Chevrolet Impala · 1961–1964

Impala VIN decoder

Type the VIN of a third-generation Impala. The decoder reads it against the code tables on our year pages, and every table is sourced below.

Decode a VIN

Try a constructed example

None of our sources prints a real VIN for these years, so the examples are built from the code tables. They are not real cars.

What the 12 characters mean

PositionMeaningExample (1963)
1Model year: 3 = 19633
2–3Series: 17 = Impala, six, 18 = Impala, V818
4–5Body: 47 = 2-door sport coupe (hardtop), 39 = 4-door sport sedan (hardtop), 67 = 2-door convertible, 69 = 4-door sedan, 35 = 4-door station wagon, 6-passenger, 45 = 4-door station wagon, 9-passenger47
6Plant: A = Atlanta, B = Baltimore, F = Flint, G = Framingham, J = Janesville, K = Kansas City, L = Los Angeles, R = Arlington, S = St. Louis, T = TarrytownF
7–12Unit number, from 100,001 in 1963100026

Example: An example built from GM's code tables, not a real car's VIN: a 1963 Impala V8 sport coupe, the 26th car of the year at Flint, after GM's own example of a Biscayne V8 (model 1269).5one source

The code tables, year by year

Each table is the one on the year page, with its sources.

1961 · position 1 is 1 · 9 engines
PositionMeaning
1Model year (1961)
17 · 18Series: Impala six · Impala V8
11 · 35 · 37 · 39 · 45 · 67 · 69Body style (11 2-door sedan; 35 4-door station wagon, 6-passenger; 37 2-door sport coupe (hardtop); 39 4-door sport sedan (hardtop); 45 4-door station wagon, 9-passenger; 67 2-door convertible; 69 4-door sedan)
A · B · F · G · J · K · L · N · O · S · TAssembly plant (GM's list for all Chevrolet passenger cars, not only those that built Impalas)
100001 →Unit number, counted at each plant for all series together
OptionEngineRated
Std.235 cu in six135 hp
Std.283 cu in V8, 2-barrel170 hp
410283 cu in V8, 4-barrel230 hp
576348 cu in V8250 hp
573A348 cu in V8280 hp
572348 cu in V8305 hp
590348 cu in V8340 hp
573B348 cu in V8350 hp
580409 cu in V8360 hp

Where to find it: Stamped on a plate attached to the left front body hinge pillar.1one source Sources for the codes12. The 1961 page →

1962 · position 1 is 2 · 6 engines
PositionMeaning
2Model year (1962)
17 · 18Series: Impala six · Impala V8
35 · 39 · 45 · 47 · 67 · 69Body style (35 4-door station wagon, 6-passenger; 39 4-door sport sedan (hardtop); 45 4-door station wagon, 9-passenger; 47 2-door sport coupe (hardtop); 67 2-door convertible; 69 4-door sedan)
A · B · F · G · J · K · L · N · O · S · TAssembly plant (GM's list for all Chevrolet passenger cars, not only those that built Impalas)
100001 →Unit number, counted at each plant for all series together
OptionEngineRated
Std.235 cu in six135 hp
Std.283 cu in V8, 2-barrel170 hp
300327 cu in V8, 4-barrel250 hp
397327 cu in V8, 4-barrel, high performance300 hp
580409 cu in V8, large 4-barrel380 hp
587409 cu in V8, two 4-barrels409 hp

Where to find it: Stamped on a plate attached to the left front body hinge pillar.3one source Sources for the codes234. The 1962 page →

1963 · position 1 is 3 · 7 engines
PositionMeaning
3Model year (1963)
17 · 18Series: Impala six · Impala V8
35 · 39 · 45 · 47 · 67 · 69Body style (35 4-door station wagon, 6-passenger; 39 4-door sport sedan (hardtop); 45 4-door station wagon, 9-passenger; 47 2-door sport coupe (hardtop); 67 2-door convertible; 69 4-door sedan)
A · B · F · G · J · K · L · R · S · TAssembly plant (GM's list for all Chevrolet passenger cars, printed as «only basic designations shown», so it may be incomplete)
100001 →Unit number, counted at each plant for all series together
OptionEngineRated
Std.230 cu in six140 hp
Std.283 cu in V8, 2-barrel195 hp
L30327 cu in V8, 4-barrel250 hp
L74327 cu in V8, 4-barrel, high performance300 hp
L33409 cu in V8, 4-barrel340 hp
L31409 cu in V8, large 4-barrel400 hp
L80409 cu in V8, two 4-barrels425 hp

Where to find it: Stamped on a plate attached to the left front body hinge pillar.5one source Sources for the codes5one source. The 1963 page →

1964 · position 1 is 4 · 7 engines
PositionMeaning
4Model year (1964)
17 · 18 · 13 · 14Series: Impala six · Impala V8 · Super Sport six · Super Sport V8
35 · 39 · 45 · 47 · 67 · 69Body style (35 4-door station wagon, 6-passenger; 39 4-door sport sedan (hardtop); 45 4-door station wagon, 9-passenger; 47 2-door sport coupe (hardtop); 67 2-door convertible; 69 4-door sedan)
A · C · F · G · J · L · R · S · T · U · YAssembly plant (GM's list for all Chevrolet passenger cars, printed as «only basic designations shown», so it may be incomplete)
100001 →Unit number, counted at each plant for all series together
OptionEngineRated
Std.230 cu in six140 hp
Std.283 cu in V8, 2-barrel195 hp
L30327 cu in V8, 4-barrel250 hp
L74327 cu in V8, 4-barrel, high performance300 hp
L33409 cu in V8, 4-barrel340 hp
L31409 cu in V8, large 4-barrel400 hp
L80409 cu in V8, two 4-barrels425 hp

Where to find it: Stamped on a plate attached to the left front body hinge pillar.6one source Sources for the codes26. The 1964 page →

Sources

  1. 1961 Chevrolet Passenger Car – Vehicle Information Kit General Motors (GM Heritage Archive) · read 2026-10-11
  2. Chevrolet Impala Wikipedia · read 2026-10-11
  3. 1962 Chevrolet Passenger Car – Vehicle Information Kit General Motors (GM Heritage Archive) · read 2026-10-11
  4. 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964 Chevrolet Impala Super Sport HowStuffWorks (Consumer Guide Automotive) · read 2026-10-11
  5. 1963 Chevrolet Passenger Car – Vehicle Information Kit General Motors (GM Heritage Archive) · read 2026-10-11
  6. 1964 Chevrolet Passenger Car – Vehicle Information Kit General Motors (GM Heritage Archive) · read 2026-10-11