Before 1969, Fisher Body was actually a separate division from Chevrolet. Even though the two divisions were often under one roof, they were separate operations. When orders would come in from a dealer, the order data was programmed into computers and the computers would then create either a BODY BROADCAST COPY, CHASSIS BROADCAST COPY, or what we commonly call a "build sheet" with the pertinent data to assemble the car. In 1969 the two divisions "merged" into one entity, the General Motors Assembly Division, or GMAD and policies and procedures changed to a centralized tracking system.

The Fremont, CA. plant and the Framingham, MA. plant were the only two plants known to use a single document, commonly called a "build sheet' where other plants would break up the assembly information into a BODY BROADCAST COPY for Fisher Body and a CHASSIS BROADCAST COPY for the final assembly side of the plant. Each division had its own "need-to-know" information about the car.

Sample 1967 Fremont "build sheet"

The BODY BROADCAST COPY sheet used by Fisher Body has information on such things as which instrument cluster to use, seat type, body color(s), etc.

The CHASSIS BROADCAST COPY sheet has information on chassis, brakes, engine, etc.

Fisher Body built the main body of the car from the firewall to the tail lamps. Based on the particular body style (2-door sedan, 4-door sedan, 2-door sport coupe, etc.) and the series (300, 300 Deluxe, Malibu, etc.) a body number was assigned to the car and stamped onto the Fisher Body Number Plate, commonly called a "trim tag," "cowl tag," "firewall tag," etc. The approximate date (month and week), the style number, the interior trim color & type to be used, exterior paint color, and other pertinent data the plant deemed necessary was stamped on the Fisher Body Number Plate which was then affixed to the firewall during assembly. The Fisher Body side of the plant would assign a body number based on the particular series and body style with each combination having their own numbering schema. For example, a Malibu sport coupe built just ahead (or behind), say, a 300 Deluxe 4-door sedan would probably get a much larger body number since more Malibu sport coupes would have been built than 300 Deluxe 4-door sedans at that point in time.

It needs to be pointed out here that only Fremont and Framingham in the U.S., and Oshawa in Canada, would distinguish between a V8 car and a 6-cylinder car with the style number. Meaning, for example, a 6-cylinder Malibu sport coupe would have a style number of 5537 where a V8 Malibu sport coupe would have a style number of 5637 and (at least in the U.S.) the body numbers were unique to a 6-cylinder Malibu vs. a V8 Malibu. Other U.S. plants only used a "V8" version of the style number regardless of the engine type.

Here are two Fremont, CA. Fisher Body Number Plates from 1964; both with body dates of 10D and notice the 5537 (6-cylinder car) has a body number of just 77 where the 5637 (8-cylinder car) has body number of 625.

Here are two Fremont, CA. Fisher Body Number Plates from 1967; both with body dates of 01C and notice the 13517 (6-cylinder car) has a body number of 00515 where the 13617 (8-cylinder car) has body number 08480. Interesting to note too the 13517 Malibu sport coupe sequence number is 864 units later than the 13617 Malibu sport coupe.

 Many of these plants also built other GM A-body cars like the Buick, Oldsmobile, and/or Pontiacs.

Meanwhile the other GM division was busy building the chassis and running gear along with the appropriate front end sheet metal (hood, fenders, etc.) for the car. Shown here is the Fremont, CA. assembly plant with the "marriage" of the body and completed chassis.  Note there is a white Oldsmobile just ahead of the green Buick and, what appears to be a Pontiac engine/chassis assembly in the foreground. Plants often built more than one GM division make.

The Fremont, CA. assembly plant is shown here with Oldsmobile, Buick, Chevelle, and Pontiac cars waiting final inspection.