VIN Numbers order

[Bill Dawson]

In 1965 there were approx 14 Build plants in the US. How were the production numbers assigned with all the assembly lines turning out full size Chevrolets at the same time?

Thanks, Bill Dawson

 

[Tim]

I have the answer!! with multiple plants producing the same car there can be 2 VIN#'s the same (example ImpalaSS) with the exception of the plant code. each plant started at 000001 and went from there so 2 plants building Impala SS' would have 2 cars with 000001 but the plant code to the left of this would be different. if the second car was a 4 door impala it was 000002 and so on. the last 6 digits were used for all impalas at that plant regardless of trim. the ONLY exception to all of this is Canadian built cars. the first digit of the full VIN was the year and the second being 1 for Chevrolet, the next 5 being model and the last 6 the line sequence. there was only one production plant in Oshawa Ontario for Impala's so there were no duplicate Sequences for the last 6 digits and no plant code because the first digit signified Canada. US Chevrolet started with 1 and plant code the 7th digit. having said all that its impossible to tell how many of 1 trim level was built by the last 6 digits.

 

[DonSSDD]

Tim, some years there were 2 GM Canada plants and they used a plant code.

 

[Tim]

The info I have from gm vintage services says there was 1 for 65/66. Wasn’t the additional plant for 68 and up? When did they change vin tags to 16-17 digits?

 

[DonSSDD]

VIN changed around 71 or72. Not sure when they had more than 1 plant.

 

[Bill Dawson]

Thank you all for the info. I now am enlightened.