1965 El Camino Protect-O-Plate Warranty Card

I have more examples but only list a few examples on this page. If you request help with yours, contact me and I'll be glad to answer any questions you have. Include a photo of the Protect-O-Plate as plants often deviate during the model year. Note difference in coding information found on the Fremont plate.

Note that 1965 was the first year the Protect-O-Plate was introduced and, as you'll notice, different final assembly plants created their Protect-O-Plates a little differently - particularly Fremont, CA.

Note:  GM offers 2 explanations on decoding the VIN.  Using the common 13680 as an example:
1. When describing the VIN plate: 1 ~ Chevrolet Division, 36 ~ Malibu V8, 80 ~ 2-door sedan pickup
...and...
2. When describing the POP: 13 ~ Chevelle, even number (4 or 6) is a V8 - odd number (3 or 5) is a L6, 80 ~ 2-door sedan pickup. The engine designations of 4 or 6 for a V8 engine, and 3 or 5 for a L6 engine was determined by the series. Since there is no Malibu SS El Camino, neither 7 or 8 engine codes would be valid.

A V8 300 Deluxe would be 4 and a Malibu would be 6.
A L6 300 Deluxe would be 3 and a Malibu would be 5.

Baltimore, Maryland

1st line:
F ~ Interior Trim: Fawn
SS ~ Body Exterior Paint (lower-upper-wheels): Sierra Tan
3 ~ Power steering and power brakes [RPO N40 & J50]
3 ~ Push button AM radio [RPO U63]
1 ~ Comfort & Convenience Group with standard mirror [RPO Z01]

2nd line:
1 ~ Windows, Electric Control [RPO A31]
136805B103585 ~ VIN
13680 ~ Chevelle (13), Malibu V8 (6), 2-dr sedan pickup (80)
5 ~ Model Year of Production: 1965
B ~ Final Assembly Plant: Baltimore, MD
103585  ~ Sequence Assembly Number: 3,585th vehicle at Baltimore

3rd line:
T0902DE ~ Engine Code: Tonawanda Engine Plant (T), September 02 (0902), 283/195hp w/Powerglide (DE)
B ~ Carburetor Source: Bay City
C0903 ~ Transmission Number: Powerglide Cleveland (C), September 03 (0903)

4th line:
CE0902B ~ Rear Axle Number: Positraction 3.08:1 ratio (CE), September 02 (0902), Buffalo, NY (B)
P ~ Vehicle Build Month: September

Owner/dealer info: Original owner's name/address removed for obvious privacy reasons.

1st line:
F ~ Interior Trim: Fawn
(blank) ~ Body Exterior Paint (lower-upper-wheels): Special Order Paint
2 ~ AM manual tune [RPO U60]
1 ~ Comfort & Convenience Group with standard mirror [RPO Z01]

2nd line:
1 ~ Windows, Electric Control [RPO A31]
133805B151921 ~ VIN
13380 ~ Chevelle (13), Deluxe L6 (3), 2-dr sedan pickup (80)
5 ~ Model Year of Production: 1965
B ~ Final Assembly Plant: Baltimore, MD
151921  ~ Sequence Assembly Number: 51,921st vehicle at Baltimore

3rd line:
F0414CA~ Engine Code: Flint Engine Plant (F), April 14 (0414), 230/140hp w/manual transmission (CA)
B ~ Carburetor Source: Bay City
S0422 ~ Transmission Number: Saginaw (S), April 22 (0422)

4th line:
CB0413B ~ Rear Axle Number: 3.38:1 ratio (CB), April 13 (0413), Buffalo, NY (B)
W ~ Vehicle Build Month: April

Owner/dealer info: Original owner's name/address removed for obvious privacy reasons.

Fremont, California


Courtesy Ken Davis

1st line:
750 ~ Interior Trim: Med. Turquoise Ramada Cloth/Imitation Leather
CCA ~ Body Exterior Paint (lower-upper-wheels): Ermine White (A-black wheels)
J50 ~ Power brakes
N40 ~ Power steering

2nd line:
C60 ~ Air conditioning
136805Z113500 ~ VIN
13680 ~ Chevelle (13), Malibu V8 (6), 2-dr sedan pickup (80)
5 ~ Model Year of Production: 1965
Z ~ Final Assembly Plant: Fremont, CA
113500  ~ Sequence Assembly Number: 68,885th vehicle at Fremont

3rd line:
F0828DE ~ Engine Code: Flint Engine Plant (F), August 28 (0828), 283/195hp w/Powerglide (DE)
R ~ Carburetor Source: Rochester
C1109D ~ Transmission Number: Powerglide Cleveland (C), November 09 (1109), Day shift (D)

4th line:
CB1202W ~ Rear Axle Number: 3.36:1 ratio (CB), December 02 (1202), Warren, MI (W)
K ~ Vehicle Build Month: December

Owner/dealer info: Original owner's name/address removed for obvious privacy reasons.


1st line:
724 ~ Interior Trim: Med. Turquoise Pattern Imitation Leather
LLA ~ Body Exterior Paint (lower-upper-wheels): Tahitian Turquoise (A-black wheels)
N40 ~ Power steering
U63 ~ Push Button AM Radio
C14 ~ Two-speed wipers & washers
(Note use of RPO code instead of a single digit number)

2nd line:
136805Z102732 ~ VIN
13680 ~ Chevelle (13), Malibu V8 (6), 2-dr sedan pickup (80)
5 ~ Model Year of Production: 1965
Z ~ Final Assembly Plant: Fremont, CA
102732  ~ Sequence Assembly Number: 2,732nd vehicle at Fremont

3rd line:
F0904EE ~ Engine Code: Flint Engine Plant (F), September 4 (0904), 327/250hp w/Powerglide (EE)
R ~ Carburetor Source: Rochester
T0826N ~ Transmission Number: Powerglide Toledo (T), September 26 (0826), Night shift (N)

4th line:
CK0908B ~ Rear Axle Number: Positraction 3.07:1 ratio w/Metallic Brakes (CK), September 8 (0908), Buffalo, NY (B)
P ~ Vehicle Build Month: September

Owner/dealer info: Original owner's name/address removed for obvious privacy reasons.