Chassis codes explained

A model name can cover several very different cars. Toyota's own magazine calls the chassis code the quickest and most accurate way to identify a specific Toyota, especially where a name spans several generations, and says the AE86 became better known by its code than by the name on its boot lid (source 1). The code also separates cars that share a name: a buyer's guide to the R32 Skyline points out that only the BNR32 is the GT-R, and that fitting an RB26 engine to another R32 does not make it one (source 2).

A word of caution before the brand-by-brand part. Toyota has explained its system in print. For the other makers, we found no carmaker's explanation of what each letter means, so the sections below show the codes and the patterns they follow without claiming meanings nobody has documented.

Toyota's magazine explains the AE86 this way: the first letter is the engine family, the A series; the second letter is the model family, the Corolla; and the two digits follow (source 1). Wikipedia adds that the 8 marks the generation, the E80 Corolla, and the 6 the version within it; the AE85 was the same car with the smaller 3A-U engine, and the AE82 the front-wheel-drive version (source 3).

The cars on this site follow the same rule. The MR2 went from AW11 with the 4A-GE, to SW20 with the 3S-GTE, to ZZW30 with the 1ZZ-FE; the Supra from JZA70 with the 1JZ-GTE to JZA80 with the 2JZ (sources 4, 5). In each case the leading letters match the engine family, and the letter after them stays the same for the model: W on all three MR2s, A on both Supras. That pattern is our reading of the codes, not Toyota's statement. The MR2 Wiki confirms that SW20 covers every second-generation MR2 with a 3S engine, while the American car with the 5S engine was the SW21 (source 6).

Nissan has not published a key to its codes, and the R32 buyer's guide says as much (source 2). What the codes on this site do show is a pattern: the digits stay the same within a generation, while the letters in front change with the engine and the drivetrain. The first Silvia S13s, with the CA18 engine, are S13; the SR20 cars from 1991 are PS13; the 180SX is RS13 (source 7). The R32 GT-R is the BNR32, while other R32 Skylines carry codes such as HCR32 and ECR32 (source 2). The GT-R codes run BNR32, BCNR33 and BNR34 (source 8). The shared part, S13, S14 and S15 or R32, R33 and R34, is what enthusiasts use as shorthand for each generation.

Honda's codes on this site are DA6 for the Integra of 1989, DC2 and DC5 for the Integra Type Rs of 1995 and 2001, and NA1 and NA2 for the NSX (sources 9, 10). The NSX shows how messy this gets: a Japanese used-car catalogue lists the 3.2-litre NSX-R of 2002 under LA-NA1, while Wikipedia uses NA2 for all 3.2-litre cars (sources 10, 11). We found no source that explains the LA- in front.

The three RX-7 generations are the SA22C, the FC3S and the FD3S (source 12). We found no source that explains the letters.

The GTO's codes split by engine: Z16A for the twin-turbo, four-wheel-drive car, Z15A for the naturally aspirated one (source 13). We found no source for the Lancer Evolution codes or their meaning.

No Subaru on this site has a model page yet, and we found no source for Subaru's codes. This section waits until there is one.

Every code used on this site, with the model, the years the spec tables cover and a link to the model page:

• Toyota: AW11, SW20, ZZW30 (MR2); MA45, MA46, JZA70, JZA80 (Supra and Celica XX).
• Nissan: PGC10, KPGC10, KPGC110, BNR32, BCNR33, BNR34 (Skyline GT-R); S13, PS13, RS13, S14, S15 (Silvia and 180SX).
• Honda: DA6, DC2, DC5 (Integra); NA1, NA2 (NSX).
• Mazda: SA22C, FC3S, FD3S (RX-7).
• Mitsubishi: Z15A, Z16A (GTO and 3000GT).