Buick, Olds and Pontiac used this 2-letter system from 1964 to mid-1969. 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. On 1964 Chevrolets, the codes are all 3 digits (including two-tone cars, which have unique 3-digit codes). This 3-digit code shows the color and style of the interior and seats.īODY COLOR: To the left of the PAINT or PNT letters are the exterior color codes. TRIM NUMBER: To the right of the TR letters (short for TRIM) is the interior code. and is not significant to identification or restoration purposes. This number will not match any numbers 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 is a 1 to 3 character code, and it must match the assembly plant code in the V.I.N. “64″=1964, “70″=1970, etc.ĭIVISION 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).īODY 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.ĪSSEMBLY PLANT: This code identifies the assembly plant where the body was mated to the chassis/driveline, and final assembly procedures were performed. MODEL YEAR: To the right of the “ST” letters (short for “Style”) are the last 2 digits of the model year of the car. There are, however, exceptions to this rule. Generally, most date-coded components on the car were built between 2 and 8 weeks before the build date of the car. 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. 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.). Consisting of 2 numbers and 1 letter, the code tells you the month and week of the month the car was built. One concern with this vintage is the possibility of SS tributes being mistaken for the real thing, even unintentionally.TIME BUILT CODE: The date of manufacture of the car. As previously stated, a tastefully restored truck can fetch six-figure sums these days. The price will then be according to the options' originality, condition, and desirability. If you're in the market, SS-equipped rigs will generally command the highest price. After looking at the Caminos' history, you can understand why these fully restored muscle cars range from $10,000 to $100,000. 030 inches, was unique in that it was the first year the big block was available on non-SS models – though many have since come out and sold as SS clones.Īll this brings us to the fact that with so much rich history, the Chevy El Camino still holds its own, costing a pretty penny. The Malibu 400, essentially a 396 engine overbored to. However, beginning in 1970, the Malibu 400 package served as an introduction to the new 402 LS3 engine. (Anyone remembers Royal Knight and Conquista?) The big-block/small-body combination had been nearly perfected, and the depressing era of emissions control that had effectively neutralized the horsepower hype was just around the corner.Įl Caminos, except for the SS models, still needed to reach the sticker-laden madness of later generations. Ultimately, production came to a halt in 1960.Īfter four years out of production, the Chevy El Camino made a comeback, and It moved to GM's legendary A-body platform in 1964, where it would remain until its untimely death in 1987.īy this point, the muscle car wars had reached an all-time high, with Ford rolling out production of the Mustang. Compared to full-on trucks, cargo space was also an issue. However, sales dropped after that, baby boomer families grew, and they needed more than 2 seats to move around. Built on the 119-inch wheelbase two-door Chevy Brookwood station wagon chassis, Chevy surprised Ford 59 Ranchero with better overall sales. Built in response to the Ford Ranchero, the original El Camino came out in 1959 and quickly became the “handiest helper a family ever had.”Ĭhevy’s "half-car/half truck" had a good first year of sales.
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