Chevrolet Chevelle · 1968–1972
Chevelle VIN decoder
Type the VIN of a second-generation Chevelle. The decoder reads it against the code tables on our year pages, and every table is sourced below.
What the 13 characters mean
| Position | Meaning | Example (1968) |
|---|
| 1 | Make: 1 = Chevrolet | 1 |
| 2 | Car line: 3 = Chevelle | 3 |
| 3 | Series: 1 = Chevelle 300 or Nomad, six, 2 = Chevelle 300 or Nomad, V8, 3 = 300 Deluxe or Nomad Custom, six, 4 = 300 Deluxe or Nomad Custom, V8, 5 = Malibu, six, 6 = Malibu, V8, 7 = Concours Estate, six, 8 = Concours Estate or SS 396, V8 | 4 |
| 4–5 | Body: 27 = 2-door coupe (pillar), 35 = 4-door wagon, two seats, 37 = 2-door sport coupe (hardtop), 39 = 4-door sport sedan (hardtop), 45 = 4-door wagon, three seats, 67 = Convertible, 69 = 4-door sedan, 80 = El Camino pickup | 69 |
| 6 | Model year: 8 = 1968 | 8 |
| 7 | Plant: A = Atlanta, Georgia, B = Baltimore, Maryland, G = Framingham, Massachusetts, K = Kansas City, Missouri, Z = Fremont, California | A |
| 8–13 | Unit number, from 100,001 in 1968 | 100026 |
Example: GM's own example from its 1968 serial-number page, an illustration rather than a known car: The 26th Chevelle of any series built at Atlanta, in GM's example a V8 300 Deluxe four-door sedan (13469).1one source
The code tables, year by year
Each table is the one on the year page, with its sources.
1968 · position 6 is 8 · 9 engines
| Position | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Chevrolet |
| 3 | Chevelle |
| 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 | Series; an odd digit is a six, an even one a V8 |
| 27 · 35 · 37 · 39 · 45 · 67 · 69 · 80 | Body: 2-door coupe (pillar) · 4-door wagon, two seats · 2-door sport coupe (hardtop) · 4-door sport sedan (hardtop) · 4-door wagon, three seats · Convertible · 4-door sedan · El Camino pickup |
| 8 | Model year (1968) |
| A · B · G · K · Z | Plant: Atlanta · Baltimore · Framingham · Kansas City · Fremont |
| 100001 → | Unit number, from 100,001 at each plant regardless of series |
| RPO | Engine | Rated |
|---|
| — | 230 cu in inline-six, 1-barrel (standard) | 140 hp |
| L22 | 250 cu in inline-six, 1-barrel | 155 hp |
| — | 307 cu in V8, 2-barrel (standard V8) | 200 hp |
| L73 | 327 cu in V8, 4-barrel | 250 hp |
| L30 | 327 cu in V8, 4-barrel | 275 hp |
| L79 | 327 cu in V8, 4-barrel | 325 hp |
| L35 | 396 cu in V8, 4-barrel (standard in the SS 396 only) | 325 hp |
| L34 | 396 cu in V8, 4-barrel (SS 396 only) | 350 hp |
| L78 | 396 cu in V8, 4-barrel, solid lifters (SS 396 only) | 375 hp |
Where to find it: Stamped on a plate attached to the left front body hinge pillar.1one source Sources for the codes1234. The 1968 page →
1969 · position 6 is 9 · 11 engines
| Position | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Chevrolet |
| 3 | Chevelle |
| 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 8 | Series; an odd digit is a six, an even one a V8 |
| 27 · 35 · 36 · 37 · 39 · 46 · 67 · 69 · 80 | Body: 2-door coupe (pillar) · 4-door wagon, two seats · 4-door wagon, two seats · 2-door sport coupe (hardtop) · 4-door sport sedan (hardtop) · 4-door wagon, three seats · Convertible · 4-door sedan · El Camino pickup |
| 9 | Model year (1969) |
| A · B · G · K · Z | Plant: Atlanta · Baltimore · Framingham · Kansas City · Fremont |
| 300001 → | Unit number, from 300,001 at each plant regardless of series |
| RPO | Engine | Rated |
|---|
| — | 230 cu in inline-six, 1-barrel (standard) | 140 hp |
| L22 | 250 cu in inline-six, 1-barrel | 155 hp |
| — | 307 cu in V8, 2-barrel (standard V8) | 200 hp |
| L65 | 350 cu in V8, 2-barrel (from spring 1969) | 250 hp |
| LM1 | 350 cu in V8, 4-barrel (on GM's list of September 1968) | 255 hp |
| L48 | 350 cu in V8, 4-barrel | 300 hp |
| L35 | 396 cu in V8, 4-barrel (included in the SS 396, Z25) | 325 hp |
| L34 | 396 cu in V8, 4-barrel (SS 396 only) | 350 hp |
| L78 | 396 cu in V8, 4-barrel, solid lifters (SS 396 only) | 375 hp |
| L89 | 396 cu in V8 as L78 with aluminum heads (SS 396 only) | 375 hp |
| L72 | 427 cu in V8, 4-barrel, by special order (COPO) only | 425 hp |
Where to find it: Stamped on a plate on the top left of the instrument panel.5one source Sources for the codes56789. The 1969 page →
1970 · position 6 is 0 · 9 engines
| Position | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Chevrolet |
| 3 | Chevelle |
| 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 8 | Series; an odd digit is a six, an even one a V8 |
| 36 · 37 · 39 · 46 · 57 · 67 · 69 · 80 | Body: 4-door wagon, two seats · 2-door sport coupe (hardtop) · 4-door sport sedan (hardtop) · 4-door wagon, three seats · Monte Carlo coupe · Convertible · 4-door sedan · El Camino pickup |
| 0 | Model year (1970) |
| A · B · F · K · L · 1 | Plant: Lakewood (Atlanta) · Baltimore · Flint · Leeds (Kansas City) · Van Nuys · Oshawa |
| 100001 → | Unit number, from 100,001 at each plant regardless of series |
| RPO | Engine | Rated |
|---|
| — | 250 cu in inline-six, 1-barrel (standard) | 155 hp |
| — | 307 cu in V8, 2-barrel (standard V8) | 200 hp |
| L65 | 350 cu in V8, 2-barrel | 250 hp |
| L48 | 350 cu in V8, 4-barrel | 300 hp |
| LS3 | 402 cu in V8 («Turbo-Jet 400»), 4-barrel | 330 hp |
| L34 | 402 cu in V8 sold as the 396, 4-barrel (SS 396, Z25) | 350 hp |
| L78 | 402 cu in V8 sold as the 396, solid lifters (SS 396) | 375 hp |
| LS5 | 454 cu in V8, 4-barrel (SS 454, Z15) | 360 hp |
| LS6 | 454 cu in V8, 4-barrel, solid lifters, 11.25:1 (SS 454) | 450 hp |
Where to find it: Stamped on a plate on the top left of the instrument panel.10one source Sources for the codes671011. The 1970 page →
1971 · position 6 is 1 · 7 engines
| Position | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Chevrolet |
| 3 | Chevelle |
| 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 8 | Series; an odd digit is a six, an even one a V8 |
| 36 · 37 · 39 · 46 · 57 · 67 · 69 · 80 | Body: 4-door wagon, two seats · 2-door sport coupe (hardtop) · 4-door sport sedan (hardtop) · 4-door wagon, three seats · Monte Carlo coupe · Convertible · 4-door sedan · El Camino pickup |
| 1 | Model year (1971) |
| B · K · L · R · 1 | Plant: Baltimore · Leeds (Kansas City) · Van Nuys · Arlington · Oshawa |
| 100001 → | Unit number, from 100,001 at each plant regardless of series |
| RPO | Engine | Rated |
|---|
| — | 250 cu in inline-six, 1-barrel (standard) | 145 hp |
| — | 307 cu in V8, 2-barrel (standard V8) | 200 hp |
| L65 | 350 cu in V8, 2-barrel | 245 hp |
| L48 | 350 cu in V8, 4-barrel | 270 hp |
| LS3 | 402 cu in V8 («Turbo-Jet 400»), 4-barrel | 300 hp |
| LS5 | 454 cu in V8, 4-barrel (with the SS package) | 365 hp |
| LS6 | 454 cu in V8, solid lifters (listed, not built for sale) | 425 hp |
Where to find it: Stamped on a plate on the top left of the instrument panel.12one source Sources for the codes6712. The 1971 page →
1972 · position 6 is 2 · 6 engines
| Position | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Chevrolet |
| B · C · D · H | Series: Nomad · Chevelle, Greenbrier or El Camino · Malibu, Concours or El Camino Custom · Concours Estate (and Monte Carlo) |
| 36 · 37 · 39 · 46 · 57 · 67 · 69 · 80 | Body: 4-door wagon, two seats · 2-door sport coupe (hardtop) · 4-door sport sedan (hardtop) · 4-door wagon, three seats · Monte Carlo coupe · Convertible · 4-door sedan · El Camino pickup |
| D · F · H · J · U · W | Engine: 250 six (110 hp) · 307 V8 (130 hp) · 350 V8, 2-barrel (165 hp) · 350 V8, 4-barrel (175 hp) · 402 V8 (240 hp) · 454 V8 (270 hp) |
| 2 | Model year (1972) |
| B · K · L · R · 1 | Plant: Baltimore · Leeds (Kansas City) · Van Nuys · Arlington · Oshawa |
| 500001 → | Sequential number (GM's examples start at 500001) |
| RPO | Engine | Rated |
|---|
| — | 250 cu in inline-six, 1-barrel (standard; VIN code D) | 110 hp net |
| — | 307 cu in V8, 2-barrel (standard V8; VIN code F) | 130 hp net |
| L65 | 350 cu in V8, 2-barrel (VIN code H) | 165 hp net |
| L48 | 350 cu in V8, 4-barrel (VIN code J) | 175 hp net |
| LS3 | 402 cu in V8 («Turbo-Jet 400»), 4-barrel (VIN code U) | 240 hp net |
| LS5 | 454 cu in V8, 4-barrel (with the SS package; VIN code W) | 270 hp net |
Where to find it: Stamped on a plate on the top left of the instrument panel.13one source Sources for the codes671314. The 1972 page →
