Classic Car VIN Lookup

Uncover the ownership history, accident and service history, and other important milestones of a classic vehicle's journey.

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Want to learn about classic vehicles specifications, original base price and more?Get Classic Car Build Sheet
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$43.9bis the estimated market value of the classic car industry worldwide in 2024.
60%of buyers have to spend post-purchase expenses due to hidden issues.
1 in 7cars in the used vehicle market have title history.

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Our best-seller products that have helped 50k+ classic car enthusiast worldwide.

Classic Vehicle History Report

Get a complete classic car history report that covers: ownership history, title records, accident history, theft & vandalism check, auction or sales history, and loan and lien records.

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    Ownership history
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    Title records
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    Accident history
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    Auction records with photos
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    Mileage history
Classic Vehicle History Report

Build Sheet for Vintage Cars

Get classic car build sheet to know the complete specifications and build data of any classic car. Lookup classic car information such as:

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    Standard specifications
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    Original base price
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    Standard & optional equipments
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    Exterior & interior colors
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    VIN ID & location descriptions

Build Sheet for Vintage Cars

Advanced Classic VIN Decoder

Decode pre-1981 VINs or serial number for free to gain basic specifications of classic cars, including:

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    Year
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    Make
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    Model
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    Series
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    Dimensions & more
Classic VIN decoder sample

Why Choose Classic Decoder?

We provide the ultimate, all-in-one tool for everything classic cars. From checking the original specs to discovering classic car history, we've got you covered.

We cover a wide variety of classic cars models across hundreds of manufacturers. Any classic VIN you have, we can decode it for you.

Decode VINs for all pre-1981 classic vehicles

Check any classic vehicle VINs to access the history report or the build sheet. Save the VINs of your favorite classic cars into your Garage for easy access.

Decode VINs for all pre-1981 classic vehicles

We work with classic car experts, restoration pros, and automotive history experts to ensure we get the most accurate data for you.

Decode VINs for all pre-1981 classic vehicles

ClassicDecoder vs. Market Leaders: A Comprehensive Comparison

Classic DecoderCARFAXAutoCheck

Price per report

$24.99

$44.99

$29.99

Decode pre-1981 VINs

Yes

No

No

Classic Car Vehicle History

Yes

No

No

Free classic car specs

Yes

No

No

Build sheet availability

Yes

No

No

Specializes in classic vehicles

Yes

No

No

The Ultimate Tool for Classic Car Owners

Don’t settle for modern car reports that leave you in the dark about your classic beauty.

Why Carfax and AutoCheck Fall Short for Classic Cars?

Carfax and AutoCheck are reliable for modern vehicle history reports, but they fall short when it comes to classic cars. Designed exclusively for the 17-character VINs introduced after 1981, they leave classic car enthusiasts without the tools to uncover a vehicle's full story.

Carfax vs Autocheck in Classic Cars

How Classic Decoder Outperforms Competitors?

Classic Decoder bridges the gap with industry-leading features related to non-standardized VINs.

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    We're the ONLY provider of pre-1981 VIN decoding service.
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    Decode rare and unique VINs from all major manufacturers.
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    Reveal hidden history and factory details for classic vehicles.
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    Provide vehicle history reports AND build sheets tailored for classic cars.
How ClassicDecoder Outperforms Competitors

Discover Hidden Gems in Classic Cars

Experience the power of ClassicDecoder.com - uncover hidden histories that others miss.

ClassicDecoder's Hall of Fame

Classic Car VIN Lookups with bad history.

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1967 Pontiac Catalina

VIN: 252677X172255

1967 Pontiac Catalina
  • Auction history with images found
  • Multiple ownership record found
  • Previous salvage history found

Decoded Successfully – Something Carfax and AutoCheck Can't Do!

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1972 Chrysler Imperial LeBaron

VIN: YM43T2C164460

1972 Chrysler Imperial LeBaron
  • Previous auction history found`
  • Damage verification available
  • Original base price verified

Decoded Successfully – Something Carfax and AutoCheck Can't Do!

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1967 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

VIN: 194677S110349

1967 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
  • Previous sales history found
  • Loan/Lien record found
  • Original build sheet located

Decoded Successfully – Something Carfax and AutoCheck Can't Do!

Why Run a Classic Car VIN Lookup?

A Case Study: The Stolen Shelby Legend

Back in 1979, a rare 1965 Shelby GT350 was stolen. The owner was paid $6,500 by the insurance company, and the car disappeared—seemingly forever. Decades later, a sharp-eyed Shelby enthusiast spotted it listed on eBay. The bidding reached $121,000, but here’s the twist: the car was still technically stolen property.

The eBay Seller?

They’d bought the Shelby in 1980 with a reproduction serial number and clean title, never knowing its shady history. But a quick VIN check could’ve revealed the truth:

"This car had been stolen and never recovered."
"The seller they purchased it from was connected to the thief."

The lesson?

The seller had invested years—and watched the car’s value skyrocket to $175,000—only to lose everything because they never verified its history.

Why Run a Classic Car VIN Lookup

What Can You Learn from Classic Car VIN Lookup?

Whether you’re buying or selling, don’t assume a clean title means a clean history. Protect your investment with a VIN check report to uncover:

warningTitle Brand
This vehicle has a branded title.
warningAccident record
1 accident record(s) found.
warningOwnership History
Multiple past owners found.
warningAuction
This vehicle has 2 auction record(s).
warningOdometer
This vehicle has mileage discrepancy.
warningTheft
This vehicle has 2 stolen or theft record(s).
warningLien/Loan
This vehicle has 2 lien or loan record(s).
warningSalvage Brand
This vehicle has salvage brand records.

3 Steps to Uncover Classic Car History or Build Sheet

  • 1
    Enter VINInput your 5 - 13 digit VINs into the form above.
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    Select ReportChoose between history report, build sheet, or both.
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    Access DataGet information about your classic car's history or detailed specifications.
Where to find classic car vin

Build Your Digital Garage with ClassicDecoder

Save your favorite classic cars, build collections, and keep track of their values for FREE.

Exclusive Features for Members

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    Upload photos and create digital profile of your classic cars.
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    Save and organize your vehicle collection.
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    Track restoration progress and maintenance history.
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    Store all documentation in one secure place.
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    Access exclusive market insights and valuation tools.
Member Area

Explore Iconic Models Like the 1967 Ford Mustang, 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air & More

Sell Your Classic Car on ClassicDecoder and Get a FREE Classic Build Sheet.

We offer FREE Ad posting without needing a credit card. And for your first listing, you will get a FREE Build Sheet which includes standard specifications, orginal base price, standard and optional equipment, exterior and interior colors, VIN id and location description of your classic car.

For Sale

What Our Customers Say About ClassicDecoder?

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Susan Hall

Apr 18, 2024US

Spent too much time scouting around online to find info on a classic car we're considering that has a 13 digit VIN - which is not accepted on many sites. Frustrating. Then I found Class Decoder. Voila! We're just in the initial stages of research with this car and other sites had reported "no information" if I could even GET past the 13 digit VIN dilemma. Richard was available for chat within literally one minute and was super helpful with fast responses. I'm in client care and have a high standard for myself so it's ALWAYS great to do business with others who do the same. I'm happy! Highly recommend this company. Thank you, Richard!

SB

Samuel Bonacci

Aug 24, 2024US

It was very easy for me to obtain the information I needed in regards to my vehicle I am looking to sell. In a world of buyer beware it helps put potential buyer at ease to see the report confirming the information I have given him. This service is fairly priced which was another advantage.

JA

Jim A.

Jan 10, 2025US

Very outstanding service! I had a few difficulties on my end and the rep jumped on it, fixed my issue and even through in another discount. There is nothing better than that kind of service. I will be getting all of my future reports from them, hands down the best.

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Erik

Jan 19, 2025US

This site had great options for a variety of products that we could want to support our needs of reports. Was delivered via email and downloadable from the website for optimal convenience in the most helpful formats.

RF

RICH FLORES

Jan 14, 2025US

Sam Adams provided me with the best experience. He was patient and walked me through getting the report and window sticker for my vehicle. I really appreciate his service… It has been refreshing.

PS

Paul Schwarz

Jan 15, 2025US

The live service assistant Adam helped tons with the sticker, while also giving me a discount. Very helpful.

CS

Charbel Su

Nov 17, 2024Other

Incredibly Useful App for Car Info! What I love the most is its accuracy and speed—it pulls data in seconds, saving me tons of time when researching vehicles. Whether you're checking for recalls, understanding a car's features, or verifying its authenticity, this app has you covered. Highly recommended for anyone dealing with cars!

Decode Classic Manufacturers' VINs with Ease

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Scan VINs, save cars to your garage, and have your classic car collection on-the-go.

Classic Decoder App Details
Hassle-free pre-1981 VIN decoding.
Easy access to report and build sheets
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Frequently Asked Questions

A car typically is considered a classic when it is 10 - 25 years old. But a classic car VIN typically refers to production cars made pre-1981 - when VINs were not standardized into the 17-digit number and letters that we know today.

Classic cars are those vehicles that are considered valuable to collectors today because of their design, engineering, performance, or rarity. They are generally classified as pre-1960s vehicles and are sought after by private collectors for restoration or as vintage showpieces.

You can use online tools like Classic Decoder to decipher the VINS of pre-1981 vehicles. Since classic cars typically have non-standard, 5 - 13 digit VINs, most VIN decoder tool do not support them. Alternatively, some manufacturers also provide decoding guidelines, but it requires some elbow grease.

Yes, there are free VIN number check tools for old and vintage cars. Classic Decoder offers a free pre-1981 VIN decoder that will provide the complete specifications of the car.

You can identify a classic car by looking at its VIN, if it has shorter than 17-digit VIN, that means the car was produced before 1981.