.
| 01 = 308 GT4 (ZDF) | 20 = 328 GTS | ||
| 01 = 308 GTBi (ZFF) | 21 = 3.2 Mondial Coupe | ||
| 02 = 308 GTBi | 24 = 412 Automatic | ||
| 03 = 308 GTB | 25 = 412 5-Speed | ||
| 04 = 308 GTS | 26 = 3.2 Mondial Cabriolet | ||
| 05 = 512 BB | 27 = GTB Turbo | ||
| 06 = 400i Automatic | 32 = Mondial T Coupe | ||
| 07 = 400i 5-Speed | 33 = Mondial T Cabriolet | ||
| 08 = Mondial 8 | 34 = F40 | ||
| 09 = 512BBi | 35 = 348 B | ||
| 10 = 208 Turbo (B) | 36 = 348 S | ||
| 11 = 208 Turbo (S) | 40 = F512M | ||
| 12 = 308 GTB Quattrovalvole | 41 = F355 Berlinetta | ||
| 13 = 308 GTS Quattrovalvole | 42 = F355GTS | ||
| 14 = Mondial Quattrovalvole Coupe | 43 = 348 Spider | ||
| 15 = Mondial Quattrovalvole Cabriolet | 44 = 456 GT | ||
| 16 = 288GTO | 48 = F355 Spider | ||
| 17 = Testarossa | 49 = 550 Maranello | ||
| 19 = 328 GTB |
The eighth digit shows which market the vehicle was built for.
| A = Left-Hand drive vehicle for the U.S.A. market. |
| B = Left-Hand drive vehicle for the European market. |
| C = Right-Hand drive for the U.K. market. |
| D = Right-Hand drive for the Australian market. |
| J = Left-Hand drive vehicle. |
| S = Left-Hand drive vehicle. |
| T = In almost all cases originally sold in the Middle Eastern market. |
The ninth digit is a check digit used by law enforcement agencies to ensure that the VIN is valid. By using a very complicated formula involving the entire VIN, a law enforcement officer can determine if the VIN is correct for the vehicle being checked. Occasionally a letter, rather than a number, will appear in this space, but it will usually be a number between 1 and 9. In some cases, this number will be a zero on vehicles that were built for markets outside of the United States.
The tenth digit is used to designate the year model for vehicles produced for the U.S. market.
| A = 1980 | K = 1989 | ||
| B = 1981 | L = 1990 | ||
| C = 1982 | M = 1991 | ||
| D = 1983 | N = 1992 | ||
| E = 1984 | O = NOT USED | ||
| F = 1985 | P = 1993 | ||
| G = 1986 | Q = NOT USED | ||
| H = 1987 | R = 1994 | ||
| I = NOT USED | S = 1995 | ||
| J = 1988 | T = 1996 |
The eleventh digit is used to designate the company's plant location where the vehicle was produced. This digit should always be zero, since all Ferraris are produced in Maranello, Italy.
The twelfth through seventeenth digits are production numbers in sequential order. This number should allow you to determine when the vehicle was produced in the production run.
When purchasing a used, Ferrari one should carefully compare the VIN against the different vehicle compoments. If the VIN indicates that the vehicle should have a fuel injected 4-valve motor, while in fact it has a carbureted 2-valve motor, you can safely assume that the motor has been changed out in this vehicle. This would adversely affect the overall value of the vehicle and your future investment. It is very important that the VIN is correctly shown on all documents, (registration title, insurance papers, etc.) concerning your vehicle.
The data on this page was obtained in part from the 59th annual edition of the National Automobile Theft Bureau handbook for Law Enforcement and an article which appeared in the Ferrari Market Letter. This page is not sponsored by or associated with Ferrari SpA of Italy or Ferrari of North America.
Contributions to this FAQ by: Lloyd W. Shaw
Copyright © 2006 NWRFCA. The NWRFCA is the Northwest Region Chapter of the Ferrari Club of America. All Rights Reserved. Ferrari and the Ferrari Logos are trademarks of Ferrari North America, Inc and/or Ferrari S.p.A. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.