Terminology, Abbreviations, Et al
As the years go by new generations of Chevelle owners come on board. Terms you'll hear people use over time may confuse you as man has been around for a number of years and have become part of the Chevelle community lexicon. Some terms are just flat wrong but, again, they're ingrained in so many people's mind they become fact as they just assume others know what they are talking about.
So I've taken a couple of days here to share with you what is truly fact and what is fact in some people's mind they just can't shake. I'll try to list them in some sort of alphabetical order to make searching a bit easier. As I find new terms used I'll be sure to add them here so come back often.
A-body:
*
A term used to identify the intermediate GM car line such as Chevrolet's
Chevelle 300/300 Deluxe/Malibu/Malibu SS/SS396/SS454 family, Buick's
Skylark/Grand Sport/GS family, Oldsmobile's Cutlass/F-85/442 family,
and Pontiac's Tempest/LeMans/GTO family from 1964 through 1972.
Broadcast Code:
* Paperwork to assemble a Chevelle consisted of either, what's
commonly called a build sheet or, a BODY BROADCAST COPY or CHASSIS
BROADCAST COPY sheet that have certain codes used to tell the assembly
line workers what to put on a particular car. These broadcast codes
can be a single number or letter, or multiple letters or numbers
depending on the how the computers at the specific assembly plant
was programmed. Broadcast codes are not to be confused with RPO
(regular production option) codes. An example of a broadcast code
might be an engine code for a 1970 L34 engine. On a build sheet the
broadcast code could be TX or TW depending on the transmission type
where the RPO code for the engine is simply L34.
*All of this assembly paperwork is computer generated based on
selected inputs. For example, if one orders the Z25 SS396 equipment
option on a 1970 Malibu sport coupe the L34 engine, power disc
brakes, SS door emblems instead of Malibu door emblems, etc. is
automatically selected. Certain transmissions, rear ends, etc. are
available to choose from while others are automatically eliminated;
meaning you couldn't get a 1970 SS396 with any small block V8, a
sweep (or linear) speedometer dash, you could not get a 10-bolt rear
end, and you could not get a Powerglide or TH350 in a 1970 SS396
equipped Malibu. See RPO codes.
Core:
* Automobile radiators have one (1) core. This core may consist of
two,
three, or four rows but still has one core. You'll hear things like a
3-core
radiator or 4-core radiator simply because people have become accustomed
to these terms. But, they are wrong and correct term is 3-row or 4-row
radiator. Why 'core' is easier to remember than 'row' is beyond me.
This pertains to both original equipment type brass radiators as well
as aftermarket aluminum radiators. This would be a "3-core"
radiator.
* A term used for a rebuildable item that no longer functions as it
should but can be rebuilt. Often the part has a 'core' value of the
rebuildable portion of the item since it costs less to clean an old
part and rebuild it than it does to manufacture a completely new part.
Used for such things as rebuildable water pumps, engine blocks/heads,
transmissions, starters, generators/alternators, etc. If buying a rebuilt
part you may need to put a deposit down for the 'core' until you can
return the part that is no longer functioning to be sent back to the
rebuilder. When returned you get your core deposit back.
Chevelle:
*
One wouldn't think this would need an explanation but, sadly, it does.
Chevelle is one of several in the Chevrolet lineup of automobiles. Like
Camaro, Chevy II/Nova, and Corvette, the Chevelle came in several series
and body style configurations. Depending on the model year, each series
has certain body styles available to it be it a sedan, coupe, sport
coupe, sport sedan, station wagon, or sedan pickup (aka El Camino).
Some people can't get past a Chevelle just being a Malibu sport coupe
or convertible. Yes, El Caminos are Chevelles. Yes, station wagons are
Chevelles. Monte Carlos are Chevelles; they were built at some of the
same plants as other Chevelles and were sequenced along side other Chevelles.
Choice:
* This is more my term and I define choice as multiple selection
availability that do not involve additional cost. Anything that
costs more money is an option (again, my term). An example would be
the color you choose for your Chevelle. If it's one of the standard,
available colors, it's a choice since there's no cost involved. An
exception would naturally be a special order color, that would be an
option because you're paying extra for it. Anything not included
with the base price of the car and costs more money is an option.
You have the option to buy it or not. Another choice would be the
color of a convertible or vinyl top. While a vinyl top is an option
you have to pay extra for, the color of the convertible or vinyl top
is a choice since one color costs no more than another. In my world,
a Malibu is a choice over a 300 Deluxe. You cannot 'upgrade' a 300
Deluxe with a Malibu option. Simple. See option. See RPO Code.
Coupe:
*
Beginning with the 1968 model year the 2-door sedan was renamed 2-door
coupe. This is a 2-door body style with a B-pillar between the windshield
(or A-pillar) and the rear of the roof (or C-pillar). Also often referred
to as a 'post' car due to the B-pillar. Prior to 1968 this 2-door body
style was called a sedan and carried a body style number of 11. Limited
to the 300 and 300 Deluxe series from 1964-1967.
In 1968 the body style number changed to 27 and the sedan name was dropped
in favor of coupe. The coupe designation continued to the 1969 model
year and the body style was dropped from the lineup for 1970. Limited
to the 300 and 300 Deluxe series. The 4-door version of the sedan continued
to be called a sedan throughout it's life cycle from 1964-1972 with
a body style number of 69 and limited to 300, 300 Deluxe, and Malibu
series. See Sedan and Sport Sedan.
Cowl Tag:
*
See Fisher Body Number Plate.
El Camino:
*
The name most commonly used when referring to the 2-door sedan pickup.
GM documentation will show both terms. Yes, El Caminos are Chevelles,
just one of the many Chevelle body style. See Sedan Pickup.
Fisher Body Number Plate:
*
The real name of the data plate affixed to the front of the firewall
just to the left of the windshield wiper motor on 1964-1967 Chevelles
and on top of the firewall on the drivers side on 1968-1982 Chevelles.
More commonly known as 'trim tag,' 'cowl tag,' 'firewall tag,' 'body
plate,' and other names. The plate shows when the body was assembled,
the Fisher Body style number, the Fisher Body plant and final assembly
plant designation, Fisher Body unit number or GM data processing number,
interior trim code, and exterior paint code. Depending on the year and
the plant there may be additional codes showing some options, some data
processing codes found on the build sheet (where applicable) or, in
the case of early Fremont, CA. tags, the dealer's order number.
Option:
* Anything that costs money above and beyond the base price of the
car (plus any delivery and handling charges the dealer charges). A
radio is an option, air conditioning is an option, various engines
and transmissions are options. If there is not a cost involved, it's
either standard equipment or the particular item is part of a larger
option grouping. For example, the RPO L34 402/350hp engine in 1970 is
part of the Z25 SS396 Equipment option and will not show a cost
involved. Same for something like power disc brakes with the SS396
option. If one orders the power disc brakes and does not order the
Z25 SS396 option then those power disc brakes will have a cost
involved since they are an option over the non-power drum brakes.
Some options require other options. For example the RPO ZL2 Special
Ducted Hood Air System in 1970 required one of the 2 SS options. In
1971 and 1972 the same ZL2 required one of the two big-block
engines, either the 402 or the 454 along with the Z15 SS Equipment
option; neither small block Z15 SS Equipment optioned engines could
get the ZL2 hood. See Choice. See RPO Code.
RPO Code:
* RPO is an acronym for Regular Production Option. Generally, but
not always, there are options one could order on a Chevelle if
available for that particular year, series, or body style. An RPO
code can have ECL codes (or variations) with them on some paperwork
but not all and assembly plants don't always include ECL codes on
certain paperwork. For example, an M20 4-speed transmission will
have an RPO code of M20 but different ECL code depending on the
application. Generally, after 1966 any engine with an advertised HP
rating under 300hp would get the cast iron Saginaw 4-speed where any
engine with an advertised HP rating of 300 or more would get the
aluminum Muncie 4-speed. Same for an M40 TH400 transmission, one RPO
code but different variations depending on the particular engine
being ordered. Same RPO code of M20 but vastly different
transmissions. Another example would be a vinyl top option available
in different colors. The RPO code for a vinyl top is C08 but to
distinguish the color a 2-letter ECL code is added; same for a
convertible top. See Broadcast Code.
Sedan:
*
A body style name used for 1964-1967 2-door styles with a B-pillar and
1964-1972 4-door body styles with a B-pillar (except station wagons).
See Coupe. See Sport Sedan.
Sedan Pickup:
*
More commonly known by the name El Camino. GM refers to this body style
as a 2-door sedan pickup. Yes, El Caminos are Chevelles, just one of
the many Chevelle body styles. See El Camino.
Sport Coupe:
* A body style name used for any 2-door hardtop. Limited to
the Malibu and Malibu SS series of 1964-1965, the Malibu and SS396 series
of 1966-1968, 300 Deluxe and Malibu series in of 1968-1969, and
the Chevelle/Standard and Malibu series of 1970-1972.
Sport Sedan:
*
A body style introduced in 1966 and continued through 1972. A 4-door
hardtop if you will meaning no B-pillar. Limited to the Malibu series.
Trim Tag:
*
See Fisher Body Number Plate.
VIN:
*
Acronym for Vehicle Identification Number. A kind of misnomer since
not all characters in a VIN are numbers except for Canadian-built Chevelles
prior to 1972. A VIN will contain from 1 to 3 letters depending on the
year, but that's being a bit anal. The VIN is the legal identification
of a Chevelle and will contain the Chevrolet division number (except
1964), series number, body style number, model year, final assembly
plant letter, and a sequence number for that plant for that year. The
VIN plate is affixed to the driver side A-pillar on 1964-1967 Chevelles
or a plate on the front top of the dash on the driver side where it
can be read from outside the car.