1969 El Camino Fisher Body Number Plate General Information

• Fremont is the only final assembly plant that coded the Fisher Body Number plate (aka trim tag) with the same style number as the series/model in the GM VIN.

• 1969 saw the demise of the SS396 as a separate 138xx series although the Concours Estate wagon continued with the 13836/46 series designation.

• The SS Equipment option package (RPO Z25) became an option just like a radio, air conditioning, full wheel covers, etc. The SS option was limited to the 300 Deluxe series 2-door hardtop, 2-door sedan, and Malibu series 2-door hardtop, convertible, and El Camino. Although there are theories about certain letters appearing on certain final assembly plant body number plates indicating the SS option was installed on the car, there is NO PROOF in the form of GM documentation.
  * Strong evidence, yes.
  * Proof, no.

• 
  If you would like to contribute to the ongoing research concerning 1969 Chevelle tags, please contact andrew710@aol.com with specifics about your tag - assembly plant, body date, letter codes, etc. Pictures preferred but a pencil rubbing  will work fine as well. If you have other documentation of the car being an SS optioned Chevelle, it is welcomed as well.

•  

• A popular publication states, "On all 1965 through 1971 trim tags, the engine identification portion of the model identification number always indicates a V-8 engine. No 6-cylinder engine identification numbers are stamped on any trim tag." This is an incorrect statement for not only 1965 through 1971 but includes 1972 as well. There are numerous examples of trim tags with an odd 3rd-digit style on this website.

•  

• Kansas City & Baltimore joined Oshawa (from 1968) in changing their trim tag physical size from 1 3/4" x 4" to 2 3/16" x 3 1/2" of other plants. This change also affected the text along the bottom half of the tag to be printed on 5 lines instead of 4.

•  

• Links to Fisher Body Number Plates (a.k.a., trim tag, cowl tag, firewall tag, etc.)

•  

• BAL ~ Baltimore, Maryland
  
  Click tag for more Baltimore examples...
  • Assembly month padded with leading zero where applicable
  • Various machine stamped 1 and 2 digit numbers; meaning unknown but speculation is the body assembly jig number.
  • Most non-El Camino body styles have two letters machine stamped after the body date; "B M", "B L"; some have one letter, some have no letter: meaning unknown but many suspect the "L" is indicative of an SS-optioned Chevelle. To date, all verified SS optioned cars have the letter "L" and those known to NOT be SS optioned do not have it. This is actively being researched. The letter "B" appears to only be applicable to the sport coupe model.
  • El Camino body styles normally have three letters machine stamped after the body date; "BFM" and "BFL" being the most predominate.
  • Six-digit data processing code on last line. First three digits meaning is unknown but second three digits are trim inspection sequence number found on trim card.
  • Special paint trim tags are reported to show a dash character(s) or blank area although one special paint tag has been physically seen to date by this author. Two special paint tags have been brought to our attention, both with 06D body dates as it turns out. One purported to be Monaco Orange (72) has a code of B1357 just after the body date and another purported to be Rallye Green (79) and a code of B1699. These codes are found just after the date code on the bottom line and not in the typical paint code area.
  • Early production run cars were being done along side 1968 models as early as July; one 07B body dated tag has a 1968 style body tag and a VIN sequence of under 300025.
  •  
• BF ~ Fremont, California
  
  Click tag for more Fremont examples...
  • Assembly month padded with leading zero where applicable.
  • Two sets of 6-digit data processing numbers on last line.
    •  The first set of 6-digits are from block 24 of the build sheet.
    •  The second set is actually a concatenation of two other sets - first two digits are from block 10 and last four digits are from block 24 of build sheet
  • Lists RPO Code B80 (Roof Drip Molding) where applicable on 13637 styles; Custom El Camino (13680) include the RPO code B90 (Door Window Frame Molding) as well.
  • Special paint trim tags show a dash character(s).
  •  
• KAN ~ Kansas City, Missouri
  
  Click tag for more Kansas city Examples...
  • Assembly month padded with leading zero where applicable.
  • Very early tag (09A) differs from 09C and later tags.
  • Five digit number follows body assembly date; meaning unknown.
  • The letter "L" appears on many tags. "X" or "Z" also appear on 300 Deluxe models. Speculation is this "L" indicates an SS-optioned El Camino but no proof to date this is true. It does appear on every Monaco Orange and Daytona Yellow painted cars and those two colors were only available as color choices on SS-optioned El Caminos. This is actively being researched. There is one Kansas City sport coupe tag (01E) of a non-SS Malibu with this "L." One reader says he has a 69 SS from Kansas City without the "L" but no photographic proof was offered. There is one I have that is a verified SS and the trim tag does NOT have this letter "L". Whether these are anomalies or proof the "L" does not mean an SS-optioned Chevelle, I'll leave up to the reader.
  • Special paint trim tags show a dash character(s).