Choose one of the following:

For complete information on decoding an Oldsmobile cowl tag, refer to the Deciphering The Cowl Tag page.

Pictured at left:  sample 1967 Oldsmobile 442 VIN plate, found on the left front door pillar.

• 1st digit - GM Division
  1 = Chevrolet
  2 = Pontiac
  3 = Oldsmobile
  4 = Buick
  5 = GMC
  6 = Cadillac

• 2nd and 3rd digits - Series
  31 = F85 L6 (1968-71)
  31 = Cutlass L6 Hardtop Coupe (1971)
  32 = F85 V8 (1968-71)
  32 = Cutlass V8 Hardtop Coupe (1971)
  33 = F85 Standard V6 or L6 (1965-67)
  34 = F85 V8 (1965-67)
  34 = Vista Cruiser Standard Wagon (1966-67)
  35 = F85 Deluxe V6 or L6 (1965-66)
  35 = Cutlass L6 (1967-71)
  36 = F85 Deluxe V8 (1965-66)
  36 = Cutlass V8 (1967-71)
  38 = F85 Deluxe Vista Cruiser (Custom) (1965-66)
  38 = F85 Cutlass (1965-66)
  38 = Vista Cruiser Custom V8 (1966-67)
  38 = Cutlass Supreme V8 (1967)
  42 = Cutlass Supreme V8 (1968-71)
  44 = 442 V8 (1968-71)
  48 = Custom Vista Cruiser V8 (1968-71)
  52 = Jetstar Eighty-Eight V8 (1965-66)
  52 = Delmont 88 w330 V8 (1967)
  54 = Jetstar 1V8 (1965)
  54 = Starfire V8 (1966)
  54 = Delta 88 Custom V8 (1967)
  54 - Delmont Eighty-Eight V8 (1968)
  54 = Delta Eighty-Eight V8 (1969-71)
  56 = Dynamic 88V8 (1965-66)
  56 = Delmont 88 w425 V8 (1967)
  58 = Delta Eighty-Eight V8 (1965-67)
  64 = Delta Eighty-Eight V8 Custom (1969-71)
  66 = Starfire V8 (1965)
  66 = Delta Eighty-Eight Royale V8 (1969)
  84 = Ninety-Eight series V8 (1965-67)
  86 = Ninety-Eight series V8 (1965-67)
  86 = Ninety-Eight Luxury V8 (1965-71)
  94 = Toronado V8 (1966-70)
  96 = Toronado DeluxeV8 (1966-67)
  96 - Toronado V8 (1971)

• 4th and 5th digits - Body code
  07 = 2d Club coupe or Sports Coupe (post)
  17 = 2d Holiday coupe (hardtop)
  27 = 2d Club coupe
  35 = 4d Station Wagon
  36 = 4d Station Wagon
  37 = 2d Holiday coupe
  39 = 4d  Holiday sedan (hardtop)
  55 = 4d Vista Cruiser (6 passenger)
  56 = 4d Vista Cruiser (8 passenger)
  57 = 2d  Holiday coupe (hardtop)
  65 = 4d Vista Cruiser
  66 = 4d Vista Cruiser
  67 = 2d  convertible
  69 = 4d Town sedan (post)
  77 = 2d Club coupe
  87 = 2d Holiday coupe

• 6th digit - Model year
  5 = 1965
  6 = 1966
  7 = 1967
  8 = 1968
  9 = 1969
  0 = 1970
  1 = 1971

• 7th digit - Assembly plant
  F-85 bodies are coded as follows:
  'LAN' - Lansing, Michigan;
  'BF' - Fremont, California;
  'FRA' - Framington, Mass
  
  Other Olds codes:
  B = Baltimore, MD
  C = Southdate, CA
  D = Doralville or Atlanta, GA
  E = Linden, NJ
  G = Framingham, MA
  K = Kansas City, KS
  L = Van Nuys, CA
  M = Lansing, MI
  R = Arlington, TX
  W = Willow Run, MI
  X = Fairfax or Kansas CIty, KS
  Z = Fremont, CA
  1 = St. Therese, Canada
  2 = Oshawa, ON Canada

• Last 6 digits - Sequential production number starting with 100001.

• 1st digit - GM Division
  1 = Chevrolet
  2 = Pontiac
  3 = Oldsmobile
  4 = Buick
  5 = GMC
  6 = Cadillac

• 2nd Digit - Series
  D = F85 4-door sedan
  F = F85 2-door coupe
  G = Cutlass
  J = Cutlass Supreme
  K = Vista Cruiser

• 3rd and 4th Digits - Body Style
  36 = 4-Door Station Wagon
  39 = 4-Door Supreme
  56 = 4-Door Vista Cruiser Wagon
  57 = 2-Door Supreme
  66 = 4-Door Vista Cruiser Wagon
  67 = 2-Door Convertible
  69 = 4-Door Sedan
  77 = 2-Door Club Sedan
  87 = 2-Door Coupe

• 5th Digit - Engine Code
  H = 350-2bbl V8 160 hp
  J = 350-2bbl V8 175 hp dual exh.
  K = 350-4bbl V8 180 hp
  M = 350-4bbl V8 200 hp dual exh.
  U = 455-4bbl V8 250 hp dual exh.
  V = 455-4bbl V8 270 hp dual exh.
  X = 455-4bbl V8 300 hp (W30)

• 6th Digit - Model Year
  2 = 1972

• 7th Digit - Assembly Plant
  G = Framingham, MA
  M = Lansing, MI
  R = Arlington, TX
  Z = Fremont, CA

• Last 6 Digits - Sequential production number

• 1st Digit - GM Division
  1 = Chevrolet
  2 = Pontiac
  3 = Oldsmobile
  4 = Buick
  5 = GMC
  6 = Cadillac

• 2nd and 3rd Digits - Series
  33 = Special V6 (1965-67)
  33 = Deluxe L6 (1968-69)
  33 = Skylark L6 (1970-71)
  34 = Special V8 (1965-67)
  34 = Special Deluxe V8 (1968-69)
  34 = GS350 (1968-70)
  34 = GS (1971)
  34 = Skylark V8 (1970-71)
  34 = Sportwagon V8 (1970-71)
  35 = Special Deluxe V6 (1965-67)
  35 = Skylark V6 (1968-69)
  35 = Skylark 350 (1970-71)
  36 = Special Deluxe V8 (1965-67)
  36 = Skylark V8 (1968-69)
  41 = Sportwagon V6 (1965)
  42 = Sportwagon V8 (1965)
  43 = Skylark V6 (1965-67)
  44 = Skylark V8 (1965-67)
  44 = Skylark Custom (1968-71)
  44 = Sportwagon V8 (1967-69)
  46 = Skylark Gran Sport (1964-66)
  46 = GS400 (1967-69)
  46 = GS455 (1970)
  48 = Sportwagon Custom V8 (1967-69)

• 4th and 5th Digits - Body Code
  07 = 2 Door Post Coupe
  17 = 2 Door Hardtop Coupe
  27 = 2 Door Post Coupe
  35 = 4 Door Station Wagon
  36 = 4 Door Station Wagon
  37 = 2 Door Hardtop Coupe
  39 = 4 Door Hardtop Sedan
  55 = 4 Door Sportwagon
  56 = 4 Door Sportwagon Custom
  65 = 4 Door Sportwagon
  66 = 4 Door Sportwagon Custom
  67 = 2 Door Convertible
  69 = 4 Door Sedan

• 6th Digit - Model Year
  5 = 1965
  6 = 1966
  7 = 1967
  8 = 1968
  9 = 1969
  0 = 1970
  1 = 1971

• 7th Digit - Assembly Plant Code
  B = Baltimore, MD
  C = South Gate, CA
  D = Atlanta, GA
  G = Framingham, MA
  H = Flint, MI
  I = Oshawa, Ontario (Canada)
  K = Kansas City, MO
  V = Bloomfield, IL
  X = Kansas City, KS
  Y = Wilmington, DE
  Z = Fremont, CA

• Last 6 Digits - Sequential production number starting with 100001.

1972 Buick Models

• 1st Digit - Division
  1 = Chevrolet
  2 = Pontiac
  3 = Oldsmobile
  4 = Buick
  5 = GMC
  6 = Cadillac

• 2nd Digit - Series
  D = Skylark
  F = Sportwagon
  G = GS
  H = Skylark Custom

• 3rd and 4th Digits - Body Style
  27 = 2 Door Post Coupe
  36 = 4 Door Station Wagon
  37 = 2 Door Hardtop Coupe
  39 = 4 Door Hardtop Sedan
  67 = 2 Door Convertible
  69 = 4 Door Sedan

• 5th Digit - Engine Code
  H = 350-2bbl V8
  J = 350-4bbl V8
  K = 350-4bbl V8 (GS)
  U = 455-4bbl V8 (GS455)
  V = 455-4bbl V8 (Stage 1)

• 6th Digit - Model Year
  2 = 1972

• 7th Digit - Assembly Plant
  C = South Gate, MI
  G = Framingham, MA
  H = Flint, MI
  X = Fairfax, KS
  Y = Wilmington, DE
  Z = Fremont, CA

• Last 6 Digits - Sequential production number

• 1st digit - GM Division
  1 = Chevrolet
  2 = Pontiac
  3 = Oldsmobile
  4 = Buick
  5 = GMC
  6 = Cadillac
• 2nd and 3rd digits - Series
  33 = Tempest (1965-1970)
  33 = LeMans T-37 (1971)
  35 = Tempest Custom (1965-1970)
  35 = LeMans (1971)
  37 = Tempest Lemans (1965-1970)
  37 = LeMans Sport (1971)
  39 = Tempest Safari (1967-1969)
  42 = GTO (1966-1971
• 4th and 5th digits - Body Code
  07 = 2-dr sedan (post)
  17 = 2-dr hardtop
  27 = 2-dr sedan (post)
  35 = 4-dr station wagon, 2-seat
  36 = 4-dr station wagon, 2-seat, dual action tailgate
  37 = 2-dr hardtop
  39 = 4-dr hardtop
  46 = 4-dr station wagon, 3-seat, dual action tailgate
  67 = 2-dr convertible
  69 = 4-dr sedan
• 6th digit - Model Year
  5 = 1965
  6 = 1966
  7 = 1967
  8 = 1968
  9 = 1969
  0 = 1970
  1 = 1971
• 7th digit - Assembly Plant
  B = Baltimore, MD
  C = Southgate, CA
  D = Doraville, GA
  E = Linden, NJ
  G = Framingham, MA
  K = Kansas City, MO
  P = Pontiac, MI
  R = Arlington, TX
  U = Lordstown, OH
  V = Bloomfield, IL
  X = Kansas City, KS
  Z = Fremont, CA
• Last 6 digits - Production sequence starting at 600001 at all plants, except V8 models which started at 100001
  

• 1st digit - GM Division
  1 = Chevrolet
  2 = Pontiac
  3 = Oldsmobile
  4 = Buick
  5 = GMC
  6 = Cadillac
• 2nd digit - Series
  D = LeMans
  G = Luxury LeMans
• 3rd and 4th digits - Body Style
  27 = 2-dr sedan (post)
  36 = 4-dr station wagon, 2-seat
  37 = 2-dr hardtop
  39 = 4-dr hardtop
  46 = 4-dr station wagon, 3-seat
  67 = 2-dr convertible
  69 = 4-dr sedan
• 5th digit - Engine Code
  D = 250 1-bbl L6 110 hp
  M = 350 2-bbl V8 160 hp
  R = 400 2-bbl V8 180 hp
  S = 400 4-bbl V8 200 hp (single exhaust)
  T = 400 4-bbl V8 250 hp (dual exhaust)
  X = 455 4-bbl V8 300 hp (dual exhaust)
  Y = 455 4-bbl V8 250 hp (dual exhaust)
• 6th digit - Model year
  2 = 1972
• 7th digit - Assembly plant
  A = Atlanta, GA
  C = Southgate, CA
  D = Doraville, GA
  G = Framingham, MA
  L = Van Nuys, CA
  N = Norwood, OH
  P = Pontiac, MI
  W = Willow Run, MI
  X = Kansas City, KS
  Z = Fremont, CA
  2 = St. Therese, Quebec, Canada
• Last 6 digits - Production sequence starting at 10001 at all plants.