1968 Chevelle Warranty Card Protect-O-Plate

 

1964

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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 "1968 Chevrolet 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 warranty period jumped from 24 months or 24,000 miles to 5 years or 50,000 miles is for the 1968 model year.

 

The Protect-O-Plate is located inside the inside rear cover of the warranty booklet. The original stamping is a mirrored stamping, this example is 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 Fremont, CA. P-O-P mirrored for easy reading.

 

 

Line 1
* The letter "E" in this example is the interior trim code for black seats.
* The code "GG" in this example is the exterior paint code for Ash Gold.
* The complete VIN for the car.
* The "R" is for the carburetor type and in this example it is an "R" for a Rochester carburetor

 

Line 2:
* Engine identification showing the engine plant code ("T" in this example for the Tonawanda 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 Tonawanda engine plant on November 30  (1967) and it's a 396cid 350hp engine with manual transmission.

* The rear end ratio, date, and rear end assembly plant. in this example "CD" is a Positraction 3.07:1 gear ratio, 1128 is the assembly date of November 28 (1967) and "B" is for the Buffalo, NY. axle plant.

* The letter "D" in this example is the build month of the car, December 1967.

 

Line 3:
* The P8S30HL decodes to a Muncie-built 4-speed manual transmission for the 1968 model year assembled on November 30 (1967). The "HL" is unknown and the Fremont plant is known for being a bit odd at times on their Protect-O-Plate stamping information.
* The number "3" in the third position indicates the car was optioned with RPO U63 push button AM radio; the number "1" in the fifth position indicates the car was optioned with RPO C60 air conditioning.
* 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.