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Old May 3rd, 2022, 06:31 AM
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Cowl tag decode

Can anyone decode this cowl tag for me. specifically the build date. Looks to be " 0CA"


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Old May 3rd, 2022, 07:52 AM
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06A. First week of June. Late car, shown by the enormous body number in the 300,000s. Special paint car, what is it?
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Old May 3rd, 2022, 07:53 AM
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First week of March, 1970.
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Old May 3rd, 2022, 09:36 AM
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1970 LANSING body number 384984 should be "03A" (MARCH 1st week) - can you share the VIN sequence number

"06A" would be in the 470xxx range
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Old May 3rd, 2022, 10:18 AM
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The tag has some errors,
it decodes as:
Data Tag Decoder Results Year 1970 Make Oldsmobile Model 442 Hardtop Coupe
Assembly Date First week of June ***
Assembly Plant Lansing, MI Fisher Body Sequence 384984
Lower Color Special Order Paint Upper Color/Conv Top White Vinyl Top
Interior Option Ivory Vinyl Bucket
Accessory Codes
Belt reveal molding


Last edited by 70W-32; May 3rd, 2022 at 10:23 AM.
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Old May 3rd, 2022, 10:25 AM
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the "typo" on the tag "0CA" should be "03A"
looks like the "Data Tag Decoder" has some errors .....
"A" = WHITE vinyl top (on a hardtop)
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Old May 3rd, 2022, 11:11 AM
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I'm thinking it's a painted over 6, which is why I said what I did. Why do people think it's a C, or that a C is even possible in that position?
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Old May 3rd, 2022, 11:29 AM
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Cowl tag decode



Last 6 is 283622.
I have owned this car for 40 years this July. It is a Rally Red W30, white vinyl top, pearl interior, white stripes and wide B85 moldings.
I have spoken to the original owner of this vehicle and it was authenticated by Steve Minore shortly after I purchased it.
A recent thread about W30 production months and vin sequences got me looking at my build date code. I have always believed it was a March of 70 build code.
How did they differentiate cars built in 69 as apposed to those built in 70. Is it that the production model year never crosses the months of 69 and 70. Or did they use two digit numbers for the month on a 69 build and a letter for the month on a 70 build beginning with a " 0 " for 70'.
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Old May 3rd, 2022, 11:35 AM
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Originally Posted by rickw30

Last 6 is 283622.
I have owned this car for 40 years this July..........I have spoken to the original owner of this vehicle and it was authenticated by Steve Minore shortly after I purchased it.
I'm confused. I think Steve was about 15 years old 40 years ago
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Old May 3rd, 2022, 11:47 AM
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Originally Posted by Koda
I'm thinking it's a painted over 6, which is why I said what I did. Why do people think it's a C, or that a C is even possible in that position?
This is why I posted this stupid thing.
I also thought it was a painted over 6.
It's definitely not a painted over 6. If it is, then someone ground down the loop on the 6. In person you can not see any evidence that the bottom portion ever resembled a 6 or a ground down 6. I have done many carbon trace's over this area and it still reveals a letter "C".
I don't understand ! Could it in fact be a mistake.
According to others on this topic wouldn't the vin # be to high if they started with 100001 for a June of 69 build date ?
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Old May 3rd, 2022, 12:01 PM
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Originally Posted by allyolds68
I'm confused. I think Steve was about 15 years old 40 years ago
No he was not 15. He was young but knew what he was looking at. And I said shortly after. Not as soon as I bought it. I was 16 when I bought this car and he is definitely older than me. I will call him and ask him his age to satisfy those who want to know so that you don't have to start a new thread " What is Steve Minore's Age "
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Old May 3rd, 2022, 12:14 PM
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06A. First week of June.
"03A" (MARCH 1st week)

Does the car still have the blue VIN door sticker? That should have the build date (month/year) similar to this one that I stole from the internet.




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Old May 3rd, 2022, 12:38 PM
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Originally Posted by allyolds68
I'm confused. I think Steve was about 15 years old 40 years ago
I apologize to you. You are correct and I was wrong. Steve saw the car in the late 90's . I believe 97 or 98.

I apologize !
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Old May 3rd, 2022, 12:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Fun71
06A. First week of June.
"03A" (MARCH 1st week)

Does the car still have the blue VIN door sticker? That should have the build date (month/year) similar to this one that I stole from the internet.


Long gone ! Car had a repaint 20+ years ago and was removed. Didn't even think about it's significance. Stupid of me !
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Old May 3rd, 2022, 12:46 PM
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Originally Posted by rickw30
Long gone ! Car had a repaint 20+ years ago and was removed. Didn't even think about it's significance. Stupid of me !
I understand completely. When I painted my car in 1999 the decal was barely hanging on and I contemplated removing it so the paint would look better, but I decided to try gluing it on and painting around it. Now I'm glad I did that.
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Old May 3rd, 2022, 01:00 PM
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the VIN & Lansing Fisher Body # are appropriate for a first week of March build

the month/week codes for LANSING 1970 model year run:
08A - August '69 first week (there may be a few 07E ??)
09A-E
10A-E
11A-E
12A-E
01A-E
thru
07C - July '70 third week (any later ??)
for the 1970 model year

Last edited by hurst68olds; May 3rd, 2022 at 01:03 PM.
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Old May 3rd, 2022, 01:14 PM
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Where is the data that correlates production body numbers to weeks in 1970?

Also, has anyone ever seen a cowl tag embosser? I am wondering if it was a single press unit with multiple selectable characters off rolls, or if it was done one at a time like a type writer, or if it was ganged together by Joe Automan by hand then loaded into the press.

My current embossers do the typewriter method.

Last edited by Koda; May 3rd, 2022 at 01:16 PM.
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Old May 3rd, 2022, 01:43 PM
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Originally Posted by hurst68olds
the VIN & Lansing Fisher Body # are appropriate for a first week of March build

the month/week codes for LANSING 1970 model year run:
08A - August '69 first week (there may be a few 07E ??)
09A-E
10A-E
11A-E
12A-E
01A-E
thru
07C - July '70 third week (any later ??)
for the 1970 model year
the "typo" on the tag "0CA" should be "03A"
looks like the "Data Tag Decoder" has some errors .....
"A" = WHITE vinyl top (on a hardtop)

If the Vin and body # correlate to that of a March build than would an 06 be out of the ? and more probable a "typo".
Has anyone seen this sort of thing before....
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Old May 3rd, 2022, 01:48 PM
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Does anyone have a pic of a # "6" or letter "C" in a 70' cowl tag for comparison ?
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Old May 3rd, 2022, 02:26 PM
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Originally Posted by rickw30
Does anyone have a pic of a # "6" or letter "C" in a 70' cowl tag for comparison ?
This is a Fremont build and the tops of the letters were sanded slightly to be able read better after being painted over but it does have a 6 and a C for comparison.

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Old May 3rd, 2022, 07:47 PM
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No pictures??...
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Old May 4th, 2022, 04:14 AM
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Originally Posted by 4speed455
this is a fremont build and the tops of the letters were sanded slightly to be able read better after being painted over but it does have a 6 and a c for comparison.


​​​​​​thank you !
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Old May 4th, 2022, 05:31 PM
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That thing has ten coats of paint on it.

take a small wire brush and some solvent to it …why guess?
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