New to the forum. First post. Getting a 1979 RS back into shape and road worthy. Mom just passed this year at 90. She drove it around her resort community in the San Gabriel Mountains in Southern Cal until 2022.

When trying to decode the VIN I noticed the second digit was a "W". Found references that explain a "Q" and "S" but not a "W"... Tried several sites, no "W" except the Pontiac decoder which references a "W" as a Trans Am...Any help out there??

That came off the registration, could it be a typo? I'll check the VIN on the car as well...

 

Check the vin on the car for sure.
Welcome to CF.
Sorry about your mom,I lost mine a couple years back at 95.

 

From what I found "W" Position 2 is the Carline Series (any type of option does not matter this is about the production line it was made on)

Camaro should be "Q"

Malibu and El Camino are "W"

 

Thanks for the welcome and the kind words...I'll check out the site you sent me..

 

WELL THATS GOOFY.. I'll Check the vehicle for the VIN...I guess I need to K.I.S.S.

 

OK. The registration shows a W as the second digit in the VIN, but the VIN tag on the dash is a Q. WHEW!!

Decription on the registration identifies the vehicle correctly, but the VIN is incorrect...

Where do I go from here??

AAA or DMV? I'm sure there's a form or ten somewhere to help me make the correction...

 

No clue what is needed in CA. This will vary wildly from state to state. I assume the title of origin is correct?

I "think" when you register the car in your name you can just make sure registration is correct. Worst case you would not be able to keep the existing plate.