TIME BUILT CODE: The date of
manufacture of the car. Consisting of 2 numbers
and 1 letter, the code tells you the month and
week of the month the car was built. The 2 digits
represent the month (01=January, 02=Feburary,
etc.) while the letter represents the week of the
month (A=1st week, B=2nd week, etc.). It's not
possible to pinpoint a specific day of
manufacture from the data plate, only the week of
the month the car was built can be determined.
Generally, most date-coded components on the car
were built between 2 and 8 weeks before the build
date of the car. There are, however, exceptions
to this rule.
MODEL YEAR: To the
right of the "ST" letters (short for
"Style") are the last 2 digits of the
model year of the car. "64"=1964,
"70"=1970, etc.
DIVISION SERIES: The first
digit of this code identifies the GM division
(1=Chevrolet, 2=Pontiac, 3=Oldsmobile, 4=Buick),
the second and third digits identify the series
(Chevelle, LeMans, Cutlass, Skylark, etc.). While
the series code on the data plate may not match
the series code in the V.I.N., it must be from
the same family (the series code will not
represent an Impala on a Chevelle data plate, or
a Catalina on a LeMans plate, and so on).
BODY TYPE: Following
the division series is a 2-digit code that
identifies the body style (or type) of the car,
such as 2-door coupe, 2-door convertible, 4-door
sedan, etc.
ASSEMBLY PLANT: This code
identifies the assembly plant where the body was
mated to the chassis/driveline, and final
assembly procedures were performed. This is a 1
to 3 character code, and it must match the
assembly plant code in the V.I.N.
UNIT NUMBER: To
the left of the BODY or BDY letters is the unit
number assigned at Fisher Body. This number will
not match any numbers in the V.I.N. and is not
significant to identification or restoration
purposes. |
TRIM
NUMBER: To the right of the TR letters
(short for TRIM) is the interior code. This
3-digit code shows the color and style of the
interior and seats.
BODY COLOR: To the
left of the PAINT or PNT letters are the exterior
color codes. On 1964 Chevrolets, the codes are
all 3 digits (including two-tone cars, which have
unique 3-digit codes). From 1965 to mid-1969,
Chevrolet used 2 letters--the first is for the
lower body color and the second is for the roof
paint, vinyl top or convertible top color. Buick,
Olds and Pontiac used this 2-letter system from
1964 to mid-1969. From mid-1969 to 1972, all
divisions used a 2-digit code for the lower
color, followed by a 2-digit code for the roof
paint, or a letter for the vinyl roof or
convertible top color.
ACCESSORY CODES: On
1967-and-earlier models only, there may be
accessory codes listed on the data plate. These
codes indicate certain options on the car. Some
of these codes have been decoded on Chevrolet and
Pontiac vehicles, while Buick and Olds are still
a mystery. The following types of equipment have
been listed on data plates that have been
decoded: tinted glass, transmission, console, air
conditioning, radio, mirrors, rear defroster,
seat belts, and bumper guards. These codes will
not appear on 1968-and-later plates.
SEAT TYPE: There may
or may not be an additional code following the
trim code that identifies the type of seat
installed in the car. These codes break down as
follows:
A41 = 4-way front power seat (bench)
A46 = 4-way front power seat (bucket)
A51 = Front Strato bucket seat
A75 = H.D. front bench seat
A81 = Headrest (Strato seat type)
A82 = Headrest (Conventional seat type) |
|
