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VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (VIN) The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) has much the same information as the Trim Tag such as the model, year, and assembly plant. The big change is how that data are coded differently than earlier VIN plates. A single letter (B, C, D, or H) replaces the two-digit series number, the body style retains a two-digit number, and new for 1972 is a letter (D, F, H, J, U, or W) indicating the engine installed. In previous years only the base engine type (L6 or V8) was indicated by an odd or even number. The sixth digit is the model year followed by a letter for the final assembly plant and the sequence assembly number for that plant. A typical 1972 El Camino VIN might read: 1D80H2K553525 meaning a Chevrolet (1), Malibu (D) pickup (80) with a 350-2 (H) engine and assembled in Kansas City, MO. (K). First Digit: Division of General Motors Second Character: Series Designation Third and Fourth Digit: Body Style/Model Fifth Character: Engine size/type Sixth Digit: Year of Production Seventh Digit (Alpha Designation): Final Assembly Plant Eighth through Thirteenth Digits: Sequential Production Number The sequential starting number for the 1972 El Camino was 500001 at all El Camino assembly plants. Each assembly plant sequenced Chevelles of all series/models without regard to specific series/models. For example, if a series 1D46 station wagon followed a 1D67 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 four 1972 U.S. assembly plants (five if you include Oshawa, Ontario) with the only difference between the VINs being the plant code. Production at the Arlington assembly plant exceeded 100,000 units in early June, the Baltimore plant exceeded 100,000 units in mid February, and the Kansas City plant exceeded 100,000 units sometime in late March, so the VIN sequence from those time frames to the end of production would be 6nnnnn for the Arlington, Baltimore, and Kansas City plants. |