Z31 Vehicle Identification Number and other Id Info

Look up your Z31

Found your VIN or frame number? Look it up in the registries to see how your car left the factory, and add it to your forum garage.

USDM VIN Number Arrangement

The Vehicle Identification Plate is located on the left front strut tower. (see the above diagram) It includes information such as the following:

1. Type
2. Vehicle Identification Number (chassis number)
3. Model
4. Body Color Code (paint)
5. Trim Color Code (interior)
6. Engine Model
7. Engine Displacement
8. Transmission Model
9. Axle Model

Example of Vehicle Identification Plate

USDM F.M.V.S.S plate Arrangement

This info is located on the driver's side door jamb near the striker.

1. Blank = standard roof; K = T-bar roof
2. H = VG30E engine
3. L = left hand drive
4. Blank = 2 seater; G = 2+2 seater
5. Model of car - Z31
6. Blank = SF model (Canada only); J = GL model; X = GL-L model
7. Blank = Manual transmission; A = Automatic transmission
8. Blank = Non-turbo; T = Turbo
9. N = Canada model; U = USA model; V = California model

Look up a US-market Z31 in the registry →

EURO Model Plate Arrangement

This plate will be found under the hood (bonnet). The location varies by market: at the front by the bonnet lock on left-hand-drive European cars, on the right side on right-hand-drive cars, and on the left side on left-hand-drive cars outside Europe.

Click image for larger view

The information contained on the model plate will also vary depending on market. The breakdown is listed below. It includes information such as:

1. Type approval number
2. Vehicle Identification Number (chassis number)
3. Gross vehicle weight
4. Gross combination weight
5. Gross vehicle weight + Gross trailing capacity (Weight)
6. Gross axle weight (front)
7. Gross axle weight (rear)
8. Type
9. Body Color Code (paint)
10. Trim Color Code (interior)
11. Model
12. Engine Model
13. Engine Displacement
14. Transmission Model
15. Axle Model

Here is the breakdown of the model codes that would be displayed:

Click image for a full-size version

EURO VIN Number Arrangement

European cars use a different 17-character VIN from US cars. It has no check digit and no model-year letter. It’s stamped on the cowl at the back of the engine bay, and it’s the second line of the model plate. On left-hand-drive European cars the model plate is at the front, by the bonnet lock; on right-hand-drive cars it’s on the right side of the engine bay.

1. JN1 = Nissan
2. 0 = stopgap (no meaning)
3. H = VG30E engine (the turbo VG30ET cars are H as well)
4. G = 2+2 seater
5. Model of car - Z31
6. U = for Europe
7. 0 = stopgap (no meaning)
8. Vehicle serial number

Nissan’s manual prints the two stopgaps as the letter O; the parts catalog stores them as the digit zero, and on the plate they look the same. Every one of the 5,721 European Z31s in Nissan’s European parts catalog starts JN10HGZ31U0, so the serial number is what tells them apart. Serials run from 000002 (mid-1983) to about 031000 (1989). A separate series starting at 500001 began in 1986. It was used for turbo cars with an O in the model code where the manual’s European code is Q (for example KHLGZ31JTOH); the manual doesn’t list O. Engine, turbo, roof, transmission and options aren’t in the VIN; they’re in the model code on the same plate (see the breakdown above).

Except Europe

Cars for other export markets (Australia, right-hand-drive export and left-hand-drive export) use a frame number instead: HGZ31-XXXXXX. H = VG30E engine; blank = 2-seater, G = 2+2 seater; Z31 = model; then the serial number.

A European model plate: type approval number, VIN, weights, then the type, paint and trim codes and the model code KHLGZ31JQ

Look up a European Z31 in the registry →

JDM model F.M.V.S.S plate Arrangement

This info is located on the driver's side door jamb near the striker.

JDM Internal model plate Arrangement

This plate will be found under the hood (bonnet).

Look up a JDM Z31 frame number in the registry →