Here is a 1966 Trim Tag. This trim tag is found on the drivers side of the firewall under the hood. It started out as a blank piece of aluminum with only an outline and format for information about the car.

• On the top GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION is the car manufacturer.
• On the left side ST for Style and TR for Trim.
• On the right side Body and Paint.
• On the bottom BODY BY FISHER to name the body assembly team.

The rest of the information describes the car. Note that all the stamping is pressed out towards you except for one item that we will discuss later.

Line 1.   

• 05C        – build date. 05 is the month – May and C is the week in May – 3^rd.
• E            – interior code – Black. It gives the color used inside other than the seat colors.

Line 2.   

• 66          – model year – 1966.
• 16437     – car model – Impala 2 door hardtop sport coupe.
• STL       – assembly plant – St. Louis, Missouri.
• 024729   – St. Louis assembly plant count of model 16437 produced off the line.

Line 3.   

• 811       – seat color – Black, material – cloth & vinyl
• A          – seat type – Bench
• F          – paint color – bottom – Marina Blue
• F          – paint color – top – Marina Blue

Line 4.   

• W    – Fisher Body Code – Tinted windshield. Note: FBC’s are divided into 5 groups of letters. The first group just starts out with the letter codes – like this ‘W’ here. If the car has options in group 2 – there will be a ‘2’ then letter codes following. Same for groups 3, 4 and 5. Each group 1 through 5 is listed in the 2911 Cowl Tag book.

Line 5.   

• 266748 – A number used at some assembly plants to denote that this car should be completed by this VIN number. This was only done on cars with Air Conditioning. This car is one of the rare cars that was out on time (VIN 257652) – most didn’t make the deadline because most AC cars had leaks and were sidelined for manual repairs.

Line 6.   

• 3/16 inch hole - left of Body By Fisher started February 1, 1966 – Provisions for shoulder harness, a new option at that time.

Other.   

• 17 – Inspectors Stamp – At several assembly plants, after the final inspection was made, the inspector would stamp their number on the trim tag. Inspector number 17 inspected this car. Note: it is stamped inward and randomly.

Here is a 1966 VIN Plate. This VIN Plate is found on the drivers door jam. It started out as a blank piece of aluminum with only an outline for information about the Vehicle Identification Number. Note: Rivets.

• On the top CHEVROLET to name the manufacturer.
• On the right side of CHEVROLET is DD – Delivery Date – the date the car was sold at the dealership was stamped to the right – manually and ‘in’. This was rarely used. The delivery date of this car is not stamped.

VIN Breakdown

• 1           – Chevrolet
• 64         – Impala V8. Note: All trim tags are stamped as V8 cars because they are stamped on the Fisher Body side of the plant. On the Chevrolet side of the plant is where the engine is installed (4, 6 or 8 cylinder). The engine is denoted on the VIN plate. The 3^rd digit, in this case 4, is where you determine the engine - even numbers are V8, odd numbers are 4 and 6 cylinder cars.
• 37         – 2 door hardtop
• 6           – Year – 1966
• S          – Plant – St. Louis, Missouri
• 257652  – VIN sequence number. Note: This number is TOTAL cars produced at that point in time at the St. Louis assembly plant in the 1966 model year. As opposed to the 24729 number stamped on the Trim Tag is just model 16437 cars produced at that point in time at the St. Louis assembly plant in the 1966 model year.

Here is a 1966 Protect-O-Plate. This POP is found on the last page of the Owner Protection Plan book. It is like a metal credit card – in reverse – I flipped this picture for readability.

Line 1.     

• E           – interior code – Black. It gives the color used inside other than the seat colors. Same as line 1, right side of the trim tag.
• F           – paint color – bottom – Marina Blue. Same as line 3, right side of the trim tag.
• F           – paint color – top – Marina Blue. Same as line 3, right side of the trim tag.
• 164…    – See VIN plate breakdown.
• B           – carburetor plant – Bay City.

Line 2.     

Suffix Code Sequence. This is the number that is stamped on the front deck on the block, right (passenger) side, just below the head. Note: Use the Suffix Code books to break these codes (2123 for Small Blocks, 2222 for BIG Blocks).

• F           – engine assembly plant – Flint, Michigan.
• 0821      – engine assembly date – August 21. Note: Since this Impala was built 05C – May third week (1966), this assembly date would be 1965 so all the casting numbers on the engine would have to be ‘pre’ August 21, 1965.
• GF – engine suffix code – 1966 Impala 283 195 hp, Powerglide transmission, RPO (Regular Production Option) L-32, single 2 barrel carburetor with air conditioning.