1968 Chevelle Vehicle Identification Number Plate
[ 1964 ] | [ 1965 ] | [ 1966 ] | [ 1967 ] | [ 1968 ] | [ 1969 ] | [ 1970 ] | [ 1971 ] | [ 1972 ]
|
|
1968 VIN Breakdown
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 meaning as the Fisher Body Number plate.
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 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.
A typical 1968 Chevelle VIN might read: 138378A160163 being an SS396 2-door sport coupe assembled in Atlanta, GA.
Beginning in 1968 the VIN plate was moved from the driver side body A-pillar to 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 to a special bracket with unique 'rosette' rivets.
First Character: Division of General Motors
1 ~ Chevrolet
Second and Third Character: Series Designation *
31 ~ Chevelle 300, Nomad, 6-cylinder
32 ~ Chevelle 300, Nomad, 8-cylinder
33 ~ 300 Deluxe, Nomad, 6-cylinder
34 ~ 300 Deluxe, Nomad, 8-cylinder
35 ~ Malibu, 6-cylinder
36 ~ Malibu, 8-cylinder
37 ~ Concours station wagon, 6-cylinder
38 ~ SS396 and Concours station wagon, 8-cylinder
Fourth and Fifth Character: Body Style/Model
27 ~ 2-door coupe **
35 ~ 4-door station wagon, 2 seat
37 ~ 2-door sport coupe **
39 ~ 4-door sport sedan
45 ~ 4-door station wagon, 3-seat
67 ~ 2-door convertible
69 ~ 4-door sedan
80 ~ 2-door sedan pickup
Sixth Character: Year of Production
8 ~ 1968
Seventh Character: Final Assembly Plant
A ~ Atlanta, Georgia
B ~ Baltimore, Maryland
G ~ Framingham, Massachusetts
Z ~ Fremont, California
K ~ Kansas City, Missouri
1 ~ Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Eighth through Thirteenth Characters: Sequential
Production Number
The sequential starting number
for the 1968 Chevelle was 100001 at all U.S. Chevelle assembly plants.
Each assembly plant sequenced Chevelles of all series/models without
regard to specific series/models. For example, if a series 13435 station
wagon followed a 13667 Malibu convertible, the sequence number would
be one unit higher for the wagon. It's also entirely possible to have
the same sequence number from all five 1968 U.S. assembly plants with
the only difference between the VINs being the plant code.
Production exceeded 100,000 units for the Baltimore plant sometime in May, and the Kansas City plant sometime in April so the VIN sequence for those respective time frames to the end of production would be 2nnnnn for each plant.
* The El Camino is not a separate series nameplate but rather a body style in both the 300 Deluxe (33/34) and Malibu (35/36) series although it's often listed as such. The base (33/34) El Camino Deluxe is a 2-dr sedan pickup body style with 300 Deluxe trim where the (35/36) El Camino Custom is a 2-dr sedan pickup body style with Malibu trim and the (38) SS396 El Camino is a sedan pickup body style with SS series trim. The SS396 series Chevelles sport coupe, convertible, and pickup (13837, 13867, and 13880) were the only three models to come standard with the 396 V8 engine. The 396 V8 engine could NOT be ordered in any other series or body style other than the SS396 sport coupe, convertible, or pickup.
** Note the 2-door pillar sedan model name was changed from "sedan"
to "coupe" for the 1968 model year in both the 300 series
and 300 Deluxe series.
VIN plate location
The VIN plate location is the same for 1968 through 1972 VIN plates, on top of the dash on the driver side; 1965 through 1972 VIN plates used special rivets.
Concealed (Hidden) Partial VIN Location
It's not certain that all U.S. plants stamped a partial VIN behind the heater box like this Baltimore example. Anyone with partial VIN stamps from other plants in 1968 are encouraged to write and send photo if possible.
1968 VIN Assembly Plant Codes
Letter Code | Assembly Plant | Series * |
A | Atlanta, Georgia | 4 |
B | Baltimore, Maryland | 4 ** |
C | Southgate, California | 1 |
D | Atlanta, Georgia (Doraville) | 1 |
F | Flint, Michigan | 1 |
G | Framingham, Massachusetts | 4 |
J | Janesville, Wisconsin | 1 |
K | Kansas City, Missouri | 4 ** |
L | Los Angeles, California (Van Nuys) | 1, 5 |
N | Norwood, Ohio | 5 |
R | Arlington, Texas | 1 |
S | St. Louis, Missouri | 1, 2 |
T | Tarrytown, New York | 1 |
U | Lordstown, Ohio | 1 |
W | Willow Run, Michigan | 3 |
Y | Wilmington, Delaware | 1 |
Z | Fremont, California | 4 ** |
1 | Oshawa, Canada | 1, 4 |
1 | St. Therese, Canada | 1 |
* 1-Passenger; 2-Corvette; 3-Chevy II; 4-Chevelle;
5-Camaro ** Included El Camino |
1968 Chevrolet VIN Sequence Numbers
Series | Begin Sequence | Plant |
Passenger | 100001 | All |
Corvette | 400001 | St. Louis |
Chevy II | 200001 | All |
Chevelle | 100001 | All |
Camaro | 300001 | All |