Data Plate Decoding 71 Cutlass

[iuhoops83]

I have a 71 Cutlass and am trying to understand all the info on the data plate. Here it is:

ST 7133687LAN313934 BDY
TR943 26 C PNT
02D D80

So far I know "26" means Viking Blue, and LAN means made in Lansing. Other than that, I would like to understand the rest of the info. I validated the engine is "numbers matching". Still trying to figure out how to determine if the tranny is. Your comments are much appreciated! Larry

[rocketraider]

Originally Posted by iuhoops83

I have a 71 Cutlass and am trying to understand all the info on the data plate. Here it is:

ST 7133687LAN313934 BDY

1971 Oldsmobile 3 Cutlass V8 36 Holiday Coupe 87 built in Lansing. Fisher plant job # 313934

TR943 Blue vinyl split bench front seat 26 Viking Blue (one of six special order colors) C is upper body color in this case could be a White painted top or Blue vinyl top PNT

02D Fisher body plant build date, in this case 4th week Feb 1971 D80 it's a Fisher code that for some reason isn't showing up in my books, but I'm pretty sure it's two-tone paint divider mouldings since top code is different from lower body.

So far I know "26" means Viking Blue, and LAN means made in Lansing. Other than that, I would like to understand the rest of the info. I validated the engine is "numbers matching". Still trying to figure out how to determine if the tranny is. VIN is stamped on the pan rail

Your comments are much appreciated! Larry

[iuhoops83]

Rock,
You're amazing! Thanks for the excellent response. A few comments/questions.

1. Is the car more valuable than an average Cutlass since it is a Holiday Coupe or was this a common brand of Cutlass in 1971?
2. The car has a bench front seat, but not a split bench front seat. Do you think it was proabably replaced? Should I attempt to find a split bench to replace the existing?
3. Car has a blue vinyl top.
4. Does D80 mean there was two tone paint originally? I will look at the tag again to make sure I provided the correct code.
5. Sorry for the upcoming dumb question, but what is the pan rail? I assume it is something on the trans pan.
Larry

[iuhoops83]

Here's a picture of the Cutlass.

[Bluevista]

Originally Posted by iuhoops83

Rock,
2. The car has a bench front seat, but not a split bench front seat. Do you think it was proabably replaced? Should I attempt to find a split bench to replace the existing?

How do you fold the seat up to get in the back? That seat is from a wagon or a four door and was replaced for sure. I would try to find a split bench or put in buckets.

Allan H

[iuhoops83]

The front seat back is split right down the middle. No split in the seat bottom. There is a small lever at the bottom of the outer edge of each seat back that must be lifted to move the seat back forward. No arm rest in the seat back.

[iuhoops83]

Additional info on trans. I found the number 27N188010 stamped in the trans just above the pan. I assume this is not the original trans since this number does not match the VIN. Am I correct? Is this a THM350 trans?

[rocketraider]

Holiday Coupe is Olds-speak for a 2-door hardtop. Very common and popular bodystyle in those years, and still very popular today- right behind convertibles.

My bad on split bench. I meant split backrests which is what your car has. Supremes could have the armrest bench seat.

Vinyl roof and two-tone paint used the same divider mouldings. You have a correct blue vinyl top. The body plate includes the code because Fisher had to put the moulding clip studs on the quarter panel.

27N188010 sounds like a Pontiac Firebird unit- 2= Pontiac, 7= probably 1977, N= Norwood OH assembly which is where Camaro/Firebird were built. Short tail Turbo 350 same as what your car originally had. A trans swap sometime in 37 years wouldn't be unusual- sometimes they'd swap out a used transmission, sometimes a jobber rebuild like Jasper or even GM Replacement Parts, which would have the VIN from the car it came from.

BTW- not amazing- just have a good factory lit collection.

[Bluevista]

Originally Posted by iuhoops83

The front seat back is split right down the middle. No split in the seat bottom. There is a small lever at the bottom of the outer edge of each seat back that must be lifted to move the seat back forward. No arm rest in the seat back.

LOL, I wondered, I didn't think anybody would put a solid back bench seat in a 2 door but you never know. I must admit, I put a '62 Poncho solid bench seat in a '64 Chebby 2 door beater when I was 16, better than nothing.

Allan

[iuhoops83]

Thanks all for the info. BTW, the Cutlass does still have the matching numbers engine. I'm making improvements slowly. Next work is to get the roll out. Larry