Instantly get the full story behind your vintage ride with our classic car VIN lookup. Check any pre-1980 VIN number to reveal accurate and detailed specs, ownership history, accident records, mileage, title brands, and more.
A classic car is usually rare, not used every day, and manufactured before 1981. These cars have shorter VIN numbers, ranging from 5 to 14 digits, unlike modern vehicles. Reading and looking up their VIN numbers requires a specialized classic car VIN decoder which helps retrieve important information and records like the specifications and history.
A classic car VIN lookup is an essential tool for anyone dealing with vintage vehicles. Before buying or selling, checking the pre-1980 VIN number gives you access to valuable information that can guide your decisions and build trust with your customers.
It helps confirm the car’s authenticity, specifications, and history. It shows hidden issues like past accidents, ownership history, or title problems, so you don’t end up overpaying or buying a misrepresented vehicle.
Also benefit by using a VIN lookup report to show transparency. Providing a verified history of a classic car builds confidence with potential buyers, helps justify pricing, and can make the selling process quicker and smoother.
Our best-seller products that have helped 50k+ classic car enthusiast worldwide.
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.
Get classic car build sheet to know the complete specifications and build data of any classic car. Lookup classic car information such as:
Decode pre-1981 VINs or serial number for free to gain basic specifications of classic cars, including:
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.
Our database supports all type of classic vehicle VINs, including:
We cover a wide variety of classic cars models across hundreds of manufacturers. Any classic VIN you have, we can decode it for you.
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.
We work with classic car experts, restoration pros, and automotive history experts to ensure we get the most accurate data for you.
| Classic Decoder | CARFAX | AutoCheck | |
|---|---|---|---|
Price per report | $29.99 | $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 |
Don’t settle for modern car reports that leave you in the dark about your classic beauty.
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.
Classic Decoder bridges the gap with industry-leading features related to non-standardized VINs.
Experience the power of ClassicDecoder.com - uncover hidden histories that others miss.
Classic Car VIN Lookups with bad history.
VIN: 252677X172255
Decoded Successfully – Something Carfax and AutoCheck Can't Do!
VIN: YM43T2C164460
Decoded Successfully – Something Carfax and AutoCheck Can't Do!
VIN: 194677S110349
Decoded Successfully – Something Carfax and AutoCheck Can't Do!
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.
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 seller had invested years—and watched the car’s value skyrocket to $175,000—only to lose everything because they never verified its history.
When you conduct a classic car VIN lookup, you will get a classic vehicle history report which reveals vital records to help you understand the car’s full history before making any decision. Here’s what to expect:
Save your favorite classic cars, build collections, and keep track of their values for FREE.
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.
SH Susan HallApr 18, 2024•US 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 BonacciAug 24, 2024•US 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, 2025•US 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. | |||
E ErikJan 19, 2025•US 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 FLORESJan 14, 2025•US 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 SchwarzJan 15, 2025•US The live service assistant Adam helped tons with the sticker, while also giving me a discount. Very helpful. | |||
CS Charbel SuNov 17, 2024•Other 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! | |||
SH Susan HallApr 18, 2024•US 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 BonacciAug 24, 2024•US 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, 2025•US 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. | E ErikJan 19, 2025•US 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 FLORESJan 14, 2025•US 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 SchwarzJan 15, 2025•US The live service assistant Adam helped tons with the sticker, while also giving me a discount. Very helpful. | CS Charbel SuNov 17, 2024•Other 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! | ||
Scan VINs, save cars to your garage, and have your classic car collection on-the-go.
When it comes to making confident, informed decisions in the classic car market, ClassicDecoder is the only solution that delivers the complete story of your classic vehicles.
Sign Up for FreeA 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.
