Hitman's Pontiac Trans Am Site
The Second Generation Trans Am Information Site

1981

The last year of the Second Generation Trans Am

Production Numbers

Model: Firebird
Manual: **
Automatic: **
Total: 20,541

Model: Esprit
Manual: **
Automatic: **
Total: 10,938

Model: Formula
Manual: **
Automatic: **
Total: 5,927

Model: Trans Am L37 301
Manual: 0
Automatic: 5,087
Total: 5,087

Model: Trans Am 305 (LG4)
Manual: 2,866
Automatic: 0
Total: 2,866

Model: Trans Am 301 Turbo (LU8)
Manual: 0
Automatic: 3,851
Total: 3,851

Model: Trans Am 301 (L37) T-Top
Manual: 0
Automatic: 4,589
Total: 4,589

Model: Trans Am 305 (LG4) T-Top
Manual: 3,255
Automatic: 0
Total: 3,255

Model: Trans Am 301 Turbo (LU8) T-Top
Manual: 0
Automatic: 6,612
Total: 6,612

Model: Y84 Trans Am 301 (L37)
Manual: 0
Automatic: 41
Total: 41

Model: Y84 Trans Am 305 (LG4)
Manual: 15
Automatic: 0
Total: 15

Model: Y84 Trans Am 301 Turbo (LU8)
Manual: 0
Automatic: 65
Total: 65

Model: Y84 Trans Am 301 (L37) T-Top
Manual: 0
Automatic: 1,160
Total: 1,160

Model: Y84 Trans Am 305 (LG4) T-Top
Manual: 932
Automatic: 0
Total: 932

Model: Y84 Trans Am 301 Turbo (LU8)
Manual: 0
Automatic: 3,050
Total: 3,050

Model: Y85 Indy Pace Car 301 Turbo (LU8)
Manual: 0
Automatic: 2,000
Total: 2,000

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Cowl Tag

B - Model Year 1981

03B - Assembly Date
01 - January
02 - February
03 - March
04 - April
05 - May
06 - June
07 - July
08 - August
09 - September
10 - October
11 - November
12 - December
A - First Week
B - Second Week
C - Third Week
D - Fourth Week
E - Fifth Week

2 - Division number
2 - Pontiac

F - Body Type
F - Firebird

S - Series
S - Firebird
T - Esprit
U - Formula
W - Trans Am

87 - Body Style (2-Door Coupe)

N - Assembly Plant
N - Norwood, OH
L - Van Nuys, CA

190764 - Fisher Body Unit Number

18C - Interior Trim Code
15V Silver Vinyl (standard)
15W Silver Vinyl (deluxe)
19R Black Vinyl (standard)
19B Black Cloth
19N Black Vinyl (deluxe)
26R Dark Blue Vinyl (standard)
26B Dark Blue Cloth
26N Dark Blue Vinyl (deluxe)
63B Light Sandstone Cloth (deluxe)
64R Medium Doeskin Vinyl (standard)
64B Medium Doeskin Cloth
64N Medium Doeskin Vinyl (deluxe)
75R Medium Red Vinyl (standard)
75B Medium Red Cloth
75N Medium Red Vinyl (deluxe)

L - Paint Type
L - Lacquer Based Paint
W - Water Based Paint
E - Enamel Based Paint

11L - Lower Body Paint Code
11 Cameo White
16 Stardust Silver
19 Starlight Black
20 Vibrant Blue
21 Baniff Blue
29 Nightwatch Blue Ird.
51 Tahitian Yellow
54 Dorado Gold
56 Yellow
57 Navajo Orange
67 Barclay Brown
75 Spectra Red
77 Autumn Maroon
84 Ontatio Gray

19U - Upper Body Paint Code
11 Cameo White
16 Stardust Silver
19 Starlight Black
20 Vibrant Blue
21 Baniff Blue
29 Nightwatch Blue Ird.
51 Tahitian Yellow
54 Dorado Gold
56 Yellow
57 Navajo Orange
67 Barclay Brown
75 Spectra Red
77 Autumn Maroon
84 Ontatio Gray

AR9 - Recarro Bucket Seats

CC1 - Fisher T-top Roof

BL2 - Secondary Interior Color

210037 - Fisher Time Date Code

Note: Some 1981 Special Edition cars may have the following UPC codes on the Cowl Date Plate.

Y84 - Black&Gold S/E Trans Am with UPC code CC1 Fisher T-Top
Y85 - Turbo Trans Am Pace Car


Now this is just a sample of a 1981 Cowl Tag. Your cowl tag may differ and have some different codes listed on there. For a list of more codes, check out the RPO page.

VIN Number

Example: 1G2AS87AXBN100001

1st digit - Country
1 = USA

2nd digit - Manufacturer
G = General Motors

3rd digit - GM Division
2 = Pontiac

4th digit - Restraint System Type
A = Non-Passive Restraints (manual seat belts)

5th digit - Series Number
S = Base Firebird
T = Esprit
U = Formula
W = Trans Am (75 - 81)
X = Special Edition/Turbo Indy Trans Am Pace Car (81)

6th and 7th digit - Body Type
87 = Sport Coupe

8th digit - Engine Code
A = 231 c.i.d, 2-bbl V6 (1978 - 81)
H = 305 c.i.d, 4-bbl V8 (1980 - 81)
S = 265 c.i.d, 2-bbl V8 (1980 - 81)
T = 301 c.i.d, TC 4-bbl V8 (turbo) (1980 - 81)
W = 301 c.i.d, 4-bbl V8 (1979 -81)

9th digit - Check Digit

10th digit - Model Year
B = 1981

11th digit - Assembly Plant
N = Norwood, Ohio
L = Van Nuys, California

 

Last 6 digits - Production Number
100001/up