Understanding Ferrari VIN numbers.
The 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number or VIN is a vital piece of information for every Ferrari. The VIN standard applies to both major parts and all motor vehicles produced during and since the 1987 model year and was a result of The Federal Motor Vehicle Theft Law Enforcement Act of October 25, 1984. The VIN Number must be inscribed on the engine, transmission, both front fenders, hood, both doors, both bumpers, both rear quarter panels and the deck lid 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 taken from a 1997 F355 Spyder is shown below. The charts cover VINs starting in 1983. |
The first digit identifies the vehicle's country of origin. Italy's letter is "Z," therefore all Ferrari VINs will begin with the letter "Z". | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The second and third digits identify the marque and manufacturer. "FF" will appear in the second and third place digits of all Ferrari VINs with one notable exception. Cars produced as "Dinos" in 1980 and earlier, were issued a separate "DF" code. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The fourth digit identifies the engine type for a given model.
(Note: With only 26 letters available, the factory is forced to reuse 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.
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The sixth and seventh digits are used to identify the
vehicle model or body
type.
* 2/28/2011: It appears that all 308 GT4s are identified with a 1 but sources seem to include the 308GTBi despite the same car being listed as having a 2 as the identifying value as well. This data needs to be confirmed. If anyone has information regarding this issue please contact us. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The eighth digit shows which market the vehicle was built for.
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The ninth digit is a check digit used by law enforcement agencies to ensure that the VIN is valid. By using a 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.
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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. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Buyers Tip: When purchasing a used Ferrari, carefully compare the VIN against the different vehicle components.
For example, if the car has a carbureted 2-valve motor, but the VIN indicates that a fuel injected 4-valve motor should be present ... 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. Also it is very important that the VIN is correctly shown on all documents, (registration title, insurance papers, etc.). |
The content on this page was based on an article from the DennigCars.org website in 2011, itself based on: an article on the subject written by Lloyd W. Shaw, 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 (date unknown).