General Questions Place to post your questions that don't fit into one of the specific forums below.

Need help decoding 1972 Olds body tag

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 9, 2014 | 02:44 AM
  #1  
Ces's Avatar
Ces
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 180
From: East Oakland, Ca.
Need help decoding 1972 Olds body tag

Hey there CO, I recently acquired another Cutlass. I haven't had one in many years and couldn't take it any longer.
I also happened to be able to afford one, and that was the real reason I brought home this latest muscle car.

It's a pretty good condition 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme convertible.
The VIN is:
3j67k2m203197

I've been able to decode the body tag almost all the way. I got stuck on a few things.
Please share any and all info you will. It's greatly appreciated and will be used to put this car back to correct and original.
As best as I can, as NOS and or OEM parts are getting harder and harder to find, and afford!

Here's a decent picture of the tag:

72bodytagdetail_zps42ccef47.jpg

Last edited by Ces; Jul 9, 2014 at 03:28 AM.
Old Jul 9, 2014 | 02:50 AM
  #2  
Ces's Avatar
Ces
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 180
From: East Oakland, Ca.
I'll spell out what I can see here:

BODY BY FISHER

LINE 1 LEFT TO RIGHT:

ST 72 34267LAN429250 BDY

LINE 2 L-R:

TR 979 57 T (or I) PNT

LINE 3 L-R
3E A51


The VIN is:
3j67k2m203197

Last edited by Ces; Jul 9, 2014 at 03:28 AM.
Old Jul 9, 2014 | 03:02 AM
  #3  
Ces's Avatar
Ces
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 180
From: East Oakland, Ca.
I was able to re-learn what some of this means.
I'd love to hear about it again, from such a great source as this BB.

I know it's built in the 5th week of March.
I checked and March did have 5 weeks in 1972.
I understand it's from Lansing, MI. Hence the LAN in the code.

3: Oldsmobile
42: Cutlass Supreme? Don't remember right now, it's late!
67: Convertible
LAN: Lansing, Michigan.

and thats about where I lose it...

57 (x) PNT is baroque gold paint, I believe.
X is unknown, having trouble making out that character.
Old Jul 9, 2014 | 10:00 AM
  #4  
jaunty75's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 15,187
From: southeastern Michigan
The body cowl tag decodes as a '72 Cutlass Supreme convertible with V-8 engine built at Lansing in the 5th week of March 1972. Baroque Gold lower body color, Covert convertible top ("covert" is the name of a color). Saddle vinyl bucket seats.
Old Jul 9, 2014 | 12:21 PM
  #5  
rcorrigan5's Avatar
Randy C.
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,348
From: Albany, OR
Just to break it down, piece by piece:


ST 72 = style/model year = 1972


34267:
3 = GM division = Oldsmobile
42 = model series = cutlass supreme
67 = body type = convertible


LAN = assembly plant = Lansing MI


429250 BDY = Fisher Body number (no relation to the VIN)


TR 979 = interior color = saddle


57 T PNT - lower and upper body colors:
57 = lower body color = baroque gold
T = top color = covert beige


3E = time build code (it's probably 03E but the "0" is covered) = March (3), fifth week of that month (E), 1972


A51 = option code for strato bucket seats


Randy C.
Old Jul 9, 2014 | 11:45 PM
  #6  
Ces's Avatar
Ces
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 180
From: East Oakland, Ca.
Awesome guys! Thanks very much
Old Jul 10, 2014 | 12:18 AM
  #7  
Ces's Avatar
Ces
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 180
From: East Oakland, Ca.
It's interesting, I thought it originally came with a black top. so that's been changed.
There's so many versions of 1972 Olds baroque gold, sometimes it seems ike the body paint may have been changed as well. It's definitely been repainted. Awesome quality paint on this car. No orange peel.
The interior is a dark saddle color. While working on the back seat area, I say the vinyl interior material around the ashtrays was much lighter. Almost a dark off white color.
Looks like it had been dyed, years ago. There's more evidence of an interior respray above the dash, on the inside of the windshield.
In a sense, it's good news.
I always wanted a triple black 70-72 Olds 442/ Cutty drop.
So now if I start to change these things, like body paint and interior color,
I won't feel bad. As I would changing factory original colors.
Previous owner already changed the top to black.
It's a high quality top, with a very clean install. In perfect condition.
The interior is in excellent condition, excluding the front arm rest pads.
Changing it to black might be ok after all!

Food for thought...
This info has been very helpful.
Much appreciated guys

Last edited by Ces; Jul 10, 2014 at 03:22 AM.
Old Jul 10, 2014 | 10:59 AM
  #8  
GAOldsman's Avatar
"Car"mudgeon
 
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,191
From: Perry, GA
Very nice. Just to add further the Chebby inline 6 was discontinued for '72 so V8 was a given. However for the A body line up one could get a 350 2 bbl, 350 4 bbl or 455 4bbl. And as "K" was indicated in the VIN, yours was born with the higher compression 350 4 bbl.
Old Jul 10, 2014 | 11:00 AM
  #9  
chrisneu68olds's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 639
From: N. Central Texas
Thumbs up

Got the same thing.
Attached Images
File Type: png
72.png (52.4 KB, 39 views)
Old Jul 10, 2014 | 11:37 AM
  #10  
Ces's Avatar
Ces
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 180
From: East Oakland, Ca.
oh cool! Some website also decoded K to designate single exhaust...
Old Jul 10, 2014 | 12:42 PM
  #11  
chrisneu68olds's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 639
From: N. Central Texas
Originally Posted by Ces
oh cool! Some website also decoded K to designate single exhaust...
Oh you mean the K in the VIN, I only do cowl tags. I was thinking...K? What K??

Oh THAT K...
Old Jul 10, 2014 | 12:47 PM
  #12  
Ces's Avatar
Ces
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 180
From: East Oakland, Ca.
That tag decoder is awesome! I'll be sure to use it and to tell people about it too.
Good stuff
And yeah, lol. I failed to designate what K...

Last edited by Ces; Jul 10, 2014 at 12:58 PM.
Old Jul 10, 2014 | 12:50 PM
  #13  
chrisneu68olds's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 639
From: N. Central Texas
Originally Posted by Ces
That tag decoder is awesome! I'll be sure to use it and to people about it too.
Good stuff
And yeah, lol. I failed to designate what K...
Nah, the K is on me, I read VIN and skip over it. LOL!

Thanks about the decoder. I am still in Beta and working on making prettier pages in the near future. I am hoping that it will be useful.
Old Jul 10, 2014 | 01:07 PM
  #14  
GAOldsman's Avatar
"Car"mudgeon
 
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,191
From: Perry, GA
Originally Posted by Ces
oh cool! Some website also decoded K to designate single exhaust...
Yes "K" as the fifth digit in the VIN is the standard 4 bbl 350 engine with single exhaust and "M" in the fifth digit of the VIN designates 350 4 bbl & N10 dual exhaust.
Old Jul 16, 2014 | 11:35 PM
  #15  
Ces's Avatar
Ces
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 180
From: East Oakland, Ca.
Originally Posted by GAOldsman
Yes "K" as the fifth digit in the VIN is the standard 4 bbl 350 engine with single exhaust and "M" in the fifth digit of the VIN designates 350 4 bbl & N10 dual exhaust.
Yes, got it. thanks !
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
scott_442
General Questions
3
May 28, 2015 05:35 PM
p518
General Discussion
13
Oct 7, 2014 11:16 AM
NorCalAndy
Cutlass
3
Feb 24, 2009 06:43 PM
TX-SX
Interior/Upholstery
10
Aug 15, 2008 11:28 AM
DesertToro
Toronado
1
Jan 16, 2007 07:10 PM




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 09:36 AM.