I am researching a 1964 Cutlass 2-door hardtop. The VIN is 82 4F010001. The first three symbols all check out. I am confused by the fourth symbol ("F")-the assembly plant-as the book I have does not list "F" as an assembly plant option for 1964. Could this be a real VIN (ie, is the book wrong or incomplete) or has the VIN been changed or altered? Thanks for your help! John

 

I think the F is a mistake. How do you know that there is an F in the VIN? Did you see the VIN plate yourself, or did someone tell you what it is? If it's the latter, have them go look at it again. It seems unlikely that someone would alter the VIN and put in a character which would immediately indicate a problem. What would be the point? If you're trying to disguise the car's past, you would at least choose a legitimate character, right?

 

It's a Fremont CA car. What book are you using as reference, because if it doesn't show F as Fremont, it's missing something. That or whoever put it together overlooked the Cutlass assembly plants and put in the B body assembly plants. All Ninety Eights were built in Lansing and CA built B-bodies were made in the South Gate plant.

1964 CSM indicates 824F010001 as

8= V8 engine (6 would indicate a V6 car)

2= Cutlass (0 is standard F85, 1 is Deluxe F85)

4= 1964 model year

F= Fremont CA assembly (M is Lansing, B is Baltimore, D is Kansas City)

010001 as the 8996th Cutlass assembled at that plant (starting Cutlass VIN was 001005)

Your body plate should indicate 64-3237 for a Cutlass Holiday Coupe, and BFXXXXX for body number.

 

Thanks for the help. The book I have apparently only lists the B body cars. It says the code is a C for 1964 California built cars. The VIN does match the body style code on the firewall. Thanks again, John.