1971 Chevelle Protect-O-Plate Warranty Card (Van Nuys, CA)

[ 1965 ] | [ 1966 ] | [ 1967 ] | [ 1968 ] | [ 1969 ] | [ 1970 ] | [ 1971 ] | [ 1972 ]

Decode your 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.

You'll notice some plants used a three letter engine suffix code while some used a two letter code; Arlington even used both for the 454, LS5 engine - PD and CPD. All examples, so far, also used a three letter suffix code on the rear end axle ratio code.

You'll also notice that some plants code the rear end with the assembly plant first followed by the rear axle code and some will code the rear axle code first followed by the assembly plant.

Note: GM offers 2 explanations on decoding the VIN. Using the common 13637 as an example:
1. When describing the VIN plate: 1 ~ Chevrolet Division, 36 ~ Malibu V8, 37 ~ 2-door sport coupe
...and...
2. When describing the POP: 13 ~ Chevelle, even number (2,4,6,8) is a V8 - odd number (1,3,5) is a L6, 37 ~ 2-door sport coupe. The engine designations of 2, 4, 6 or 8 for a V8 engine, and 1, 3, or 5 for a L6 engine was determined by the series.

A V8 Nomad would be 2, Greenbrier/Standard would be 4, Concours/Malibu would be 6, and Concours Estate/Monte Carlo would be 8.
An L6 Nomad would be 1, Standard would be 3, and Malibu would be 5.

[ Arlington ] | [ Baltimore ] | [ Kansas City ] | [ Van Nuys ] | [ Oshawa ]

Note: This is a very early Van Nuys Chevelle and although not sold until April 1, 1971 this Protect-O-Plate is not as informative as later plates are.

1st line:
136371L100013 ~ VIN
13537 ~ Chevelle (13), Malibu V8 (6), 2-door sport coupe (37)
1 ~ Model Year of Production: 1971
L ~ Final Assembly Plant: Van Nuys, CA.
100013 ~ Sequence Assembly Number,13th 1971 Chevelle at Van Nuys
R ~ Carburetor Source: Rochester

2nd line:
T0608 ~ Engine Code: Tonawanda Engine Plant (T) ~ June 8 (0608) ~ note no engine code but engine is LS5 w/TH400
715154 ~ Transmission Number: TH400 1971 (71) ~ unknown date format (5154) but 154 would be correct for June 3, 1970 which is within the time frame with the engine date of June 8.

3rd line:
2044 ~ Rear Axle Number: unknown code

Options

G	H	I	J	K	L	M

Note no options listed

Note no build month noted.

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

1st line:
136371L104415 ~ VIN
13637 ~ Chevelle (13), Malibu (6), 2-door sport coupe (37)
1 ~ Model Year of Production: 1971
L ~ Final Assembly Plant: Van Nuys, CA.
104415 ~ Sequence Assembly Number, 4,415th 1971 Chevelle at Van Nuys

2nd line:
T0727C:B ~ Engine Code: Tonawanda Engine Plant (T) ~ July 27 (0727) ~ 402/300hp w/TH400 (CLB)
71 ~ Transmission Number: No ID probably due to very early production and special delivery nature of the car

3rd line:
KDC225 ~ Rear Axle Number: 2.73:1 ratio (KD), Buffalo (C), August 13 (225*)
C ~ Carburetor Source: Carter

Options
1	1	3	3	1
G	H	I	J	K	L	M

G-1 ~ Power Steering [RPO N40]
H-1 ~ Power Brake [RPO J50]
I-3 ~ Radio [RPO U63/U69/U79] (any one of the three)
J-3 ~ Disc Brakes [RPO J52]
K-1 ~ Four-Season air conditioning [RPO C60]

H ~ Vehicle Build Month: August (1970)

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

1st line:
138571L119821 ~ VIN
13857 ~ Chevelle (13), Monte Carlo (8), 2-door sport coupe (57)
1 ~ Model Year of Production: 1971
L ~ Final Assembly Plant: Van Nuys, CA.
119821 ~ Sequence Assembly Number, 23,331st 1971 Chevelle at Van Nuys

2nd line:
V1217CGC ~ Engine Code: Flint Engine Plant (V) ~ December 17 (1217) ~ 350/245hp w/TH350 (CGC)
B1T18 ~ Transmission Number: Cleveland TH350 (B) 1971 (1) ~ December 18 (T18)

3rd line:
GNC348 ~ Rear Axle Number: 3.08:1 ratio (GN), Buffalo (C), December 14 (348*)
B ~ Carburetor Source: Bay City

Options
1		3	3	1	3
G	H	I	J	K	L	M

G-1 ~ Power Steering [RPO N40]
I-3 ~ Radio [RPO U63/U69/U79] (any one of the three)
J-3 ~ Disc Brakes [RPO J52]
K-1 ~ Four-Season air conditioning [RPO C60]
L-3 ~ Power Windows [RPO A31]

A ~ Vehicle Build Month: January

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

1st line:
135371L123331 ~ VIN
13537 ~ Chevelle (13), Malibu L6 (5), 2-door sport coupe (37)
1 ~ Model Year of Production: 1971
L ~ Final Assembly Plant: Van Nuys, CA.
123331 ~ Sequence Assembly Number, 23,331st 1971 Chevelle at Van Nuys

2nd line:
F1229CAB ~ Engine Code: Flint Engine Plant (F) ~ December 29 (1229) ~ 250/155hp w/Powerglide (CAB)
C1M18 ~ Transmission Number: Cleveland Powerglide (C) 1971 (1) ~ August 18 (M18)

3rd line:
GNC363 ~ Rear Axle Number: 3.08:1 ratio (GN), Buffalo (C), December 29 (363*)
B ~ Carburetor Source: Bay City

Options
1		3
G	H	I	J	K	L	M

G-1 ~ Power Steering [RPO N40]
I-3 ~ Radio [RPO U63/U69/U79]

A ~ Vehicle Build Month: January

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

1st line:
138571L146882 ~ VIN
13857 ~ Chevelle (13), Monte Carlo V8 (8), Monte Carlo 2-door sport coupe (57)
1 ~ Model Year of Production: 1971
L ~ Final Assembly Plant: Van Nuys, CA.
146882 ~ Sequence Assembly Number, 46,882nd 1971 Chevelle at Van Nuys

2nd line:
T0315CPD ~ Engine Code: Tonawanda Engine Plant ~ March 15 (0315) ~ 454/365hp w/TH400 (CPD)
71 ~ Transmission Number: 1971 (71) ~ note no date or TH400 level code

3rd line:
RUC013 ~ Rear Axle Number: 3.3:1 ratio (RU), Buffalo, NY (C), January 13 (013)
C ~ Carburetor Source: Carter

Options
1		3	3	3	1	3
G	H	I	J	K	L	M

G-1 ~ Power Steering [RPO N40]
I-3 ~ Radio [RPO U63/U69/U79] (any one of the three)
J-3 ~ Disc Brakes [RPO J52]
K-3 ~ Four-Season air conditioning [RPO C60]
L-3 ~ Power door locks 0RPO AU3]
M-3 ~ Four-way seats [RPO A42] *

* Window sticker does not show RPO A42 for this car however.

C ~ Vehicle Build Month: March

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

1st line:
136171L164237 ~ VIN
13637 ~ Chevelle (13), Malibu V8 (6), 2-door sport coupe (37)
1 ~ Model Year of Production: 1971
L ~ Final Assembly Plant: Van Nuys, CA.
164237 ~ Sequence Assembly Number, 64,237th 1971 Chevelle at Van Nuys

2nd line:
T0504CCC ~ Engine Code: Tonawanda Engine Plant ~ May 04 (0504) ~ 307/200hp w/TH350 (CCC)
B1D28 ~ Transmission Number: Cleveland TH350 (B) 1971 (1) ~ April 28 (D18)

3rd line:
GHC117 ~ Rear Axle Number: 2.73:1 ratio (GH), Buffalo, NY (C), April 27 (117)
R ~ Carburetor Source: Rochester

Options
1		3
G	H	I	J	K	L	M

G-1 ~ Power Steering [RPO N40]
I-3 ~ Radio [RPO U63/U69/U79]

E ~ Vehicle Build Month: May

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

1st line:
138571L165230 ~ VIN
13857 ~ Chevelle (13), Concours Estate station wagon or Monte Carlo, 8 cylinder (8), Monte Carlo 2-door sport coupe (57)
1 ~ Model Year of Production: 1971
L ~ Final Assembly Plant: Van Nuys, CA.
165230 ~ Sequence Assembly Number, 65,230th 1971 Chevelle at Van Nuys

2nd line:
T0413CPD ~ Engine Code: Tonawanda Engine Plant ~ May 13 (0513) ~ 454/365hp w/TH-400 (CPD)
71 ~ Incomplete data

3rd line:
RVC117E ~ Rear Axle Number: Positraction 3.31:1 ratio (RV), Buffalo, NY (C), April 27 (117), Eaton Positraction (E)
C ~ Carburetor Source: Carter

Options
1		3	3	1
G	H	I	J	K	L	M

G-1 ~ Power Steering [RPO N40]
I-3 ~ Radio [RPO U63/U69/U79] (any one of the three)
J-3 ~ Disc Brakes [RPO J52]
K-1 ~ Four Season air conditioning [RPO C60]

E ~ Vehicle Build Month: May

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

1st line:
136371L165652 ~ VIN
13637 ~ Chevelle (13), Malibu V8 (6), 2-door sport coupe (37)
1 ~ Model Year of Production: 1971
L ~ Final Assembly Plant: Van Nuys, CA.
165652 ~ Sequence Assembly Number, 65,652nd 1971 Chevelle at Van Nuys

2nd line:
V0428CGC ~ Engine Code: Flint Engine Plant (V) ~ April 28 (0428) ~ 350/245hp w/TH350 (CGC)
B1E06 ~ Transmission Number: Cleveland TH350 (B) 1971 (1) ~ May 06 (E06)

3rd line:
GAC08x ~ Rear Axle Number: 2.56:1 ratio (GA), Buffalo (C), Between March 21 and March 30 (08x)
B ~ Carburetor Source: Bay City

Options
1		3
G	H	I	J	K	L	M

G-1 ~ Power Steering [RPO N40]
I-3 ~ Radio [RPO U63/U69/U79] (any one of the three)

E ~ Vehicle Build Month: May

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