dmw

I have a 1964 442 convertible. The cowl tag reads:


OLDSMOBILE DIV. GENERAL MOTORS corp.
3 D LANSING MICHIGAN 2-2
STYLE 64-3267 BODY BF 637
TRIM 967 PAINT CIA
ACC A49 870 5106
THIS CAR IS FINISHED
XXXXX ACRYLIC LACQUER
BODY BY FISHER

Can someone please help me decode this cowl (trim) tag?


The VIN number is: 82 4F014013

I think that the F in the VIN number means that this car was built in Fremont, CA., but the cowl tag says LANSING MICHIGAN .

Can someone please help me.

Thanks,
DMW

jaunty75

Yes, F is Fremont in the VIN. The body tag tells you where the body was made, and it was shipped to Fremont for assembly. At least, that's my guess.

The VIN for '64 Oldsmobiles was very simple and, except for the assembly plant, doesn't convey any information that you don't already know simply by looking at the car.

8 = 8-cylinder engine
2 = series (Cutlass)
4 = model year 1964
F = Fremont, California assembly plant
XXXXXX = sequential production number at the Fremont plant


1964 was the first year for the 442, and it was an option package available on any '64 F-85 or Cutlass. There is no indication of the fact that it's a 442 in the VIN, and I don't think there's one in the body tag, either. It was just option "BO-9" on the order sheet.


Others will be able to decode the body tag. The "3 D" is the assembly date, which translates to the 4th week (D) of March (3), so that's March 1964. Is there actually a space between the 3 and the D, as usually there wasn't.

It's often recommended that, instead of transcribing the cowl tag here, you simply post a photo of it, as the positions of the numbers relative to letter codes matters, and people often make mistakes in reading it, seeing a "3" as a "B," for example, and things like that.


Your car sounds nice. How about posting some photos of it?

joe_padavano

Bodies were built in the Fremont plant, not shipped from Lansing.

jaunty75

As Arte Johnson used to say, "verrrrry interesting."

You kind of wonder, though, what would be the point. It's not like changing the VIN plate or cowl tag would make it appear to be a 442. It would be interesting to know if the various options on the cowl tag actually match up with what's on the car, although I'm guessing that, if someone wanted to make the car appear to be original, they could change the car's color, seat type, and so forth, to match what's on the cowl tag.

This would be another reason to see an actual photo of the cowl tag. Those were riveted on, and there might be some visual evidence that the old one was pried off and a new one riveted on.


Of course, I'm assuming the cowl tag was changed. It might have been the VIN plate that was changed. But that's riveted on, too, and so a photo of THAT might be show evidence of tampering.

dmw

Thank you guys for your help.

The car has:
Black Interior/Black Top
4 speed
ragel mist exterior

I will send a photo of the cowl tag later today.

dmw

There is a the number "1" casted in the heads on the the front on the driver side and on the rear on the passenger side.

dmw

I will send a photo of the car and Cowl tag tonight.

jaunty75

Looking forward to the photos!

jaunty75

The "1" is correct for a '64 330 V-8, which is the engine that should be in this car if it's the original engine. Of course, this doesn't tell you if this is THE original engine. But why would somebody change one 330 for another?


http://tech.classicoldsmobile.com/39.shtml

GAOldsman

I can try this evening for you if no one has done so by then.
Joe the Lansing Mich reference is where headquarters was and if you see this

STYLE 64-3267 BODY BF 637

the BF is the Fremont plant as well. I don't believe it is altered. That is the bad thing about not posting pics, you don't always get a clear picture.
X2

wmachine

Come on guys, you're slipping with the advice here. There is nothing wrong with the trim tag info he posted. All of the Fremont tag blanks say Oldsmobile Div Of General Motors Lansing Michigan" on them because Lansing is the home of Olds. The "BODY BF 637" says the body was made at the Fremont plant.

jaunty75

All of this is just a huge indication of the value of posting a photo of the tag and not trying to transcribe it. The positions of words and codes on the tag matter as much as what those words and codes are.

jaunty75

The LANSING MICHIGAN here is between the 3D and the 2-2, but it is not part of them. And it may not actually be directly between them.

wmachine

DMW, look at the first section of the Chassis Service Manual for some of the body tag info. Available free of charge at Wild About Cars.
http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/cgi-b...aldisplayed=50

Wild About Cars. http://wildaboutcars.com. An information supersource, especially Oldsmobile. More Olds content than anywhere else on the internet and continuing to grow.
You'll find Chassis Service Manuals, Product Information Manuals (AKA Assembly Manuals), Inspector's Manuals, and other documents that will contain this and much much more.
Dealer Brochures, magazine ads and articles, and the Automotive History Preservation Society library growing daily.
Free to join, free to learn.

hurst68olds

3 D = March 4th week (1964 assembly date)
2-2 = ?
64 = 1964 model year
3267 = Oldsmobile Cutlass convertible
BF = Fremont, CA
637 = body sequence number (637th Cutlass convertible body at Fremont)
967 = white bucket seat interior
C = white body
1 = white convertible top
A = black wheels (for full wheel covers)
A49 = ?
B70 = ? moldings
5106 = ?

TK-65

Glad someone came to the rescue in this thread.

GAOldsman

A49 = Front Seat Belt Retractors (Deluxe) Included Rear

B70 = Dash Pad

joe_padavano

Sorry, you are correct. I replied when I was supposed to be paying attention in a meeting and just skimmed over the first post. I retract my prior post and apologize for the misinformation.

GAOldsman

It's all good Joe

Interesting fact is the '64 Chebby's that were built in Fremont had Detroit on their plates

dmw

I'm sorry but I've tried to load the photo several times but I guess I just don't know how to do it. I'll continue to work to figure it out but it will probably be tomorrow.