Hello all-
Can anyone point me to a reference where I can find out how to decode all the references on my 69 442 cowl tag. It has more numbers on it than the shop manual shows, and I would like to know what they mean. It is a low option 4speed car with drum brakes. Looking to post it for sale to concentrate on my custom '57 88. Needs a lot of work, but worth saving. Thanks!

 

Here ya go 1969 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 (30mb) PDF file from Gm Heritage Center it will have most of what you seek. I will decode it for you to save some research

69 = 1969
344 = 442 Model
87 = 2 door hardtop fastback coupe
BF = Fremont, CA Assembly Plant
04096 = Fisher Body Unit Number
930 = Black in color interior with Strato Bucket seats
B80 = Exterior Drip Scalp Molding
40 = Saffron exterior lower body color
B = Black Vinyl Roof Covering
06E = 5th week (E) of June (06) 1969 begin week of assembly at Fisher Body Assembly Plant

The last series of numbers refer to the build sequence and will be noted on certain boxes of the build sheet which may still be in the car somewhere being a Fremont build

 

GA Oldsman - Thank you so much for the GM Heritage Center reference information, it is just what I was looking for. Also, thank you for decoding it for me. Where is the most likely hiding place for the build sheet from the Fremont plant?

 

There are lots of places where you might find a build sheet: above the gas tank, inside a door panel or inside of either back seat panel, under the carpet, under the dash, behind the plastic bucket seat panel. You are lucky it's a Fremont car - your odds are higher of finding something. You wouldn't find a thing if it was a Lansing car!

Randy C.

 

489994 and 250185 are strong indicators that this car was customer ordered (and/or may include special order changes). I've only seen these number sequences on cars with corresponding build sheets and those numbers match up as Scot mentioned in the build sheets. You won't find a lot of cars with these numbers. Google Oldsmobile Cowl tags and you'll see what I mean. (1968 and newer) Prior to 68 there were other codes on the cowl tag (columns 1-5) that specified options by letter codes.

 

amesolds, the information in the packets from the GM Heritage contain mostly partial documents. The rest of that partial information from the GMHC package (and much more) is available in *clean* downloadable PDF format free of charge on Wild About Cars.
Wild About Cars. http://wildaboutcars.com. An information supersource, especially Oldsmobile. More Olds content than anywhere else on the internet and continuing to grow.
You'll find Chassis Service Manuals, Product Information Manuals (AKA Assembly Manuals), Inspector's Manuals, and other documents that will contain this and much much more.
Dealer Brochures, magazine ads and articles, and the Automotive History Preservation Society library growing daily.
Free to join, free to learn.

 

You are quite welcome brother As mentioned above from Randy C. those are the most common places to find them if they are there and sometimes you will find multiple sheets but with this one being a low optioned one chances are that there is just one.