* 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 (Impala, Caprice, Bel Air, Biscayne, etc.), Chevelle (300, 300 Deluxe, Malibu, SS396, etc.), Camaro, Chevy II/Nova, and Corvette. Within each general series there are sub-series (for lack of a better term right now such as 300 Deluxe, Malibu, etc. in Chevelles). 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 with their GM VIN variation shown in parentheses such as (35/36) where the odd number is equipped with a 6-cylinder engine and the even number a V8 engine.

The major series designation for Chevrolet division (2nd digit of the VIN for 1965 through 1971) 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. Any VIN beginning with "11" is a Chevy II/Nova, "12" a Camaro, "13" a Chevelle, "15" a full size Biscayne/Bel Air, or "16" for a full size Impala/Caprice.

Beginning in 1972, the format of the VIN was changed from a 2-digit number to a single letter for the series and sub-series. For example a "36" series Malibu was changed to the letter "D" so instead of a "136" VIN designation, the same Malibu would be "1D." It should be noted that Fisher Body continued the "136" style number on the trim tag for 1972. Fisher Body would not change the trim tag style designation until the 1973 model year.

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 (131, 133, 135, or 137), the base engine was the L6; if the 3rd digit is an even number (132, 134, 136, or 138), 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, #27 for a 2-door coupe, #67 for a 2-door convertible, or #80 for a 2-door sedan pickup (El Camino), etc.

For 1968 & 1969 a new #27 series was designated as a coupe while the #37 series remained a sport coupe and the #11 series sedan was dropped for 1968. The #27 series still retained the "B" pillar like the earlier #11 sedan and some references may show the #27 series as sedan due to the "B" pillar but this is not the correct terminology according to Chevrolet.

* 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 digit 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 with the two 350cid V8s) 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.

The Model Usage images come straight from Chevrolet's own documentation. If you don't believe what Chevrolet says about its model usage lineup, then you are beyond help.

1964:

1965:

1966:

1967:

1968:

1969:

1970:

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 - sport 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) sport coupe (37).
Note: 1971 dropped the Chevelle Standard series name in favor of simply Chevelle.

(3) Series - Malibu/Concours/El Camino (Custom) (35/36)
(3) Model - 4-door/2-seat wagon (36), 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)

Since the Z25 SS396 option was dropped in favor of a single Z15 SS option, there is nothing in the VIN of a Malibu sport coupe, convertible, or pickup to indicate the SS option was ordered.  Additionally, the SS equipment option could be ordered with any optional engine and transmission meaning one of 4 engines could be ordered with the SS equipment option; the 350-2, the 350-4, the 402-4 and the 454-4 engine.  To muddy things even further, the 350-2, 350-4 and 402-4 engines could be ordered without the SS equipment option as well.  So if one of these three is a 'matching numbers' engine, it still does not prove the SS equipment option was ordered.  Only the 454-4 engine required the SS equipment option.

(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 (Custom) (C)
(2) Model - 4-door/2-seat wagon (36), 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), 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).

Just like the 1971 model year, the SS equipment option could be ordered with any optional engine.  Even though the specific engine size was incorporated into the VIN with a letter code, only the "W" code for the 454 engine required the SS equipment option.

(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 5th character is the engine size letter (D=L6, F=307v8, H=350-2 V8, J=350-4 V8, U=402 V8, and W=454 V8).
The 6th character 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..." is shown to be appropriate.