VIN AND COWL TAG DECODING
  Vin Tag  
 

The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) tag is located on the drivers door front pillar post on.  It's made of stainless steel and spot welded in place.

These few letters and numbers can give us a wealth of information regarding the history of our car.



A. If the VIN starts with a V, the car came with a V8 engine. The second letter is the model designation. If there is no V, the car came with a 6 cylinder engine
VA = 1500 (150) with V8 VB = 2100 (210) with V8 VC = 2400 (Bel Air) with V8
VD = 1508 (Sedan Delivery) with V8 VE = 2900 (Corvette) with V8  

More in-depth descriptions of each model and series can be found HERE


B. These two numbers indicate the year of the car.



C. This one letter indicates the plant the car was assembled in:
A- Atlanta, GA B- Baltimore, MD F- Flint, MI J- Janesville, WI
K- Kansas City, MO L- Los Angeles, CA N- Norwood, OH O- Oakland, CA
  S- Saint Louis, MO T- Tarrytown, NY  



D. This is the serial number of the car, numbers were not duplicated at the same plant.  In 1955 and 1956 the numbers were started at 1001 at each plant, 1957 started with 100001.

Example: My VIN shows a V8 equipped 1957 Bel Air assembled in Atlanta, GA and was the 19035 car built.

 
 

Cowl Tag 

 

The cowl tag is made from aluminum and riveted to the firewall in the engine compartment. 

Again much information can be gained about the car from this info.





A. These two numbers indicate the year of the car.



B. Numbers and sometimes letters here is the model and series assigned by the Fisher Body Plant.



C. Indicates which Fisher Body Plant produced the body:

A- Atlanta, GA CL- Cleveland, OH F- Flint, MI J- Janesville, WI
K- Kansas City, MO L- Lansing, MI M- Baltimore, MD N- Norwood, OH
O- Oakland, CA S- Saint Louis, MO T- Tarrytown, NY VN- Van Nuys, CA



D. The numerical number of the body produced by Fisher Body Plant.  Production began with number 1.



E. Three numbers that indicate the interior color and material type. This is a very extensive list.



F. Three numbers and possibly a letter that indicate the exterior color.  This is a very extensive list.



G. Major factory accessories that were installed will be listed here.  These are a few of the codes used.

AC- Air conditioning CP- Padded Dash
EZI- Tinted Glass SA- Power Seats
WA- Power Windows WS- Power Seats and Windows

Example: My Cowl Tag shows a 1957 Bel Air 2 door sports coupe produced in Atlanta, GA, was the 1270th body built, had silver vinyl with black and silver pattern cloth interior, was painted Dusk Pearl and came with no major accessories.

 

 

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