Spindy's: Car Database

UNDERSTANDING AND DECODING THE VIN:

NOTE:

Do not confuse the Vehicle Identification Number plate information with that found on the Fisher Body Number plate (trim tag). The series depiction on the VIN plate does NOT have the same meaning as the Fisher Body Number plate. Trim Tag information is provided in the next section.

Make note that the Vehicle Identification Number plate (VIN) has similar information to the trim tag such as the model, year, and assembly plant. One difference is the last six numbers relating to the the assembly plant sequence as opposed to the trim tag's Fisher Body sequence and the series will designate a 6-cyl (odd 3rd digit) or V8 (even 3rd digit) on the VIN plate where the 3rd digit on the trim tag does not.

Here is an example of how a 1970 Chevelle VIN might read. A VIN of 136370K151950 would indicate the following:

1) Chevrolet Malibu

2) 2-door sport coupe

3) from 1970

4) assembled in Kansas City, MO

5) and was the 51,950th 1970 model year Chevelle Malibu sequenced at the Kansas City

assembly plant.

The VIN plate is located on the forward part of the dash so the VIN plate could easily been seen through the windshield of the car. The VIN plate was riveted a special bracket with unique 'rosette' rivets.

How to decode a VIN Plate:

First Character: Division of General Motors

1 - Chevrolet

Second and Third Character: Series Designation

31 - Nomad, 6-cylinder

32 - Nomad, 8-cylinder

33 - Chevelle (Standard), El Camino*, Greenbrier, 6-cylinder

34 - Chevelle (Standard), El Camino*, Greenbrier, 8-cylinder

35 - Malibu, Concours, El Camino* (Custom), 6-cylinder

36 - Malibu, Concours, El Camino* (Custom), 8-cylinder

38 - Concours Estate, Monte Carlo, 8-cylinder

Fourth and Fifth Character: Body Style/Model

36 - 4-door station wagon, 2 seat

37 - 2-door sport coupe

39 - 4-door sport sedan

46 - 4-door station wagon, 3 seat

57 - Monte Carlo 2-door sport coupe

67 - 2-door convertible

69 - 4-door sedan

80 - 2-door sedan pickup

Sixth Character: Year of Production

0 - 1970

Seventh Character: Final Assembly Plant

R - Arlington, Texas

A - Atlanta, Georgia

B - Baltimore, Maryland

F - Flint, Michigan

K - Kansas City, Missouri

L - Van Nuys, California

1 - Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

Eighth through Thirteenth Characters: Sequential Production Number

1) The sequential starting number for the 1970 Chevelle was 100001 at most Chevelle assembly

plants

2) Arlington and Oshawa were the exceptions from the above.

3) Arlington started Chevelle numbering at 200001.

4) Oshawa, Ontario started Chevelle numbering at 500001.

5) Each assembly plant sequenced Chevelles of all series/models without regard to specific

series/models.

6) Example, if a series 13667 Malibu convertible followed a 13435 station wagon, the

sequence number would be one unit higher for the convertible.

7) It's also possible to have the same sequence number from four 1970 U.S. assembly plants

(Atlanta, Baltimore, Flint, and Kansas City) with the only difference between the VINs

being the plant code.

Production at the Baltimore assembly plant, the Kansas City plant, and the Van Nuys plant all exceeded 100,000 units, so you will see unique VIN sequence from these plants beyond 100,000 units. 2nnnnn for the Baltimore, Kansas City, and Van Nuys plants and those last sequence numbers could also match some from Arlington since their sequence numbers started with 200001.

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1970 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE

VIN (DECODING)