A (VIN) Vehicle Identification Number is designed to define major components of a vehicle such as engine, transmission, differential
     ratio, year, make and model as well as a unique identifier for the vehicle on which the VIN tag is securely placed.

        1.Position number one represents the country of origin or the final point of assembly. Some examples of the different codes are:
          1=U.S.A., 2=Canada, 3=Mexico, J=Japan
        2.Position two identifies the manufacturer.
        3.Position three identifies the vehicle make.
        4.Positions four through eight are unique vehicle attributes such as the transmission, rear end ratio, steering, etc. These attributes
          designate the model of the vehicle.
        5.Position nine is always the check digit. This position will always be numbers 0 - 9, or the letter X. The check digit is a
          mathematical formula that allows the detection of an invalid VIN.
        6.Position ten is the model year. This position always contains a letter from B-X (except l, O and Q). B starts with the model year
          1981 and X ends the year 2000. So, if someone claims their vehicle is a 1991, you can verify it by checking to see that the tenth
          character is the letter M. B81, C82, D83, E84, F85, G86, H87, J88, K89, L90, M91, N92, P93, R94, S95, T96, U97, V98, W99,
          X00. Don't ask me what they are going to do at the turn of the century!!
        7.Position eleven identifies where the vehicle was assembled.
        8.Positions twelve through seventeen are sequential production numbers. Each manufacturer uses the last six characters
          differently, so there are no specifics for these positions.

VIN #[850]['95] steve d. -- Tuesday, 24 April 2001, at 8:02 p.m.

 Hi all!

 I am looking for info on the numbering/lettering system used on 850's In the vehicle identification number. I
 know you can tell the year and paint code, but can you tell the engine type and what option package the car
 has by these numbers?
 Any info would be helpful. Thanks
 --
 steve d. '94, 854 glt, 86k

 Get a copy of the Volvo Pocket Data Book from www.volvotechinfo.com. Between that and the Haynes
 manual you can find everything you want to know.
 --
 steve

 A VIN can "tell" you the model year but NEVER the paint code. The paint code is a three digit code
 ambossed on an aluminum plate which is bolted on the inside of one of the front fenders or on the inside of
 the car's nose, visible as you open up the hood.

 The VIN is a mix of 17 letter and digits and it will tell you the code of the manufacturer, the engine type, the
 emmissions (plus in some models if this car is equipped with an air pump), the code for that particular car,
 the year it was built, the plant where it was built at and the last 6 digits represent the "build order" for that
 particular model.

 Yannis
 --
 '01 V70 T5 M, Classic Red/Graph L, Sunroof, Rear Spoiler, Cold Weather, 4CD Surr.Sound, 17" "Tethys"
 Alloys