1968 Chevelle Fisher Body Number Plate General Information

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  • In-depth analysis of 1968 Fisher Body Number Plates

  • Decode your 1968 Chevelle Fisher Body Number Plate

  • Generally, in 1968 the series/model designation on the trim tag is a trim level and not an indication of the engine type installed in the vehicle as Fisher Body didn't care what engine type was to be installed. Oshawa is the only known plant to match the Fisher Body style number with the series/model of the VIN. Framingham and Kansas City are known to use a style number with an even 3rd digit regardless; Atlanta, Baltimore, and Fremont are not certain and only the Vehicle Identification Number plate can determine whether the model was delivered with a V8 or L6 engine.

  • 1968 was the last of three years the Chevelle SS396 was a separate series (13837/67/80) and not an option on the Malibu. Also 1968 is the only year the El Camino SS396 was a separate series, 13880.

  • The Sport Coupe model designation was changed from "17" back to "37" for 1968 and the 'Strut Back' hardtop styling was discontinued in favor of a 'fastback' style.

  • Indications are the body numbers are sequential for the particular series/model per plant.

  • A popular publication states, "On all 1965 through 1971 trim tags, the engine identification portion of the model identification number always indicates a V-8 engine. No 6-cylinder engine identification numbers are stamped on any trim tag." This is an incorrect statement for not only 1965 through 1971 but includes 1972 as well. There are numerous examples of trim tags with an odd 3rd-digit style on this website.

  • Option codes no longer appear on any U.S. 1968 body plates.

  • For some unknown reason, some models substituted Buick, Oldsmobile or Pontiac interiors and are coded on the body plate accordingly with the Chevrolet trim number followed by the BOP trim number such as 765 158. These have been found from only 3 of the 5 U.S. plants, Baltimore, Fremont, and Kansas City. So far only black interiors have been found to have been substituted and all range from body dates of 03D through 06B depending on the plant.

  • Added verbiage "GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION CERTIFIES TO THE DEALER THAT THIS VEHICLE CONFORMS TO ALL FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS APPLICABLE AT TIME OF MANUFACTURE" to all body plates.

  • Oshawa changed the physical size of their trim tag from the previous 1 3/4" x 4" to 2 3/16" x 3 1/2". Other (U.S.) plants retained their 1 3/4" x 4" size.

  • Links to Fisher Body Number Plates (a.k.a., trim tag, cowl tag, firewall tag, etc.)

  • ATL ~ Atlanta, Georgia

    Click tag for more Atlanta examples...
    • Assembly month padded with leading zero where applicable.
    • No dash character (-) after interior trim code and no "-A" or "-B" to designate bench/bucket seats.*
    • No dash character (-) between lower and upper paint codes.*
    • Special Paint has been found with a dash character ( - ).
    • Almost all have a hand-stamped number visible. Believed to be the body assembly platform number.
    • * One exception is an 07D SS396 convertible.  No dash character (-) after interior trim code and does have dash character (-) between lower and upper paint codes.
  • BAL ~ Baltimore, Maryland ~ El Camino
     
    Click either tag for more Baltimore examples...
    • Assembly month padded with leading zero where applicable.
    • No dash character (-) after interior trim code, no "-A" or "-B" to designate bench/bucket seats, dash character used to designate Buick/Olds/Pontiac replacement interiors. Beginning with at least 05A, the trim code is shown with a dash character (-) after the number.
    • No dash character (-) between lower and upper paint codes.
    • Cars with Buick, Oldsmobile, or Pontiac interiors:
  • FRA ~ Framingham, Massachusetts

    Click tag for more Framingham examples...
    • Assembly month padded with leading zero where applicable.
    • Includes dash character (-) after interior trim code but no "-A" or "-B" to designate bench/bucket seats.
    • Includes dash character (-) between lower and upper paint codes.
  • BF ~ Fremont, California ~ El Camino
     
    Click either tag for more Fremont examples...
    • Assembly month padded with leading zero where applicable.
    • No dash character (-) after interior trim code and no "-A" or "-B" to designate bench/bucket seats.
    • No dash character (-) between lower and upper paint codes.
    • Coded L6 Chevelles with odd 3rd digit on trim tag.
    • Special paint trim tags show a dash character(s) or SPEC.
    • Chevelles with Buick, Oldsmobile, or Pontiac interiors:
  • KAN ~ Kansas City, Missouri ~ El Camino
     
    Click either tag for more Kansas City examples...
    • Assembly month padded with leading zero where applicable.
    • Does separate lower-upper body colors with a dash character (-). Bench seat trim codes include "-A" and bucket seat trim codes include "-B".
    • Includes dash character (-) between lower and upper paint codes.
    • Special Paint has been found with both a dash character ( - ) and the letter "O."
    • Cars with Buick, Oldsmobile, or Pontiac interiors:
    • As with 1967 Kansas City trim tags, paint code "G" is a smaller letter than other paint and vinyl/convertible top codes.
    • Special Paint (RPO ZP3) is indicated on the trim tag with the letter O ("oh") or dash character (-); vinyl and convertible tops on special paint cars still retain the letter code for the top color. See 02B for example of - -.
  • OS ~ Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

    Click tag for more Oshawa examples...
    • No dash character (-) after interior trim code and no "-A" or "-B" to designate bench/bucket seats.
    • Includes dash character (-) between lower and upper paint codes.
    • May include RPO codes for specific options.

* Reported but not verified with photo

** This is a known Concours optioned Malibu sport coupe. Other 13637 Malibu sport coupes listed may be Concours optioned but no further information is available on them to confirm.

Just For Fun

Courtesy Youri Ardon
A little something out of the ordinary. Don't know its proper name but it's found on the firewall of a 1968 Chevelle built in Antwerp, Belgium. Information supplied by the owner in Rotterdam, Netherlands include:
1 - Chevrolet Division
33 - 300 Deluxe L6 series
69 - 4-Door Sedan
H - 1968 model year
X - Antwerp, Belgium
101670 - Sequence number


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