1971 Chevelle Vehicle Identification Number Plate
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1971 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 the assembly plant sequence as opposed to the trim tag's Fisher Body sequence and the series will designate a 6-cyl (odd third digit) or V8 (even third digit) on the VIN plate where the 3rd digit on the trim tag does not.
A typical 1971 Chevelle VIN might read: 136671R173972 being a Malibu V8 2-door convertible assembled in Arlington, TX. and is the 73,972nd 1971 model year Chevelle sequenced at the Arlington, TX. assembly plant.
The VIN plate is located on 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 a special bracket with unique 'rosette' rivets.
First Digit: Division of General Motors
1 - Chevrolet
Second and Third digit: Series Designation
31 - Nomad, 6-cylinder
32 - Nomad, 8-cylinder
33 - Chevelle, El Camino, 6-cylinder
34 - Chevelle, El Camino, Greenbrier, 8-cylinder
35 - Malibu, 6-cylinder
36 - Malibu, Custom El Camino, Concours, 8-cylinder
38 - Concours Estate, Monte Carlo, 8-cylinder
Fourth and Fifth Digit: Body Style/Model
26 - 4-door station wagon, 2 seat (Nomad only)
36 - 4-door station wagon, 2 seat
37 - 2-door sport coupe
39 - 4-door sport sedan
46 - 4-door station wagon, 3 seat
57 - Monte Carlo 2-door sport coupe
67 - 2-door convertible
69 - 4-door sedan
80 - 2-door sedan pickup
Sixth Digit: Year of Production
1 - 1971
Seventh Character (Alpha Designation): Final Assembly Plant
R ~ Arlington, Texas
B ~ Baltimore, Maryland
K ~ Kansas City, Missouri
L ~ Van Nuys, California
1 ~ Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Eighth through Thirteenth Digits: Sequential Production Number
The sequential starting number for the 1971 Chevelle was 100001 at all Chevelle assembly plants except Oshawa, Ontario which started at 500001. Each assembly plant sequenced Chevelles of all series/models without regard to specific series/models. For example, if a series 13857 Monte Carlo followed a 13667 Malibu convertible, the sequence number would be one unit higher for the Monte Carlo. It's also entirely possible to have the same sequence number from all five 1971 U.S. assembly plants with the only difference between the VINs being the plant code. Oshawa, Ontario would not have a matching sequence number of a U.S. plant Chevelle due to the starting sequence of 500001.
Production at the Baltimore assembly plant in early May and the Kansas City plant exceeded 100,000 units sometime in late April, so the VIN sequence from those time frames to the end of production would be 2nnnnn for the Baltimore and Kansas City plants.
VIN plate location
Although these photos are of 1970 Chevelles, the location is the same for 1968 through 1972 VIN plates; 1965 through 1972 VIN plates used special rivets. Note the two different styles of riveting done.
