# Help with 12-digit VIN decode? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [December 5, 2017, 10:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-with-12-digit-vin-decode/110023 "2017-12-05T10:59:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2017, 2:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-with-12-digit-vin-decode/110023/21 "2017-12-06T14:53:51Z")
Yeah, one can buy clean mid-'70s Pontiacs (other than Firebirds) pretty cheap. No need to sink money into a rough one, unless there’s some special attachment (which there isn’t here). ---
**Author:** ![nikkolaus](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nikkolaus/32/9626_2.png) [@nikkolaus](https://community.cartalk.com/u/nikkolaus)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2017, 2:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-with-12-digit-vin-decode/110023/22 "2017-12-06T14:57:29Z")
> [@VOLVO\_V70](#): > > How hard would it have been to remove cover ? If the rest of the vehicle looks as bad as the engine compartment just call the salvage yard. You’re assuming I had nothing else to do that day. I was there for less than 24-hours, had lots to do, and it was a moment of “hey, check this out before we go” type of deal… ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2017, 3:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-with-12-digit-vin-decode/110023/23 "2017-12-06T15:04:21Z")
> [@VOLVO\_V70](#): > > Until the year , make and model are known thoughts on restoration can’t be made. I think you overestimate the sphere of your control. I’ve already had such thoughts. 😋 ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2017, 3:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-with-12-digit-vin-decode/110023/24 "2017-12-06T15:11:24Z")
Looks a lot like this '72 Pontiac Catalina: ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/9/9dd2eccaf0d08509c694842200c52fb89a37c015.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2017, 3:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-with-12-digit-vin-decode/110023/25 "2017-12-06T15:29:37Z")
Pretty sure it’s a '73 Firebird Esprit with the 400 cid 2-bbl engine, according to this site: [http://www.tpocr.com/pontiacvin11.html](http://www.tpocr.com/pontiacvin11.html) You are missing one letter in your VIN, after “87R3” should be a letter designating the factory site. Here’s an engine bay pic for that year Firebird: ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/3/3a353a3a2f48102476c1feaf31c99ff591ce3893.jpg) So now you do have what might be a restorable car, depending on the body condition (rust), engine/transmission (are they any good), and the interior (although that’s easier to fix). ---
**Author:** ![nikkolaus](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nikkolaus/32/9626_2.png) [@nikkolaus](https://community.cartalk.com/u/nikkolaus)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2017, 3:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-with-12-digit-vin-decode/110023/26 "2017-12-06T15:39:39Z")
I asked and yes it is a 1973 pontiac firebird ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2017, 8:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-with-12-digit-vin-decode/110023/27 "2017-12-06T20:19:14Z")
So those braces from the strut tower to the radiator support are stock? Interesting. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2017, 8:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-with-12-digit-vin-decode/110023/28 "2017-12-06T20:28:33Z")
Yep, they look like an add-on, but they’re stock. Odd that some other Firebirds that year used a different brace (tubes with flattened ends). ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2017, 8:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-with-12-digit-vin-decode/110023/29 "2017-12-06T20:34:16Z")
We have them on our 2003 Olds Silhouette too. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2017, 9:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-with-12-digit-vin-decode/110023/30 "2017-12-06T21:13:07Z")
Yes, I’ve seen them on more recent GM minivans However, the braces on those minivans are a little more “professional” looking, in my opinion Those braces in the pictures look like something a teenager would create, in about 10 minutes ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 5:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-with-12-digit-vin-decode/110023/31 "2017-12-07T17:20:24Z")
Those braces were common on cars with the big, cantilevered noses hanging out past the frame ends. Needed something to support all that weight up front… [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-with-12-digit-vin-decode/110023.md?page=1)