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The Chevelle Series/Model Lineup

It is often asked, "Is my Chevelle a Malibu?" Well, that depends. This page will explain the differences between the various series and models in the Chevrolet Chevelle lineup of cars. This explanation only applies to the 1964 through 1972 model years. Later years added, deleted, and changed the lineup of Chevrolets available.

Let's begin by clarifying a few terms for standardization and use the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) as a reference source before we answer the question.

* Division - General Motors had separate divisions for Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, and GMC. Chevrolet is division #1, Pontiac is division #2, Oldsmobile is division #3, Buick is division #4, GMC is division #5, and Cadillac is division #6. This division number is the 1st digit of the VIN with the following exceptions:
1964 - the model year was the 1st digit of the VIN
1965 - the model year is the 1st digit of the VIN for Canada only
1966 - the model year is the 1st digit of the VIN for Canada only

* Series - Each division has its own series of cars. Chevrolet has the full size car, Chevelle, Camaro, Chevy II/Nova, and Corvette. Within each general series there are sub-series (for lack of a better term right now). Each division has its entry level offering and several upscale offerings (not options, but separate series).

From this point on, only Chevrolet division and the Chevelle series are described. Depending on the model year, the series names and engine type availability changed as some series were phased in and out. Series names are listed for each year below.

The major series designation for Chevrolet division (2nd digit of the VIN) are #1 for Chevy II/Nova, #2 for Camaro, #3 for Chevelle, #5 for Biscayne/Bel Air (full size), #6 for Impala/Caprice (full size) and #9 for Corvette.

Beginning in 1972, the format of the VIN was changed from a 2-digit number to a single letter for the series.

The sub-series and engine type designation (3rd digit of the VIN, pre 1972) identify the sub-series offering and base engine type. For the Chevelle, again depending on the model year, this could be a 300, 300 Deluxe, Malibu, SS396, etc. For Chevelles, the 3rd digit also signifies the base engine type (L6 or V8) for a given series. If the 3rd digit is an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7), the base engine was the L6; if the 3rd digit is an even number (2, 4, 6, 8), the base engine was a V8.

In 1972 the 3rd and 4th digits of the VIN identify the model or body style as indicated below.

* Model or Body Style (hereafter simply identified as the Model) - Depending on the year, the model name and availability changed as some models were phased in and out due to demand and/or progress. The specific model comprise the 4th and 5th digit of the VIN such as #11 for a 2-door sedan, #17 or #37 for a 2-door sport coupe, #67 for a 2-door convertible, or #80 for a 2-door sedan pickup (El Camino).

* Production Year - With the exception of the 1964 Chevelles and the Canadian-built 1965 and 1966 Chevelles, the production year is the 6th character in the VIN.  See individual years of 1964, 1965, and 1966 for their specific differences.

* Engine type-size - From 1964 through 1971 the base engine type (L6 vs. V8) was identified by the 3rd digits of the VIN being an odd number or an even number as described above. Beginning in 1972, not only the engine type but the engine size and carburetor type (2bbl or 4bbl) was coded on the VIN as a letter in the 5th character position. Note this ONLY applies to the VIN and does not apply the Fisher Body plate on the firewall.

The following lists will show the model year followed by the various series, and finally the model availability within each series.  Again, the numbers refer to the VIN and NOT the Fisher Body Number plate.

1964:

(1) Series - Chevelle 300/El Camino (53/54)
(1) Model - 2-door sedan (11), 2-door/2-seat wagon (15), 4-door/3-seat wagon, (35), 4-door sedan (69), 2-door sedan pickup (80).
Sample: 45411 designates a 1964 (4) Chevelle 300 V8 (54) 2-door sedan (11).

(2) Series - Malibu/Deluxe El Camino (55/56)
(2) Model - 4-door/2 seat wagon (35), 2-door sport coupe (37), 4-door/3-seat wagon (45), convertible (67), 4-door sedan (69), 2-door sedan pickup (80).
Sample: 45580 designates a 1964 (4), Malibu L6 (55), 2-door sedan pickup (80).

(3) Series - Malibu SS (57/58)
(3) Model - 2-door sport coupe (37), convertible (67)
Sample: 45867 designates a 1964 (4), Malibu SS V8 (58), convertible (67).

1965:

(1) Series - Chevelle 300 (31/32)
(1) Model - 2-door sedan (11), 2-door/2-seat wagon (15), 4-door sedan (69)
Sample - 13115 designates a Chevrolet (1) Chevelle 300 L6 (31) 2-door/2-seat wagon (15).

(2) Series - Chevelle 300 Deluxe/El Camino (33/34)
(2) Model - 2-door sedan (11), 4-door/2-seat wagon, (15), 4-door sedan (69), 2-door sedan pickup (80)
Sample - 13480 designates a Chevrolet (1) Chevelle 300 Deluxe V8 (34) 2-door sedan pickup (80).

(3) Series - Malibu/Deluxe El Camino (35/36)
(3) Model - 4-door/3-seat wagon, (35), 2-door sport coupe (37), convertible (67), 4-door sedan (69), 2-door sedan pickup (80)
Sample - 13637 designates a Chevrolet (1) Malibu V8 (36) 2-door sport coupe (37).

(4) Series - Malibu SS (37/38)
(4) Model - 2-door sport coupe (37), convertible (67)
Sample - 13737 designates a Chevrolet (1) Malibu SS L6 (37) 2-door sport coupe (37).

The 6th digit is the production year (5).

Note: Canadian-built 1965 Chevelles combined the VIN properties of the 1964 Chevelle and U.S.-built 1965 Chevelles. That is, the 1st digit is the year (5), 2nd digit is the division (1), 3rd & 4th digits are the series, and the 5th & 6th digits are the model. Example, a Canadian-built Malibu V8 convertible will have the VIN of 513667 where the U.S.-built Malibu V8 will have the VIN of 136675.

1966:

(1) Series - Chevelle 300 (31/32)
(1) Model - 2-door sedan (11), 4-door sedan (69)
Sample - 13211 designates a Chevrolet (1) Chevelle 300 V8 (32) 2-door sedan (11).

(2) Series - Chevelle 300 Deluxe/El Camino (33/34)
(2) Model - 2-door sedan (11), 4-door wagon (35), 4-door sedan (69), 2-door sedan pickup (80)
Sample - 13435 designates a Chevrolet (1) Chevelle 300 Deluxe V8 (34) 4-door wagon (35).

(3) Series - Malibu/Deluxe El Camino (35/36)
(3) Model - 2-door sport coupe (17), 4-door wagon (35), 4-door sport sedan (39), convertible (67), 4-door sedan (69), 2-door sedan pickup (80)
Sample - 13617 designates a Chevrolet (1) Malibu V8 (36) 2-door sport coupe (17).

(4) Series - SS396 (38) (Note there is no odd series, i.e., 37, as the SS396 was only offered with a V8 engine.)
(4) Model - 2-door sport coupe (17), convertible (67)
Sample - 13817 designates a Chevrolet (1) SS396 (38) 2-door sport coupe (17).

The 6th digit is the production year (6).

Note: Canadian-built 1966 Chevelle VIN is the same format as the 1965 Canadian-built Chevelle VIN. That is, the 1st digit is the year (6), 2nd digit is the division (1), 3rd & 4th digits are the series, and the 5th & 6th digits are the model. Example, a Canadian-built Malibu V8 convertible will have the VIN of 613667 where the U.S.-built Malibu V8 will have the VIN of 136676.

1967:

(1) Series - Chevelle 300 (31/32)
(1) Model - 2-door sedan (11), 4-door sedan (69)
Sample - 13169 designates a Chevrolet (1) Chevelle 300 L6 (31) 4-door sedan (69).

(2) Series - Chevelle 300 Deluxe/El Camino (33/34)
(2) Model - 2-door sedan (11), 4-door wagon (35), 4-door sedan (69), 2-door sedan pickup (80)
Sample - 13480 designates a Chevrolet (1) Chevelle 300 Deluxe V8 (34) 2-door sedan pickup (80)

(3) Series - Malibu/Custom El Camino (35/36)
(3) Model - 2-door sport coupe (17), 4-door wagon (35), 4-door sport sedan (39), convertible (67), 4-door sedan (69), 2-door sedan pickup (80)
Sample - 13617 designates a Chevrolet (1) Malibu V8 (36) 2-door sport coupe (17).

(4) Series - Concours (37/38)*
(4) Model - 4-door wagon (35)
Sample: 13835 designates a Chevrolet (1) Concours V8 (38) 4-door wagon (35).

(5) Series - SS396 (38)* (Note there is no odd series, i.e., 37, as the SS396 was only offered with a V8 engine.)
(5) Model - 2-door sport coupe (17), convertible (67)
Sample - 13817 designates a Chevrolet (1) SS396 (38) 2-door sport coupe (17).

* Note the 13800 series could be either a Concours wagon or SS396 so one must look to the body style to determine.

The 6th digit is the production year (7).

1968:

(1) Series - Chevelle 300/Nomad (31/32)
(2) Model - 2-door sedan (27), 4-door/2-seat wagon (35)
Sample - 13235 designates a Chevrolet (1) Nomad V8 (32) 4-door/2-seat wagon (35).

(2) Series - Chevelle 300 Deluxe/Nomad Custom/El Camino (33/34)
(2) Model - 2-door sedan (27), 4-door/2-seat wagon (35), 2-door coupe (37), 4-door sedan (39), 4-door/3-seat wagon (45 - V8 only), 2-door sedan pickup (80)
Sample - 13437 designates a Chevrolet (1) Chevelle 300 Deluxe (34) 2-door coupe (37).

(3) Series - Malibu/Custom El Camino (35/36)
(3) Model - 4-door/2-seat wagon (35), 2-door sport coupe (37), 4-door sedan (39), 4-door/3-seat wagon (45), convertible (67), 4-door sedan (69), 2-door sedan pickup (80)
Sample - 13645 designates a Chevrolet (1) Malibu V8 (36) 4-door/3-seat wagon (45).

(4) Series - Concours/SS396 (37/38)*
(4) Model - 4-door/2-seat wagon (35), 2-door sport coupe (37), 4-door/3-seat wagon (45), convertible (67), 2-door sedan pickup (80)
Sample - 13880 designates a Chevrolet (1) SS396 (38) 2-door sedan pickup (80).
Notes: This is the last year the SS396 was a separate series. Beginning in 1969, the SS became an option on the 300 Deluxe (1969 only) and Malibu series (1969-1972 only) and an SS-optioned Chevelle could no longer be determined by the VIN. Nineteen-sixty eight is also the FIRST year of the SS396 El Camino and ONLY year the SS396 El Camino could be identified by the VIN.

* Note the 13800 series could be either a Concours wagon or SS396 so one must look to the body style to determine.

The 6th digit is the production year (8).

1969:

(1) Series - Nomad (31/32)
(1) Model - 4-door/2-seat wagon w/conventional tail gate (35), 4-door/3-seat wagon w/dual tail gate (36)
Sample - 13236 designates a Chevrolet (1) Nomad V8 (32) 4-door/3-seat wagon w/dual tail gate (36)

(2) Series - Chevelle 300 Deluxe/Greenbrier/El Camino (33/34)
(2) Model - 2-door sedan (27), 4-door/2-seat wagon w/conventional tailgate (35), 4-door/2-seat wagon (36), 2-door coupe (37), 4-door/3-seat wagon (46 - V8 only), 2-door sedan pickup (80)
Sample - 13337 designates a Chevrolet (1) 300 Deluxe L6 (33) 2-door coupe (37).
Note: The Chevelle 300 named was dropped as the entry level for Chevelles but kept the entry level trim for Nomad series station wagon.

(3) Series - Malibu/Concours/Custom El Camino (35/36)
(3) Models - 4-door wagon [Malibu] (36), 2-door sport coupe (37), 4-door sedan (39), 4-door wagon [Concours] (46), convertible (67), 2-door sedan pickup (80)
Sample - 13667 designates a Chevrolet (1) Malibu V8 (36) convertible (67).
Notes: 1969 was the only year the SS396 option was available on anything other than the 2-door sport coupe (37), convertible (67) or 2-door sedan pickup (80); availability was extended to both the 300 Deluxe 2-door sedan (13427) and the 300 Deluxe 2-door coupe (13437).

The 6th digit is the production year (9).

1970:

(1) Series - Nomad (31/32)
(1) Model - 4-door wagon (36)
Sample - 13236 designates a Chevrolet (1) Nomad V8 (32) 4-door wagon (36).

(2) Series - Chevelle Standard/Greenbrier/El Camino (33/34)
(2) Models - 4-door wagon (36), 2-door sport coupe (37), 4-door wagon (46), 4-door sedan (69), 2-door sedan pickup (80).
Sample - 13369 designates a Chevrolet (1) Chevelle Standard L6 (33) 4-door sedan (69).
Notes: 1970 dropped the 300 Deluxe series name in favor of simply Chevelle Standard.

(3) Series - Malibu/Concours/Custom El Camino (35/36)
(3) Models - 4-door wagon (36), 2-door sport coupe (37), 4-door sport sedan (39), 4-door wagon (46 - V8 only), convertible (67), 4-door sedan (69), 2-door sedan pickup (80)
Sample - 13637 designates a Chevrolet (1) Malibu V8 (36) 2-door sport coupe (37).

(4) Series - Concours Estate/Monte Carlo (38)
(4) Model - 4-door/2-seat wagon (36), 4-door/3-seat wagon (46), 2-door coupe (57)
Sample - 13846 designates a Chevrolet (1) Concours Estate (38) 4-door/3-seat wagon (46).
Notes: The Monte Carlo carries the same series designation as the Chevelle (38). The models in this series were available only with a V8 engine, hence there is no series designation number of 37. The Monte Carlo is not considered a true "Chevelle" by many but since the series designation is the same it is included here for that purpose.

The 6th digit is the production year (0).

1971:

(1) Series - Nomad (31/32)
(1) Model - 4-door wagon (36)
Sample - 13236 designates a Chevrolet (1) Nomad V8 (32) 4-door wagon (36).

(2) Series - Chevelle/Greenbrier/El Camino (33/34)
(2) Model - 2-door coupe (37), 4-door/2-seat wagon (36), 4-door/3-seat wagon (46), 4-door sedan (69), 2-door sedan pickup (80)
Sample - 13337 designates a Chevrolet (1) Chevelle L6 (33) 2-door coupe (37).
Note: 1971 dropped the Chevelle Standard series name in favor of simply Chevelle.

(3) Series - Malibu/Concours/El Camino (35/36)
(3) Model - 4-door/2-seat wagon (36), 2-door sport coupe (37), 4-door sport sedan (39), 4-door/3-seat wagon (46), convertible (67), 4-door sedan (69), 2-door sedan pickup (80)
Sample - 13680 designates a Chevrolet (1) Malibu V8 (36) 2-door sedan pickup (80)

(4) Series - Concours Estate/Monte Carlo (38)
(4) Model - 4-door/2-seat wagon (36), 4-door/3-seat wagon (46), 2-door coupe (57)
Sample - 13857 designates a Chevrolet (1) Monte Carlo (38) 2-door coupe (57).

The 6th digit is the production year (1).

1972:

Here things get a little tricky. As noted earlier on the page 1972 saw the introduction of not just the base engine type (L6 vs. V8) but a code letter designating the particular engine installed. To help accommodate this change and keep the VIN the same length the series designation was changed from a 2-digit number to a 1-character letter as well.

The entry level series (31/32) became the letter "B"; second level (33/34) became the letter "C"; third level (35/36) became the letter "D"; and the top level (38) became the letter "H".

Six engines were available, 1 6-cylinder and 5-V8s. Since there was only one available 6-cyl engine (250cid), all 6-cylinder Chevelles received the engine code letter "D".  The 5 available V8 engines received the following letter designations: "F" for the 307-2bbl, "H" for the 350-2bbl, "J" for the 350-4bbl, "U" for the 402-4bbl and "W" for the 454-4bbl.

(1) Series - Nomad (B)
(1) Model - 4-door wagon (36/37)
Sample - 1B37D designates a Chevrolet (1) Nomad (B) 4-door wagon (37) and 6-cylinder engine (D).

(2) Series - Chevelle/Greenbrier/El Camino (C)
(2) Model - 4-door/2-seat wagon (36), 2-door coupe (37), 4-door/3-seat wagon (46), 4-door sedan (69), 2-door sedan pickup (80)
Sample - 1C36H designates a Chevrolet (1) Greenbrier (C) 4-door/2-seat wagon (36) with a 350-2bbl engine (H).

(3) Series - Malibu/Concours/Custom El Camino (D)
(3) Model - 4-door/2-seat wagon (36), 2-door sport coupe (37), 4-door sport sedan (39), 4-door/3-seat wagon (46), convertible (67), 4-door sedan (69), 2-door sedan pickup (80)
Sample - 1D37U designates a Chevrolet (1) Malibu (D) 2-door sport coupe (37) with a 402-4bbl engine (U).

(4) Series - Concours Estate/Monte Carlo (H)
(4) Model - 4-door/2-seat wagon (36), 4-door/3-seat wagon (46), 2-door coupe (57)
Sample - 1H46J designates a Chevrolet (1) Concours Estate (H) 4-door/3-seat wagon (46) with a 350-4bbl engine (J).

The 6th digit is the production year (2).

So the question remains, "Is my Chevelle a Malibu?" Yes if in the VIN (not the trim tag) the correct digits or letter appear in the appropriate Series section for that year. If the series number does not match the Malibu sections above, then your Chevelle is some other series; be it Nomad, Greenbrier, El Camino, 300 Deluxe, Concours, etc.

Here's where you'll see the old adage that "...all Malibus are Chevelles but not all Chevelles are Malibus."

Chevelle Family Tree ~ 06/05/2009