1964 Chevelle Fisher Body Number Plate General Information

  • It is a fact that in 1964 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. Only the Vehicle Identification Number plate can determine whether the model was delivered with a V8 or L6 engine. For 1964, I have one Fremont plate example with 5537 series/model designation and one Kansas City 5469 model/series plate but with L6 engine and a KC SS convertible with 5867 body plate and 5767 VIN and one Van Nuys El Camino with 5480 body plate and 5380 VIN proving there are indeed odd-numbered (3rd digit) body plates and the body plate is not an indication of engine type installed.

  • The Malibu SS series was produced with both the L6 engine and the V8 engine in both the 2 door sport coupe and convertible models and the VIN for this series is unique from the Malibu.

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

  • Numbers in parentheses after the STYLE are number of units produced and are for total production of the series/model depicted on the body plate except where noted. Unless otherwise noted, this production number assumes the trim tag STYLE to match the VIN series/model number. This is not always the case as noted in the first bulleted item.

  • A popular publication states, "The model designation number will coincide with the firewall trim tag model number on V-8 equipped cars only. The firewall trim tags were only stamped with a V-8 designation even if a six-cylinder was installed from the factory." This is an incorrect statement for 1964 Chevelles. There are numerous examples of trim tags with an odd 3rd-digit style on this web site and even trim tags with an even 3rd digit and the VIN having an odd 3rd digit.

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

  • AT ~ Atlanta, Georgia
    • Assembly month padded with leading zero where applicable.
    • All have a hand-stamped number. The significance of this hand-stamped number is not known but could be cradle or body jig number for quality assurance tracking.
    • The body number is padded with leading zeros (0) when necessary to make a 6-digit number.
    • Includes group option codes.
    • Numbers are used to designate paint code.
    • One body plate from Euclid, Ohio (EP) with final assembly at Atlanta, Georgia
  • BA ~ Baltimore, Maryland - El Camino
    • Does not include the model year (64) before the model/series number at least for the 1963 calendar year (at least up to 12E body date). It is reported that this changed sometime during the 1964 calendar year.
    • Does not include group option codes.
    • Numbers are used to designate paint code.
  • BF ~ Fremont, California
    • Assembly month not padded with leading zero where applicable.
    • Both BODY and PAINT text precedes the body assembly plant and paint codes.
    • Unique to 1964 Fremont Chevelles, letters are used to designate paint code and a third letter designates the wheel color. Sometimes there is a space between the paint and wheel code, sometimes not.
    • Unique to 1964 Fremont Chevelles is the first paint code letter is the upper body color and the second paint code letter is the lower body color.
  • EP ~ Euclid, Ohio - El Camino
    • Euclid was a Fisher Body plant that shipped bodies to other plants for final assembly. Examples are shown for Atlanta, GA. and Kansas City, MO. final assembly. The bodies seem to be primarily station wagon and El Camino series but I have one example of a Malibu SS with final assembly at Atlanta.
  • KC ~ Kansas City, Missouri - El Camino
    • Assembly month padded with leading zero where applicable.
    • Includes group option codes.
    • Numbers are used to designate paint code. Where 4 numbers exist on convertibles, the last number is the color of the top.
  • VN ~ Van Nuys, California - El Camino
    • Assembly month not padded with leading zero where applicable.
    • Includes group option codes.
    • Numbers are used to designate paint code. (No examples of convertibles so it is not known if there is a 4th number to designate the top color as there are on the KC body plates.)
    • Both BODY and PAINT text precedes the body assembly plant and paint codes.

Anyone having a clear picture of 1964 Chevelle Body Number Plates (trim tags), please contact me here.