1966 Chevelle Warranty Card Protect-O-Plate

 

1964

1965

1966

1967

1968

1969

1970

1971

1972

 

Decode your Protect-O-Plate Warranty card.

 

 

The Protect-O-Plate (P-O-P) was designed to be used by Chevrolet dealers to identify the owner and the vehicle.  The owner's name, address and the vehicle's delivery date was embossed on a special tape affixed to the plate.

 

The P-O-P was glued to the inside rear cover of the "Chevrolet 1966 Owner Protection Plan and New Vehicle Warranty" booklet. When warranty service was performed on a customer's car the P-O-P was stamped on the work order.

 

The P-O-P was never meant to be used as documentation the way enthusiasts today use the card. Then again, the body broadcast sheets, trim build sheets, etc. weren't meant to be used either and were more often than not  discarded at the assembly plant. Likewise, the P-O-P was usually discarded when the vehicle went out of warranty or when the car was sold as warranties usually did not go to the new owner.

 

Today, the P-O-P is one of the best pieces of documentation you can have as it not only identifies the VIN but also the correct engine ID code and date of the engine, the correct transmission number and date along with the rear end gear ratio and date. Some options were also coded on the P-O-P such as power steering, power brakes, radio, air conditioning, etc.

 

The  Protect-O-Plate is located inside the inside rear cover of the warranty booklet. The original stamping is a mirrored stamping, this example from the Fremont, CA. assembly plant.

 

Beware of reproduction (fake) Protect-O-Plates, they can make a put-together Chevelle appear to be authentic. Sellers will even put your name on authentic-looking GM tape. Apparently it's not illegal but any fake documentation is misleading to a potential buyer and, to many Chevelle owners, unethical as well.

 

This is the above Baltimore, MD.  P-O-P mirrored for easy reading.

 

 

Line 1:
* The letter "B" in this example is the interior trim code for blue seats.
* The letters "EE" in this example is the exterior paint code for Danube Blue.
* The complete VIN for the car.
* The "B" is for the carburetor type and in this example it is a "B" for a Bay City carburetor.

 

Line 2:
* Engine identification showing the engine plant code ("F" in this example for the Flint engine plant), a 4-digit number for the day and month of the engine assembly, and a two-letter suffix code identifying the engine size/hp and transmission type. in this example the engine was assembled at the Flint engine plant on November 26 (1965) and it's a 230cid engine with manual transmission.

* The rear end ratio, date, and rear end assembly plant. in this example "CA" is a 3.08:1 gear ratio, 1126 is the assembly date of November 26 (1965) and "B" is for the Buffalo, NY axle plant.

* The letter "C" in this example is the build month of the car, December 1965.

 

Line3:

* The C1115 decodes to a Cleveland-built Powerglide with a build date of November 15 (1965).
* Note the absence of any option codes under the rear axle information indicating this car was ordered 'bare-bone' with no power steering, no power brakes, etc.
* The bowtie emblem indicates this is a Chevrolet plate.

 

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Want more in-depth information on 1964-1972 Chevelles? My Facts and SS Guide program CD, my Shop Manuals & Parts Catalog program DVD, and my 1964-1972 Trim Tag and Warranty Card program CD. Check them and other informative program CDs at my https://chevellecd.net website.