1964 Chevelle Vehicle Identification Number Plate
1964 VIN Breakdown
Do not confuse the Vehicle Identification Number plate information with that found on the Fisher Body Number plate (trim tag). The series depiction on the VIN plate does NOT have the meaning as the Fisher Body Number plate.
The Vehicle Identification Number plate (VIN) has similar information to the trim tag such as the model, year, and assembly plant. One difference is the last six numbers relating to the assembly plant sequence as opposed to the trim tag's Fisher Body sequence and the series will designate a 6-cyl (odd third digit) or V8 (even third digit) on the VIN plate where the 3rd digit on the trim tag does not.
A typical 1964 Chevelle VIN might read: 45635 K 183855 being a Malibu V8 2-seat, 4-door station wagon assembled in Kansas City, MO.; DD was initially to be used for "Delivery Date" but few were stamped. The VIN plate was spot welded to the A-pillar on the driver side.
First Digit: Manufacturer Year
4 - 1964
Second and Third digit: Series Designation
53 - Chevelle 300, El Camino, 6-cylinder
54 - Chevelle 300, El Camino, 8-cylinder
55 - Malibu, Deluxe El Camino, 6-cylinder
56 - Malibu, Deluxe El Camino, 8-cylinder
Fourth and Fifth Digit: Body Style/Model
80 - 2-door sedan pickup
Sixth Character: Final Assembly Plant
B ~ Baltimore, Maryland
K ~ Kansas City, Missouri
L ~ Van Nuys, California
Seventh through Twelfth Digits: Sequential Production
Number
The sequential starting number
for the 1964 Chevelle was 100001 at all Chevelle assembly plants. Each
assembly plant sequenced Chevelles of all series/models without regard
to specific series/models. For example, if a series 45680 sedan pickup
followed a 45667 Malibu convertible, the sequence number would be one
unit higher for the wagon. It's also entirely possible to have the same
sequence number from all five 1964 U.S. assembly plants with the only
difference between the VINs being the plant code.
Production at the Kansas City plant exceeded 100,000 units sometime in mid to late June so the VIN sequence from that time frame to the end of production would be 2nnnnn for the Kansas City plant.
VIN plate location
Although this photo is a 1967 Chevelle, this is the location for 1964 through 1967 VIN plates; 1964 VIN plates were spot welded where 1965 through 1967 VIN plates used special rivets.
