Decoding the VIN

General Information /
VIN
59 VIN Card
60 VIN Card
64 VIN Card
65 VIN Card
66 VIN Card
67 VIN Card
68 VIN Card
69 VIN Card
70 VIN Card
71 VIN Card
72 VIN Card
73 VIN Card
74 VIN Card
75 VIN Card
77 VIN Card
78 VIN Card
79 VIN Card
80 VIN Card
81 VIN Card
82 VIN Card
83 VIN Card
84 VIN Card
85 VIN Card
86 VIN Card
87 VIN Card
VIN Breakdown 83
VIN Breakdown 86

Decoding the VIN Tag:

The VIN, or Vehicle Identification Number is the primary identifier of each individual vehicle.
 
It is an alpha-numeric combination of digits that includes the information of the Make, Model, Body Style/Type, Year of Manufacture, Assembly Plant, Engine Type, and Serialized Build Sequence.
 
On the ’59, it is 10-Digits; on the ’60 and ’64, it is 12-Digits; from ’65 through ’80 it is 13-Digits, and from ’81 on up, it is 17-Digits.
 
1981 was also the first year the VIN description was changed from “Passenger Car” to “Light Duty Truck” category.
 
1985 was the first year for W80 to be assembled in Mexico.
 
For a  COMPLETE VIN Breakdown for all Generations of El Caminos, see the related document here.
 
1959; 10-digit VIN:
  1. First Digit:
    • “G” is 6-cylinder El Camino.
    • “H” is 8-cylinder.
  2. Second and…
  3. Third digits are the year “59”.
  4. Fourth digit is the Plant it was assembled.
  5. Fifth – Tenth are Production Sequence Numbers.
1960; 12-digit VIN:
  1. First Digit: “0” is the year 1960.
  2. Second through Fifth digits are the Model Series:
    • “1180” is El Camino, 6-cylinder.
    • “1280” is El Camino, 8-cylinder.
  3.  Sixth digit is the Plant it was assembled.
  4. Seventh – Twelfth digits are Production Sequence Numbers.
1964; 12-digit VIN:
  1. First Digit: “4” is the year 1964.
  2. Second and…
  3. Third digits are the Model Series:
    • “53” is El Camino, L6.
    • “54” is El Camino, V8.
    • “55” is El Camino Custom L6.
    • “56” is El Camino Custom V8.
  4.  Fourth and…
  5. Fifth digits are the body type: “80” for 2-Door Sedan Pickup.
  6. Sixth digit is the Plant it was assembled.
  7. Seventh – Twelfth digits are Production Sequence Numbers starting with 1#####.
1965-1970; 13-digit VIN:
  1. First Digit is the brand: “1” is Chevrolet.
  2. Second and…
  3. Third digits are the Model Series:
    • “33” is El Camino, L6.
    • “34” is El Camino, V8.
    • “35” is El Camino Custom L6.
    • “36” is El Camino Custom V8.
    • *”38″ is El Camino SS396 (1968 ONLY).
  4.  Fourth and…
  5. Fifth digits are the body type: “80” for 2-Door Sedan Pickup.
  6. Sixth digit is the last digit of the model year. 
  7. Seventh digit is the Plant it was assembled.
  8. Eighth – Thirteenth digits are Production Sequence Numbers starting with 1#####.
1971; 13-digit VIN:
  1. First Digit is the brand:
    • “1” is Chevrolet.
    • “5” is GMC.
  2. Second and…
  3. Third digits are the Model Series:
    • “33” is El Camino/Sprint, L6.
    • “34” is El Camino/Sprint, V8.
    • “36” is El Camino/Sprint Custom V8.
  4.  Fourth and…
  5. Fifth digits are the body type: “80” for 2-Door Sedan Pickup.
  6. Sixth digit is the last digit of the model year: “1” is 1971. 
  7. Seventh digit is the Plant it was assembled.
  8. Eighth – Thirteenth digits are Production Sequence Numbers starting with 1#####.
1972-1977; 13-digit VIN:
  1. First Digit is the brand:
    • “1” is Chevrolet.
    • “5” is GMC.
  2. Second digits are the Model Series:
    1. “C” is El Camino.
    2. “D” is Custom El Camino.
  3. Third and…
  4.  Fourth digits are the body type: “80” for 2-Door Sedan Pickup.
  5. Fifth digit is the Engine.
  6. Sixth digit is the last digit of the model year. 
  7. Seventh digit is the Plant it was assembled.
  8. Eighth – Thirteenth digits are Production Sequence Numbers starting with 1#####.
1978 to ’80; 13-digit VIN:
  1. First Digit is the Brand:
    • “1” is Chevrolet.
    • 1978:
      • “5” was GMC Truck.
    • 1979 & ’80:
      • “T” for GMC Truck.
  2. Second digit is Carline Series: “W” is El Camino series.
  3. Third and…
  4. Fourth digits are Body Style: “80” is Pickup Delivery 2-Door.
  5. Fifth digit is the Engine.
  6. Sixth digit is the Year: 
    • “8” is 1978.
    • “9” is 1979.
    • “A” is 1980.
  7. Seventh digit is the Plant it was assembled.
  8. The rest are Production Sequence Numbers.
1981 & Later; 17-digit VIN:
  1. First Digit is Country of Origin:
    • “1” is U.S.A.
    • “2” is Canada.
    • “3” is Mexico.
  2. Second digit is Manufacturer Identity: “G” is GM.
  3. Third digit is brand:
    • “C” is Chevrolet Truck.
    • “T” is GMC Truck.
  4. Fourth digit is the GVWR Brake System: “C” is GVW 4001-5000 – Hydraulic Brake System. 
  5. Fifth is Model Series: “W” is El Camino. 
  6. Sixth and…
  7. Seventh digits are Series & Body Type.:
    • “8” is El Camino
    • “0” is Pickup Delivery 2-Door.
  8. Eight digit is the Engine.
  9. Ninth digit is a “Check Digit”.
  10. Tenth digit is Model Year:
    • “B”-81
    • “C”-82
    • “D”-83
    • “E”-84
    • “F”-85
    • “G”-86
    • “H”-87.
  11. Eleventh digit is the Plant it was assembled.
  12. Twelfth through Seventeenth digits are Production Sequence Numbers
*On 5th Generation El Camino, it can NOT be determined if it is a “true SS” by the VIN, it is only by the RPO coding on the build sheet, or RPO tag.

The only year identifiable as being an El Camino “SS” by the VIN, was 1968.

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