Need help finding my cars history

1st of, what year and model (base, sst... etc).

Obtaining a TSM will allow you to decode VIN, Engine tag, and body tag on the door.

VIN number will not be in sequence of build. Body number and build number reflect how many of the body and when the body was built on the assembly line. Though they are not exact to the day. But will give you information as to which part of the assembly line it was built.

The best method to deturmime build date other than the date stamped on the door label... Example, March 1970. You can get even more detailed info from the engine tag. Like most cars were built within a week of the engine assembley. My engine was built in the last part of April, given the delay between final assembly, I assertained my car was built on the last week of April 71.

Also if the car has original doucuments... owners manual, window sticker, or even a build sheet, you can find even more info.

My owners manual has the day my car was sold, the dealer and to whom it was sold. I find it odd to see that my car was sold in Feb 72, almost 2 months short of a year since being built.

In AMC speak the "TSM" is the Technical Service Manual. AMC's own book that covers working on every part of the car and all specifications. Print and digital copies can be bought from various sources online.

Look under the seats or in the door panels for copies of the build sheet. It's the piece of paper that was used at the plant to assemble your car to the dealer specified configuration and multiple copies would of been taped to components as they were picked off the line and installed. It can sometimes be found in the headliner or in the dash. Sometimes you find them everywhere and other times it's a scavenger hunt.

Edited by MIPS - Feb/10/2023 at 5:53pm

MIPS wrote: In AMC speak the "TSM" is the Technical Service Manual. AMC's own book that covers working on every part of the car and all specifications. Print and digital copies can be bought from various sources online. Look under the seats or in the door panels for copies of the build sheet. It's the piece of paper that was used at the plant to assemble your car to the dealer specified configuration and multiple copies would have been taped to components as they were picked off the line and installed. It can sometimes be found in the headliner or in the dash. Sometimes you find them everywhere and other times it's a scavenger hunt.

Edited by Gadgetman1 - Feb/10/2023 at 6:23pm

CamJam wrote: Does it have a metal tag on the rear of the driver's door?  You have to open the door to see it.  If so, post the numbers from it up here whenever you can get to where the car is located. Also, there are numerous date codes that will give you an idea of the production date.  I find the date code on the white labels on the seat belts are usually pretty close to the actual production date.

yes, use the Planet Houston site. Its very good and you can decode just about everything.