1966 El Camino Vehicle Identification Number Plate
1966 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).
A typical 1966 El Camino VIN might read: 136806K1158449 being a Malibu series Custom El Camino 2-door sedan pickup assembled in Kansas City, MO..; DD was initially to be used by dealers for "Delivery Date" but few were stamped. Why more were not stamped is simply speculation. Maybe dealers simply opted to not stamp it since the dealer paperwork would show delivery date or maybe they found their new car prep personnel were stamping them too hard and damaging them. Whatever the reason, few were stamped as should not be a concern. The VIN plate was riveted to the A-pillar on the driver side with unique 'rosette' rivets.
First Digit: Division of General Motors
1 - Chevrolet
Second and Third Digit: Series Designation
33 - El Camino 6-cylinder
34 - El Camino 8-cylinder
35 - Deluxe El Camino 6-cylinder
36 - Deluxe El Camino 8-cylinder
Fourth and Fifth Digit: Body Style/Model
80 - 2-door sedan pickup
Sixth Digit: Year of Production
6 - 1966
Seventh Character (Alpha Designation): Final Assembly Plant
B ~ Baltimore, Maryland
K ~ Kansas City, Missouri
Z ~ Fremont, California
Eighth through Thirteenth Digits: Sequential Production
Number
The sequential starting number
for the 1966 Chevelle was 100001 at all U.S. Chevelle assembly plants.
Each assembly plant sequenced Chevelles of all series/models without
regard to specific series/models. For example, if a series 13435 station
wagon followed a 13667 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 six 1966 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 early 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 1972 VIN plates used special rivets.
Want more information on 1966 Chevelles/El Caminos? Take a test drive of my
1966 Chevelle Reference
CD.
