1969 Chevelle Fisher Body Number Plate General Information

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  • In-depth analysis of 1969 Fisher Body Number Plates

  • Decode your 1969 Chevelle Fisher Body Number Plate

  • Generally, in 1969 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. Framingham, Fremont, and Oshawa are the only three known plants to match the Fisher Body style number with the series/model of the VIN. Atlanta and Kansas City are known to use a style number with an even 3rd digit regardless; Baltimore is not certain and only the Vehicle Identification Number plate can determine whether the model was delivered with a V8 or L6 engine.

  • 1969 saw the demise of the SS396 as a separate 138xx series although the Concours Estate wagon continued with the 13836/46 series designation.

  • The SS Equipment option package (RPO Z25) became an option just like a radio, air conditioning, full wheel covers, etc. The SS option was limited to the 300 Deluxe series 2-door sport coupe, 2-door coupe, and Malibu series 2-door hardtop, convertible, and El Camino. Although there are theories about certain letters appearing on certain final assembly plant body number plates indicating the SS option was installed on the car, there is NO PROOF in the form of GM documentation.
    * Strong evidence, yes.
    * Proof, no.
    If you would like to contribute to the ongoing research concerning 1969 Chevelle tags, please contact Andy with specifics about your tag - assembly plant, body date, letter codes, etc. Pictures preferred but a pencil rubbing  will work fine as well. If you have other documentation of the car being an SS optioned Chevelle, it is welcomed as well.

  • Indications are the body numbers are sequential for the particular series/model per plant but only Fremont appears to have continued this from earlier years.

  • 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.

  • Kansas City & Baltimore joined Oshawa (from 1968) in changing their trim tag physical size from 1-3/4" x 4" to 2-3/16" x 3-1/2" sometime around late November.  This change also affected the text along the bottom half of the tag to be printed on 5 lines instead of 4. Atlanta, Fremont and Framingham continued to use the previous size of 1-3/4" x 4".

    1969 model year plant 1-3/4" x 4" 2-3/16" x 3-1/2"
    Atlanta yes  
    Fremont yes  
    Framingham yes  
    Baltimore yes * yes *
    Kansas City yes * yes *
    Oshawa   yes

    * Sometime during the week of 12A Baltimore changed from the smaller 1-3/4"x4" to the more square 2-3/16"x3-1/2".
    * Sometime during the week of 11A Kansas City changed from the smaller 1-3/4"x4" to the more square 2-3/16"x3-1/2".

  • 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.
    • Two hand stamped numbers; meaning unknown but speculation is the body assembly jig number.
    • No additional data processing tracking numbers.
    • Almost all have a hand-stamped number visible. Believed to be the body assembly platform number.
    • Special paint trim tags show a dash character(s).
  • BAL ~ Baltimore, Maryland ~ El Camino
     
    Click either tag for more Baltimore examples...
    • Assembly month padded with leading zero where applicable.
    • Various machine stamped 1 and 2 digit numbers; meaning unknown but speculation is the body assembly jig number.
    • Most non-El Camino body styles have two letters machine stamped after the body date; "B M", "B L"; some have one letter, some have no letter: meaning unknown but many suspect the "L" is indicative of an SS-optioned Chevelle. To date, all verified SS optioned cars have the letter "L" and those known to NOT be SS optioned do not have it. This is actively being researched. The letter "B" appears to only be applicable to the Malibu and 300 Deluxe 37, 39, and 69 body styles. The letter "F" has been found on a 300 Deluxe coupe.
    • El Camino body styles normally have three letters machine stamped after the body date; "BFM" and "BFL" being the most predominate.
    • Six-digit data processing code on last line. First three digits meaning is unknown but second three digits are trim inspection sequence number found on trim card.
    • Special paint trim tags show a dash character(s). One purported to be Monaco/Hugger Orange (72) has a code of 1357 just after the body date, another has code of 1818 but paint color is unknown, and another purported to be Rallye Green (79) and a code of 1699. These additional codes are found just after the date code on the bottom line and are believed to be Fleet & Special Order (F&SO) codes.
    • Early production run cars were being done along side 1968 models as early as July; one 07B body dated tag has a 1968 style body tag and a VIN sequence of under 300025.
  • FM ~ Framingham, Massachusetts

    Click on tag for more Framingham examples...
    • Assembly month padded with leading zero where applicable.
    • Two hand stamped numbers; meaning unknown but speculation is this is the body assembly platform number.
    • No additional data processing tracking numbers.
    • It is reported that special paint trim tags show a dash character(s) but I have no examples.
    • Framingham coded trim tag style numbers with an even 3rd digit for a V8 and an odd 3rd digit for an L6 so the Fisher Body Style number is a valid resource to tell if the car was a V8 or L6.
  • BF ~ Fremont, California ~ El Camino
     
    Click either tag for more Fremont examples...
    • Assembly month padded with leading zero where applicable.
    • Two sets of 6-digit data processing numbers on last line.
      •  The first set of 6-digits are from block 24 of the build sheet.
      •  The second set is actually a concatenation of two other sets - first two digits are from block 10 and last four digits are from block 24 of build sheet
    • Lists RPO Code B80 (Roof Drip Molding) where applicable on 13637 styles; Custom El Camino (13680) include the RPO code B90 (Door Window Frame Molding) as well.
    • The Fisher Body number is generally sequential based on the particular style number.
    • Special paint trim tags show a dash character(s).
    • Fremont coded trim tag style numbers with an even 3rd digit for a V8 and an odd 3rd digit for an L6 so the Fisher Body Style number is a valid resource to tell if the car was a V8 or L6.
  • KAN ~ Kansas City, Missouri ~ El Camino
     
    Click either tag for more Kansas city Examples...
    • Assembly month padded with leading zero where applicable.
    • Very early tag (09A) differs from 09C and later tags.
    • Five digit number follows body assembly date; meaning unknown.
    • The letter "L" appears on many tags, "X" or "Z" also appear on 300 Deluxe model specific. Speculation is this "L" indicates an SS-optioned Chevelle but no proof to date this is true. It does appear on every Monaco/Hugger Orange and Daytona Yellow painted cars and those two colors were only available as color choices on SS-optioned Chevelles. This is actively being researched. There is one Kansas City tag (01E) of a non-SS Malibu with this "L" on the Kansas City trim tag page. One reader says he has a 69 SS from Kansas City without the "L" but no photographic proof was offered. There is one I have that is a verified SS and the trim tag does NOT have this letter "L". See this tag. Whether these are anomalies or proof the "L" does not mean an SS-optioned Chevelle, I'll leave up to the reader.
    • Special paint trim tags show a dash character(s).
    • It's purported the 5-digit number after the body date is the number of the particular car on a given work day of the week such as 08392 would be the 839th car built on the 2nd work day of the week. It is uncertain if this is a known fact though.
  • OS ~ Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

    Click tag for more Oshawa examples...
    • Assembly month NOT added with leading zero where applicable.
    • Paint codes have standard 2-digit number for lower color and a 1-digit/1-letter for upper color. Convertible top colors are designated with the number "1" and a letter for the color. Vinyl top colors are designated with the number "2" and a letter for the color. Paint color names differ from U.S.-built paint color names. Canadian color name is listed with U.S.-built color name in parentheses.
    • Some RPO codes are listed on the body plate making it easy to identify an SS-optioned Malibu built in Oshawa.
    • The text "MADE IN CANADA" appears along the top of the tag instead of "BODY BY FISHER" on U.S. tags. The text "BODY BY FISHER" is also right-justified on the lower portion of the tag as opposed to being centered.


Just for fun, how about this 1969 Malibu Sport Sedan built in Baltimore, disassembled and shipped to Bienne (Berne), Switzerland for reassembly.