Does anyone know how to decode #s on the very bottom of my vin tag on the 7T2SS?...
The #s book just says that they were there for the assembly line to be aware of some special equipment add on,.. Any help??

Those numbers are generally considered undecipherable.

On your VIN tag? Or do you mean the body tag that is attached to the cowl?

And what is the year you are talking about?

Cryptically 72 I think...and what assembly plant?

They're typically tracking numbers found on the build sheet as well.

See here for some 72 examples (http://www.chevellestuff.com/72velle/72_trim_tags.htm) and explanations.

Dale

Ok...here are the vin tag #s..ie the body tag #s on the cowl.
72-13680 L 07878
704 A52 68-69
6B 5 039742 15058
I have decifered all the #s except for the bottom line.

Originally posted by 7T2SS:
Ok...here are the vin tag #s..ie the body tag #s on the cowel.
The VIN tag and cowl tag are not the same.

Duh...ya got me there Steve...I guess what I mean it the body tag #s on the cowl...I forgot that the Vin #s are on the dash...
No more beer for me tonite..


Later
7T2SS

72-13680 L 07878
704 A52 68-69
6B 5 039742 15058


72-13680 means 1972 El Camino Custom 2 dr pickup

L 07878 means the Los Angeles Assembly plant (L) and the body number. Not to be confused with the VIN in any way.

704 is the interior trim code for Black Vinyl Bench seats

A52 is RPO code for front Bench Seat

68 69 are the lower and upper paint colors, i.e. 2 tone paint
68-Midnight Bronze; 69 Aegean Brown

6B is the month June and week produced, 2nd (B)

5 039742 15058 is the DP Sequence Number and means nothing now. Just a number used to process the vehicle thru production and is linked to the assembly plant build sheets, Box 24. i.e A master control number for assembly plant use.

Thanks for the #s info...I made a mistake on the paint code #s they are 68 68 which tells me that the car was a solid color..Midnight Bronze Metallic...
I would like to know if how to determine that the car was assembled with the SS package.

That is not going to be easy. The VIN may help but it not a sure sign. Engines are coded in the VIN and certain engines came with SS options so you can eliminate 6 cyl and 307 engine cars from the SS option package. Also a 454 is always an SS.

You need to have original documentation and if you don't have it now, chances are you never will. There could be an assembly plant build sheet hiding in the car somewhere but if the car was ever restored or worked on then it could be gone. The find the BS, look in places that have been covered over for all these years, inside doors or other body cavities, under carpets, on top of fuel tank etc etc. Often only find them when tearing apart the car.

Here is my 1972 El Camino SS350 back in the spring of 1972 in Northern Michigan, paint is Midnight Bronze with covert vinyl top with saddle bucket seat interior. ELC was loaded with options. The flame decal was a GM accessory and was installed by the dealer as a demo. I came along and purchased it before they even had a chance to show it off. It was still in body shop getting finished when I bought it. Its a clear overlay and it sure got me a lot of attention. The first weekend I was out cruising I was stopped by the cops 2x and they both said the flames caught their attention. No tickets..
http://www.synthetic-oil.com/images/72ElcaminoSS.jpg

Thanks for the added info...as I am tearing the car apart now I will look for the build sheet. The only place I havn't looked is on top of the gas tank.
I am positive that it is an original SS as I remember seeing the original owner in this car pass by occasionally... We both had '72 SS El Caminos that were bought from the same dealer here in Santa Barbara Ca. at around the same time. Mine was Golden Brown Met. and his was the Midnight Bronze. both cars came with a L48 350 engine.
One final question...where is the best place to go to research the documented history of this car?

Those were some interesting flames on your E.C.
I bet you caught alot of peoples attention.