tracy

I have just purchased a 1972 olds cutlass supreme is there anyone still out there that can give me the number car it was and date built if I supply the vin # any help would be appreciated thanks

joe_padavano

Congrats. There is no info available that ties the VIN to any information, other than what you can get just from decoding the VIN and cowl tag. That is precious little.

The last six digits of the VIN are the build sequence number for the particular assembly plant that year. The cowl tag will tell you the month and week that it was built.

Allan R

Just to add on Joes information. Olds produced Cutlass models at Lansing, Freemont, Arlington, and Framingham in 72. Each of those plants Cutlass VIN numbers started with 100001. The VIN on your car will tell you the number sequence it was assigned at that plant only. The VIN and cowl tag numbers are not related.

VIN will tell you model, plant, engine, year and final assembly sequence.
Cowl will tell you model year, body style, body number, trim, paint , time build code and a few RPOs.

tracy

Thanks a bunch guys you answered my question .

joe_padavano

Good point. I overlooked the fact that this was a 1972.

Allan R

Tracy
What is the VIN of your car? 4257 is the holiday coupe, 4267 is the convertible. Im curious whether it's a U code car. If it is, it would stand out as being somewhat more unique in 72.

tracy

Allen the vin # is 3J57K2R114423 I don't understand how to read it My brother wants to print me out a sign with all the information I can get on my car so I can put it in front of my car at car shows .I had a 1983 hurst olds you guys got me the information on and he made me a sign it was nice .but I sold the 83 and bought the 72 . thanks.

joe_padavano

3 = Oldsmobile Division
J = Cutlass Supreme model line
57 = Holiday Coupe (2dr notchback body)
K = 350 4bbl single exhaust (180 HP net)
2 = 1972 model year
R = Arlington, TX assembly plant
114423 = sequential serial number

tracy

once again thankyou very much for the cyphering of the vin # for me I can allways count on you guys now my brother can make the sign thanks again !! I will try and put some pictures of my 72 on my site I have pictures of my 83 thanks again

Fun71

Do you also have the decode for the cowl tag? That would be good to have on the sign along with the VIN info.

Allan R

I'm guessing here, but Arlington wasn't as high a production factory as Lansing and Freemont. This is the 14423 rd cutlass built there, and based on numbers I've seen before, I'd suggest this was built in late 1971, possibly 1972 - not an early production car.
Tracy, production of cars in the 70s would involve changeover in the factories and then ramped up production usually starting in late July / early August to meet dealer inventory.

Can you post a picture of the cowl tag?

joe_padavano

Actually, that's not clear. At Lansing, where Olds built all car lines, in the 1972 model year there were different blocks of serial numbers assigned to different car lines - 100001 thru 400000 assigned to A-bodies, 400001 - 700000 to B/C-bodies, and 700001 - up to E-bodies. At other plants, all Olds car lines were numbered from the same batch.

What I don't know is which Olds car lines were built at Arlington in 1972. If it was only A-bodies, your logic is correct. If the production also included B/C-bodies, then it would have been the 14423 rd Oldsmobile built there.

Actually, I guess that latter statement would be true in either case...

Allan R

My understanding is that Arlington produced only Olds A body from 68-72. Yes they produced other brands, but used separate VIN sequences.

joe_padavano

I thought that was the case, but I do not know for sure. Yes, the sequence numbers were different for different divisions produced on the same line.

pizza442

Don't forget the blue Vin sticker in the doorjamb. That will have the month/year build as well..

Allan R

Yes, but that is dependent on it still being there. Many have been removed in the process of a repaint. In 1972 it will also record the vehicles GVWR broken down from front to rear.

joe_padavano

The date code on the cowl tag has the month and week of assembly. It's a 1972 model year, so we already know the year of production.