1969-1972 I.D. Tags


The identification tags on 1969 through 1972 Chevelle radios can be found pasted on either side of the radio itself. The key piece of information is the Service Model Number found at the top of the I.D. tag. This number can be decoded to reveal the original application of the radio.





How to decode the Service Model Number:



The Service Model No. for this particular Delco radio is: 01APB1


01APB1 is split up into numbers and letters that reveal the application.

0 indicates the last digit of the model year: 1970

1 indicates the GM vehicle division: 1 = Chevrolet division. (2=Pontiac, 3=Oldsmobile, etc).

A indicates the vehicle: "A-body". (mid-sized vehicle--Chevelle)

PB indicates the type of audio equipment: PB = AM pushbutton radio. (FP = AM/FM pushbutton, FM = AM/FM-stereo pushbutton, MP = Multiplex adapter, etc).

1 indicates this piece of audio equipment was apart of the first design run. This really isn't that important compared to the rest of the model number. If "2" had been the last digit, it would simply indicate Delco had made a change in the production of the same radio (such as an electronic circuit board revision) and it would have been apart of the second design run.

Therefore, the above radio is a 1970 AM pushbutton model originally installed in a mid-size Chevy. (It would be correct for a 1970 Chevelle, El Camino or Monte Carlo).

BE CAREFUL--there's some important exceptions:

Example: the correct model number for a 1969 Chevelle AM/FM pushbutton radio is: 91BFP1.


Using the decoding information from above, you might be confused by the "B" in the model number since "B" indicates "B-body" or in other words, a full-sized Chevy. So why is it correct for a Chevelle or mid-size "A-body" ?

The answer is some of the same audio equipment was shared among different Chevrolet vehicle lines. A full-size (or B-body) Chevy such as a 1969 Impala shared the same AM/FM mono radio with such vehicles as the Camaro and the Chevelle. To keep things simple and costs down, B-body radios such as the AM/FMs were often installed in other vehicles. "B" can also be thought of as the "default" radio to be installed when a vehicle line did not have its very own line of radios. In fact, many Chevrolet vehicles "borrowed" B-body audio equipment at different times in production.

When important design changes were made to a vehicle line or the radios themselves, that vehicle's radio could no longer be "shared" with other vehicles. That's why a 1971 mid-size AM/FM mono radio has its "own" radio with a service model number of 11AFP1 because the 1971 full-size AM/FM mono radio with a service model number of 11BFP1 was no longer interchangable.

Other things to remember:

-Beginning with the 1972 model year, if the model number has a K in it, it indicates the radio has a built-in fader control (for a rear speaker). Example: 21APBK1 = 1972 AM pushbutton with fader.

-1970-1972 Monte Carlos were "G-bodies", but they used the same radios found in the 1970-1972 Chevelles.

-1964-1972 El Caminos also used the same radios as the 1964-1972 Chevelles, however, there were some restrictions on what could be installed in an El Camino. This information can be found in the Options section.

-"Related vehicles" such as station wagons built on Chevelle platforms or using the same tooling also shared the same radios.

8-track tape players and combination radio/tape players followed the same basic rules:

91BT411


9 indicates the last digit of the model year: 1969

1 indicates the GM vehicle division: 1 = Chevrolet division.

B indicates the vehicle: "B-body" or full-size Chevy, but again, this example is one of the exceptions discussed above. It is a "shared" piece of equipment also installed in a Chevelle.

T indicates: "Tape player" (8-track).

4 indicates the type of tape player. (T400 series--mounted under the dash).

1 indicates this unit does not work in conjunction with a stereo multiplex radio system. (see Options) If it had been a "2", this would indicate this unit would work in conjunction with a stereo multiplex radio system.

1 indicates this piece of audio equipment was apart of the first design run.

Therefore, it's an 8-track tape player mounted below the dash in a 1969 Chevy.

21AFMT1


2 indicates the last digit of the model year: 1972

1 indicates the GM vehicle division: 1 = Chevrolet division.

A indicates the vehicle: "A-body" or mid-size Chevy (Chevelle).

FMT indicates type of audio equipment: FM = AM/FM-stereo, T = TAPE (therefore it is an AM/FM-stereo/8-track)

1 indicates this piece of audio equipment was apart of the first design run.

Therefore, it's a 1972 combination AM/FM-stereo/8-track player.



So how do you know if a radio is from 1967, 1977 or 1987 ? This is where you have to use the rules carefully and some good judgement. If "7" is the first digit, you can automatically rule out the possibility of the radio being from 1967--because this numbering system wasn't used in 1967! By 1987 Delco was using individualized model numbers for radios once again, ruling out that possibility. This leaves 1977 as the most likely model year. Lastly, a little common sense comes into play here, would you expect something factory from the 1960s to have a digital clock and a cassette deck? I don't think so!



For quick reference, the Model Number Database contains Delco model numbers for 1964-1972 Chevelles and related vehicles.



Decoding Tags | RADIO TECH | 1964-1968 Tags