Options based on VIN number

[dregehr]

I was reading in another thread that you could find out what options and what the history of a car was based on the VIN number. Is this correct and if so where can I go to find that info. Is it Corvette exclusive or can I use it to look up other cars as well?

I love my 2003 50th convertible, but would like to look for another car as well.

 

[drags1998]

With a VIN # and a good buddy at the Chevy dealer, I was able to get a COMPLETE list of options on my 90 Coupe!! (parts dept.) is the place to go & I think it will work wiyh any GM car!!!! Good Luck!!!!!

 

[68Roadster]

I think you have been lead astray.....the VIN is not really going to tell you anything about your car except where, when it was built and the sequence number.
In the case of your 2003, using the VIN you can get the build sheet from the Corvette Museum to see what is in it.
In the case of some older Vettes, you need to get at the tank sticker to see what the car was originally built with.
I'm not aware of any resources that can take the VIN and tell you the options on the car, as for history I guess that would have to comefrom the local DMV....

Good luck!

 

[drags1998]

Well, 68Roadster,Im REALLY sorry to inform you that the info that I provided in my first post is CORRECT!!!! On both my 90 coupe, and on my recent purchase of a used Cadillac Eldorado The VIN # was all I gave to my buddy at the local Chevy Dealer , In return he gave me a 5 page print out of EVERYTHING from the first dealer sale to EVERY part that was serviced by the dealer through the dealer with the Date & Mileage of the service. Also it gave me a COMPLETE print out of EVERY OPTION!!!!!! Including the COLOR!!!!!! Have a nice day

 

[dregehr]

I know that you can get all the options via a VIN number through a GM dealer. My father was one for 16 years, but he is no longer in the business and all his contacts have since retired as well. I was hoping for a web based VIN lookup to give me these same options. GM's owner's site can give you this info, but you must prove ownership. I am looking for this information to see if I want to buy, so this site cannot help me.

 

[68Roadster]

Well, 68Roadster,Im REALLY sorry to inform you that the info that I provided in my first post is CORRECT!!!! On both my 90 coupe, and on my recent purchase of a used Cadillac Eldorado The VIN # was all I gave to my buddy at the local Chevy Dealer , In return he gave me a 5 page print out of EVERYTHING from the first dealer sale to EVERY part that was serviced by the dealer through the dealer with the Date & Mileage of the service. Also it gave me a COMPLETE print out of EVERY OPTION!!!!!! Including the COLOR!!!!!! Have a nice day

Sorry to have offended you....there were no other posts visible when I made mine. Had I seen yours, I probably would have kept my BIG mouth shut!
With regards to the original post, it never states what year(s) vehicle he is interested in buying so that tends to lead to a huge swing in applicable answers, say 51 years of possibilities.....
If you had your car dealer serviced then I agree that vehicle history could be retrieved and options could be pulled up. If it wasn't then how would you find that kind of information from just the VIN?

Have nice day yourself!

 

[drags1998]

Hey 68 Roadster, I was trying to be funny, guess IT backfired!!!!! Certainly, no hard feelings!!!! My buddy has been REALLY good to me looking this stuff up. If the car was SOLD at a GM dealer ( as far as I know,most are) The selling dealers records are in a data base that can be accessed by any other dealer. All for now!!!!!!! NO!!!!, YOU have a NICE DAY!!!!!!!!!

 

[68Roadster]

Hey 68 Roadster, I was trying to be funny, guess IT backfired!!!!! Certainly, no hard feelings!!!! My buddy has been REALLY good to me looking this stuff up. If the car was SOLD at a GM dealer ( as far as I know,most are) The selling dealers records are in a data base that can be accessed by any other dealer. All for now!!!!!!! NO!!!!, YOU have a NICE DAY!!!!!!!!!

No problem, I automatically assumed he was looking at an OLDER car, I'm stuck in the mid sixties, the '04 is the first new one I have ever bought. Finding info on the old ones is hard unless someone kept meticulous records.
It is good to know that GM keeps those kinds of records, may prove very useful some day.

OK, let's BOTH have a good day (evening)!

 

[FlyNLow]

My 2002 has all the options listed on a sticker on the glove compartment door. Check there. It looks like this:

Once you have that list, go to this site to decipher them:

http://home.fuse.net/corvette/rpo.htm

Hope that helps....