1972 El Camino 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. All examples, so far, also used a three letter suffix code on the rear end axle ratio code.

VIN identification changed in 1972 in a number of ways.
* The series was changed from a two-digit number to a single letter.
* The engine size is now identified in the VIN.

Baltimore, Maryland

No Examples

Kansas City, Missouri

File Photo
Courtesy Daniel Deuter

1st line:
1D80H2K553525 ~ VIN
1D80 ~ Chevrolet (1), Malibu (D), 2-door sedan pickup (80)
H ~ 350cid V8 2-bbl (L65)
2 ~ Year of Production: 1972
K ~ Final Assembly Plant: Kansas City, MO.
553525 ~ Sequence Assembly Number, 5,525th vehicle at Kansas City

2nd line:
V1220CKA ~ Engine Number: Flint, MI (V), December 20 (1220), 350/165hp (CKA)
R2T08 ~ Transmission Code: Saginaw (R): Year, 197(2), December 8 (T08)

3rd line:
GIC328 B ~ Rear Axle Number: "GI" for a Positraction 3.36:1 ratio, "C" for Chevrolet, Nov 23 (day #328)

B ~ Carburetor Source: Bay City

Options
  1 3 3    
G H I J K L M

H - 1 ~ Power Brakes [RPO J50]
I - 3 ~ Radio type
J - 3 ~ Disc Brakes [RPO J52]

A ~ Vehicle Build Month: January

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

File Photo

1st line:
1D80W2K554178 ~ VIN
1D80 ~ Chevrolet (1), Malibu (D), 2-door sedan pickup (80)
W - 454cid V8 4-bbl (LS5)
2 ~ Year of Production: 1972
K ~ Final Assembly Plant: Kansas City, MO.
554178 ~ Sequence Assembly Number, 54,178th vehicle at Kansas City

2nd line:
T1203CRW ~ Engine Number: Tonawanda, N.Y. (T), December 3 (1203), 454/270hp (CTW)
72F30 ~ Transmission Code (TH400): Year, 19(72), Engine code/454~270hp (F), January 30 (day #30)

3rd line:
RVC334 ~ Rear Axle Number: "RV" for a Positraction 3.31:1 ratio, "C" for Chevrolet (Buffalo), Nov 29 (day #334)

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 Brakes [RPO J50]
I - 3 ~ Radio [RPO U63]
J - 3 ~ Disc Brakes [RPO J52]
K - 1 ~ Air Conditioning [RPO C60]

A ~ Vehicle Build Month: January

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

File Photo

1st line:
1D80H2K606258 ~ VIN
1D80 ~ Chevrolet (1), Malibu (D), 2-door sedan pickup (80)
H ~ 350cid V8 2-bbl (L65)
2 ~ Year of Production: 1972
K ~ Final Assembly Plant: Kansas City, MO.
606258 ~ Sequence Assembly Number, 106,258th vehicle at Kansas City

2nd line:
V0328CTL ~ Engine Number: Flint, MI (V), March 28 (0328), 350/165hp (CTL)
72C24 ~ Transmission Code (TH400): Year, 19(72), March 24 (C24)

3rd line:
GCG054 ~ Rear Axle Number: "GC" for a 2.73:1 ratio, "C" for Chevrolet (Buffalo), Feb 23 (day #054)

B ~ Carburetor Source: Bay City

Options
1 1 3 3 1    
G H I J K L M

G - 1 ~ Power Steering [RPO N40]
H - 1 ~ Power Brakes [RPO J50]
I - 3 ~ Radio [RPO U63]
J - 3 ~ Disc Brakes [RPO J52]
K - 1 ~ Air Conditioning [RPO C60]

D ~ Vehicle Build Month: April

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

File Photo
Courtesy Mark Flowers

1st line:
1D80W2K622343 ~ VIN
1D80 ~ Chevrolet (1), Malibu (D), 2-door sedan pickup (80)
W - 454cid V8 4-bbl (LS5)
2 ~ Year of Production: 1972
K ~ Final Assembly Plant: Kansas City, MO.
622343 ~ Sequence Assembly Number, 122,343rd vehicle at Kansas City

2nd line:
T0408CRW ~ Engine Number: Tonawanda, N.Y. (T), April 08 (0408), 454/270hp (CRW)
72F40 ~ Transmission Code (TH400): Year, 19(72), Engine code/454~270hp (F), February 9 (day #40)

3rd line:
RVC090 ~ Rear Axle Number: "RV" for a 3.31:1 ratio (Positraction), "C" for Chevrolet, Buffalo, March 30 (day #90)

C ~ Carburetor Source: Carter

Options
1 1   3 1    
G H I J K L M

G - 1 ~ Power Steering [RPO N40]
H - 1 ~ Power Brakes [RPO J50]
J - 3 ~ Disc Brakes [RPO J52]
K - 1 ~ Air Conditioning [RPO C60]

D ~ Vehicle Build Month: April

Owner/dealer info: Original owner's name/address removed for obvious privacy reasons.
*  The dates are counted from January 1, 1971
** This particular El Camino's transmission tag shows a date of 406. Counting from January 1, 1971 it makes it the 41st day of 1972, or Feb, 10, 1972.

Van Nuys, California

No Examples