How can you tell the different years of a car?

[Omar 382]

My dad, a car expert and junkie, can tell the difference of most cars up to about exactly or a year or two off. I want to become as good as him. He claims he always looks at the headlights. When I go home for Christmas I'd like to be able to surprise him with how good I've gotten. How do you guys tell different years apart of different cars?

 

[outofyourmind]

A generation ago and before, it wasn't really hard at all.
Now, all cars look the same, have the same shape, same style headlight/tail lights.
I stopped trying to tell a long time ago.

 

[Psych-Ward]

The grill of most vehicles will tell you the make and the date.....

Thing is you have to have some knowledge of the vehicles first.

 

[Harry Seaword]

If you can get a look at the vin # without him seeing you will know without a doubt. Tenth character of the vin indicates the year.

A-1980 L-1990 Y-2000 A-2010
B-1981 M-1991 1-2001 B-2011
C-1982 N-1992 2-2002 C-2012
D-1983 P-1993 3-2003 D-2013
E-1984 R-1994 4-2004 E-2014
F-1985 S-1995 5-2005 F-2015
G-1986 T-1996 6-2006 G-2016
H-1987 V-1997 7-2007 H-2017
J-1988 W-1998 8-2008
K-1989 X-1999 9-2009

I know. They skipped a few letters. (I) because it resembles 1. (o) because it resembles zero and I'm not to sure why they skipped (u).

 

[Uhsplit]

Start by looking at pictures of 1955, 1956, and 1957 Chevy BelAire 2 door hard tops. Mainly look at the front and rear ends of the cars. You will notice distinct differences between them all. They are very easy to indentify once you remember the differences.
The look at 58. Big difference. A complete body change. Pick a car line then look at pics of the different years.
It will come to you, just as it did your dad.

 

[BTHOtu]

Older cars would change a little every year. Being a mustang guy, I can tell the difference between a 65, 66, 67, 68,...up to 79. After that each generation pretty much kept the same body other than some small subtle differences.