1974 El Camino Vehicle Identification Number Plate
1974 VIN Breakdown
A typical 1974 El Camino VIN might read: 1AD80U4B467890 being a Custom El Camino V8 (1AD80), 400-4 engine (U), 1974 (4), assembled in Baltimore, MD. (B) and is the 67,890th 1974 model year Chevelle sequenced at the Baltimore, MD. assembly plant.
The VIN plate is located on the forward part of the dash so the VIN plate could easily been seen through the windshield of the car. The VIN plate was riveted a special bracket with unique 'rosette' rivets.
First Digit: Division of General Motors
1 - Chevrolet
Second Character: Car line and Series
C - Deluxe Model
D - Malibu Model
Third and Fourth Digit: Body Style
80 - 2-door sedan pickup
Fifth Character: Engine Type
D - L6 250 (100 H.P.)
H - V8 350 (L65 145 H.P.)
K - V8 350 (L48 185 H.P.)
L - V8 350 (LM1 160 H.P.)
R - V8 400 (LF6 150 H.P.)
U - V8 400 (LT4 180 H.P.)
Y - V8 454 (LS4 235 H.P.)
Sixth Digit: Model Year
4 - 1974
Seventh Character (Alpha or Numeric Designation): Final Assembly
Plant
B ~ Baltimore, Maryland
D ~ Atlanta, Georgia
K ~ Kansas City, Missouri
R - Arlington, Texas
Z - Fremont, California
Eighth through Thirteenth Digits: Sequential Production
Number
The sequential starting number
for 1974 was 400001 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 1AC80 El Camino followed a 1AD37
Malibu Colonnade Coupe, the sequence number would be one unit higher
for the El Camino. It's also entirely possible to have the same
sequence number from five 1974 U.S. assembly plants (Atlanta, Baltimore,
Kansas City, Arlington, and Fremont with the only difference between
the VINs being the plant code.
