Can someone help me interpret this Cowl Tag for my new project (1966 Cutlass Convertible). I have a few pictures of it in my photo album under my profile.

04A
ST 66 - 35867 BP00569 Body
TR 088 01 Paint
031278
Here's a picture of the cowl tag...hopefully it posts correctly.

 

I'll give it a shot.

04A = time build code = April (04), first week (A) = first week of April 1966.

ST 66 = Style/model year = 1966

33867 = Oldsmobile (3) Cutlass (38) Convertible (67)

BF = assembly plant = Fremont CA

00563 BODY = Fisher body production number (for internal plant use)

TR 088 = bronze interior color with a custom sport front seat

C1 PAINT = provincial white exterior color (C) with a white convertible top (1).

031276 = ?

I don't have the reference manuals that can break the last series of numbers but I'm sure there are others out there that do have those books!

Randy C.

 

Randy, according to the 66 Assembly manual, those are option codes. The 0 apparently does not represent anything. It's the 5 digits after that that make up the codes. The manual states that options that are combined (likely combos) you add the values of the numbers together to get the digit on the tag. I took a shot at the 7 and 8 digits. I'm pretty sure the first 3 are right though.

031278
3=am/fm radio
1=power steering
2=power brakes
7=(combination code) Air conditioning *value 1* - comfortron *value 4* with HD cooling *value 3*. Keep in mind this combo is an educated guess
8=(another combo code) possibly tilt/telescopic steering (4) and auto vacuum locks (4) is just another educated guess

I hope there's someone out there who knows exacty if this is going the right way.

 

Thanks for sharing your expertise...I don't know where you guys learn all this stuff, but it's a pleasure to be in your ranks.

...and that explains why the interior (red) is so impeccable right now - becuz it's not the original color...oh well.

I was going to keep everything original (even though I didn't particularly like white color) but I guess that gives me the freedom to go ahead and paint it whatever color I want.

Thanks again, gentlemen.

DO

 

Allan - thanks for the info on those option codes. I learn something every day on this site. Although '66 is my favorite year for Cutlass and 442, somehow I missed out on them and ended up instead with a '68 and a '69. Maybe someday....!

Doug - at first I thought it would be much less expensive for you to go back to the original color interior than it would to paint the exterior of your car a different color if you wanted to keep it original-looking. I see from my various supply catalogs (Fusick, Year One) that the bronze interior color is not available. If you still want to keep it all original in its appearance, I'm wondering if you could buy a new interior in a light color (white/pearl?) and dye it to the correct bronze color. Just writing "out loud".

Randy