In the process of analyzing many build sheets for SX's, I've started to put them into an order of build dates and Vin numbers. I have over 15 from the Linden Plant itself and recently came across an odd finding. I have a build sheet for Terry's L33 SX, built in Linden NJ, with a build date of 12-1 and his VIN sequence number is 138xxx. Then I have another Cutlass Supreme with L33 (not an SX) also built in Linden NJ with a build date of 12-5 and a VIN sequence number of 135xxx. That's less than Terry's car. Both cars are off the same line. Does anyone have an explanation as to when the build sheet is actually produced or when the sequence number is actually assigned?

 

My information might not be correct, but I always thought it made sense. I've heard that, if a car is special-ordered from a dealer, a VIN is assigned to that order and subsequent car as soon as the order arrives at the factory, even if the car won't be built for several days. This is so the order can be tracked. In the meantime, cars continue to roll off the line, probably hundreds a day, so if the order was received and VIN assigned on, say, a Monday, but the car was not built until Thursday, three production days' worth of car would have been built between when the VIN was assigned and when the ordered car was actually built, and the VIN of the ordered car would thus be out of sequence in coming off the line. All the build date tells you is month/week. So both cars could have been built the same week but not in VIN order during that week.

As I say, I don't KNOW the above to be true, but I've heard it over the years and it always sounded logical. Maybe someone else will know better.

What got me interested in this subject is the VIN on my '78 Toronado. The sequence number is 700005. Toronado sequence numbers started 700001 each year, so this number suggests that my car was the fifth Toronado built for the 1978 model year. The build date on the cowl tag, 8C, is early in the model year and consistent with a low VIN, but I've never been able to verify that it really was the fifth Toro built that year. I like to think it was.

The other interesting piece of info I have that relates to build date information is the dealer invoice for the car, which I was able to get from the GM Heritage Center. They have these available for 1977 and later Oldsmobiles. It shows a "ship date" of 9/14/77, which means the car sat around for three weeks between when it was built (third week of August) and when it was shipped. It also shows an "exp. tr. time" date of 9/26/77. I presume this means that it was expected to arrive at the dealer by that date ("expected transit time"), so it apparently spent 12 days in transit from Lansing to the dealer, who was in Miami, Florida.

 

I don't know how GM accounting works, but it sounds like it may be the same as when I sold Dodges. A special order car received a VIN when the order was received. That was the asset tag, so to speak. That number was given to Chrysler Financial, and it showed up on the dealer's floor plan and we could track it , even though the car hadn't been built yet. In other words, the ordered car had been sold to the dealer.

 

Thank you for the responses. The explanations you provided could very well be the case here as I know the non SX was special ordered due to having the L33 engine. I should clarify that when I mentioned the build date, I am not referring to the data plate on the body that provides the month and week. I am referencing the actual date of the build as indicated on the assembly line build sheet. In this case one car was built on Dec 1st and the other on Dec 5th, both in the same week. I would also agree that your Toronado is the 5th one built for that model year.

 

Take a look at this Marti Report.



See the dates? There's several important ones, including scheduled, build, release, and ship.

Which one is on the Olds doc you have? Cuz it may not be the build date, and that may explain the sequence issue.

 

The VIN number, including the serial part, the sequence number, and the body number are three totally different things, both then and now. VIN was covered above, the body number is in order and on the trim tag, and the sequence number, if they used one, was an internal only number that just meant "in order on the assembly line"

 

I am somewhat confused by your statement so let me ask. I know the VIN includes the make, model, body style, year built, assembly plant and the serial number of the car. I have always been under the impression that the six digit serial numbers were in the order of the cars as they progressed down the assembly line. This theory holds true in 99% of the data I am analyzing. I also know the body tag located on the cowl indicates the model number, body style, assembly plant, trim and paint codes, build month and week, and also some additional trim codes. Where or why would a separate sequence number be used?

 

The cowl tag is a "Fisher body reccord" Where as the VIN is an Oldsmobile record.

In Lansing, the bodies were built on Verlinden st (Fisher body) and then trucked over to final assembly (Oldsmobile plant) on then Logan st area. A handful of miles apart.

Pat

 

Yes, I am aware of that. That is why my question does not pertain to the body tag, only the VIN number and sequence of it. Thank you for your response.

 

VINs are in the sequence they are stamped, and are in a different series for each model. Sequence number is the order of all vehicles on the line. A Vista Cruiser might precede a Cutlass Supreme which is in front of a 442. Different vin series all, but the sequence number (which again, is not a real number, just an internal number meaningless after the plant) will go 1, 2, 3.

It's so you can find cars easier if you're looking for one on the line.