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) |