stevengerard

So if the sequence number (the last six digits) of my VIN is 185000 does that mean it was the 185,000 Cutlass (or 442) made that year or is it the 85,000 car made?

my VIN is 344670M18XXXX

stevengerard

From what I have found it would be the 85,000 car built - anyone have an idea as to when this would be built based on that number? My cowl tag says 3rd week of November (11C) which seems early to me but considering how many cutlii they built back than maybe they could have been at 85k by end of November

joe_padavano

First, the build sequence numbers started at 100000 at each assembly plant (except for Toros, which started at 500000). Second, the build sequence number was assigned to cars moving down the line. Since most plants built more than one make (ie, Buicks and Oldsmobiles at the old Framingham plant), the build sequence number would include both types of cars.

wmachine

Joe, it is my understanding that is true for the body sequence numbers which are on the firewall tag. That is also true for the VIN too? So 2 Olds built at 2 different plants can have the same last 6 numbers?

344870M

Cool info. I always wondered where the '168265' on my car fell in the big scheme of things.

stevengerard

It looks like our cars would only be 17,000 cars apart if your car was assembled at Lansing in 1970 - what does your cowl tag say for build date? It should be earlier than the 11C that mine has stamped onto it as you have an earlier VIN.

joe_padavano

That's the way I read the info in the Chassis Service Manual. The VIN derivatives would be different since the assembly plant letter is different.

Allan R

Always been my understanding that the sequence number would indicate the production run for that car assembly line in that year.

So your car would be the 85,000 car manufactured on that assembly line in 1970.

Obviously the production line would start anew in the next model year. As Joe says, info on this is easy to find in the Chassis Service Manuals.

stevengerard

thanks guys, I am now clear on the sequence number but now will try to find out if the VIN sequence number that tells me my car is around the 85,000th car built for 1970 on the Lansing assembly line closely matches the cowl tag date of 11C the 3rd week of November 1969. All my numbers match down to the frame number but the cowl tag looks as if it has been replaced or at least repaired at one time a long time ago. And I have no documentation.

344870M

October 21 is her birthday.

stevengerard

Wow, thanks, that helps a lot. Most of the date codes on my car all suggest a November build date - as the cowl tag says but this helps confirm it. Third week of October they were at 68,000 cars and third week of November they were at 85,000 cars

344870M

Glad the info was helpful.