1968 Chevelle Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

 

1964

1965

1966

1967

1968

1969

1970

1971

1972

 

1968 Chevelle VIN Breakdown

 

Do not confuse the Vehicle Identification Number plate information with that found on the Fisher Body Number Plate (aka, trim tag, cowl tag, firewall tag, etc.). The series depiction on the VIN  plate does NOT have the same meaning as the Fisher Body Number plate.

 

The VIN plate 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 3rd digit) or V8 (even 3rd digit) on the VIN plate where the 3rd digit on the trim tag does not.

 

1968 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 3rd digit) or V8 (even 3rd digit) on the VIN plate where the 3rd digit on the trim tag does not.

 

A typical 1968 Chevelle VIN might read: 138378A160163 being an SS 396 2-door sport coupe assembled in Atlanta, GA. and the 60,163rd Chevelle sequenced at the Atlanta assembly plant for 1968.

 

Beginning in 1968 the VIN plate was moved from the driver side body A-pillar to 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 to a special bracket using special 'rosette' rivets - VIN Tampering

 

First Character: Division of General Motors
1 ~ Chevrolet

 

Second and Third Character: Series Designation *
31 ~ Chevelle 300, Nomad, 6-cylinder
32 ~ Chevelle 300, Nomad, 8-cylinder
33 ~ 300 Deluxe, Nomad, 6-cylinder
34 ~ 300 Deluxe, Nomad, 8-cylinder
35 ~ Malibu, 6-cylinder
36 ~ Malibu, 8-cylinder
37 ~ Concours station wagon, 6-cylinder
38 ~ SS 396 and Concours station wagon, 8-cylinder

 

Fourth and Fifth Character: Body Style/Model
27 ~ 2-door coupe **
35 ~ 4-door station wagon, 2 seat
37 ~ 2-door sport coupe **
39 ~ 4-door sport sedan
45 ~ 4-door station wagon, 3-seat
67 ~ 2-door convertible
69 ~ 4-door sedan
80 ~ 2-door sedan pickup

 

Sixth Character: Year of Production
8 ~ 1968

Seventh Character: Final Assembly Plant
A ~ Atlanta, Georgia
B ~ Baltimore, Maryland
G ~ Framingham, Massachusetts
Z ~ Fremont, California
K ~ Kansas City, Missouri
1 ~ Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

 

Eighth through Thirteenth Characters: Sequential Production Number
The sequential starting number for the 1968 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 five 1968 U.S. assembly plants with the only difference between the VINs being the plant code.

 

Production exceeded 100,000 units for the Baltimore plant sometime in May, and the Kansas City plant sometime in April so the VIN sequence for those respective time frames to the end of production would be 2nnnnn for each plant.

 

* The El Camino is not a separate series nameplate but rather a body style in both the 300 Deluxe (33/34) and Malibu (35/36) series although it's often listed as such. The base (33/34) El Camino Deluxe is a 2-dr sedan pickup body style with 300 Deluxe trim where the (35/36) El Camino Custom is a 2-dr sedan pickup body style with Malibu trim and the (38) SS 396 El Camino is a sedan pickup body style with SS series trim. The SS 396 series Chevelles sport coupe, convertible, and pickup (13837, 13867, and 13880) were the only three models to come standard with the 396 V8 engine. The 396 V8 engine could NOT be ordered in any other series or body style other than the SS 396 sport coupe, convertible, or pickup.

 

** Note the 2-door pillar sedan model name was changed from "sedan" to "coupe" for the 1968 model year in both the 300 series and 300 Deluxe series.

 

VIN plate location

 

The VIN plate location is the same for 1968 through 1972 VIN plates, on top of the dash on the driver side; 1965 through 1972 VIN plates used special rivets.

 

 

Concealed (Hidden) Partial VIN Location

 

It's not certain that all U.S. plants stamped a partial VIN behind the heater box like this Baltimore example. Anyone with partial VIN stamps from other plants in 1968 are encouraged to write and send photo if possible.

 

 

1968 VIN Assembly Plant Codes

Letter Code	Assembly Plant	Series *
A	Atlanta, Georgia	4
B	Baltimore, Maryland	4 (2)
C	Southgate, California	1
D	Atlanta, Georgia (Doraville)	1
F	Flint, Michigan	1
G	Framingham, Massachusetts	4
J	Janesville, Wisconsin	1
K	Kansas City, Missouri	4 (2)
L	Los Angeles, California (Van Nuys)	1, 5
N	Norwood, Ohio	5
R	Arlington, Texas	1
S	St. Louis, Missouri	1, 2
T	Tarrytown, New York	1
U	Lordstown, Ohio	1
W	Willow Run, Michigan	3
Y	Wilmington, Delaware	1
Z	Fremont, California	4 (2)
1	Oshawa, Canada	1, 4
1	St. Therese, Canada	1
* 1-Passenger; 2-Corvette; 3-Chevy II; 4-Chevelle; 5-Camaro (2) Includes El Camino

1968 Chevrolet VIN Sequence Numbers

Series	Begin Sequence	Plant
Passenger	100001	All
Corvette	400001	St. Louis
Chevy II	200001	All
Chevelle	100001	All
Camaro	300001	All

 

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Want more in-depth information on 1968 Chevelles? Try my 1968 Chevelle Reference CD.

 

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