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Confusing 55 vin issue-Canada link

95K views 41 replies 28 participants last post by  carllogan 
#1 ·
Hey guys,
I just bought a 55 210 post. It had been imported here about ten years ago. (Australia) I got the import approval paperwork with it that matched the single body tag. It has no vin plate that i can find. It does have two holes drilled on the LH side of the car in the door jamb, but it appears as the origional paint has never been marked by a tag, spotwelds or rivits?
The tag reads - General motors of Canada - model 10-11 - serial - 51011641758 - engine - 76730 - trim - 503 - body serial - 3870 - paint - 551.
The car is very origional in appearence with origional paint (medimum to dark metalic blue) 71000 miles. Two tone cloth trim (blue and white) No engine to verify the engine number. I am expecting that the tag is from something else BUT, the most interesting thing is there is a number "51" that has been marked in the centre of the firewall as per what you would expect find from the assembly line. The paint on the firewall is very faded but still intact. The number is actually a rust stain where the paint has come off and it would have left exposed metal. So, is it possible that the 51 on the firewall was supposed to match up to the first two digits on the body tag??
Is there a different system in Canada? Any ideas would be great. Thank you,
Jason
 
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#3 ·
A photo would be nice.

I see no reason that your Canadian VIN is not legit until proved otherwise.

I have seen a Canadian VIN on a 57. It was on the firewall, not the door jamb, but it had similar information on it.

I'm guessing the "51" on the firewall corresponds to your paint code of 551.

After all, the first two digits would be the same for many cars.

One more thing, are you sure your first two digits aren't "55" on the VIN? On US built cars all 55 models had serial numbers of "C55XNNNNNN" or "VC55XNNNNNN", where the C was for Chevrolet, 55 the model year, X the assembly plant, and NNNNNN the sequence number for that assembly plant. The V was for a V8 engine. Sequence numbers were for that plant only, and the first one each year was 100001.
 
#4 ·
I am pretty sure Canadian vins had only one digit for the year, so it is a 55.

First digit = year, 1= Chevrolet, the next two are probably the model and the rest being the production number. But this is purely by memory and I have been known to be wrong once, but even then I was mistaken. :D
 
#7 · (Edited)
Thanks guys, I didn't know they had a different system of ID's for Canada.
I don't see any problem with registration regardless of the tag either, i just thought it may be someone has done a "shifty" with it.
I would have loved to have the engine too!! We don't seem to have any problems with the inverted countryside, but the American cars drive "funny" on the correct side of the road?? (we are on the left)
I will give the number on the link a call with the info and see what they say.
Here's a shot of the 55 in the shipping depot. Thanks again,
Jason
 
#11 · (Edited)
Hope this helps. Most of the info published is for US cars. Your car looks ok to me. :tu

Bob :)

















While most of us are aware that Chevrolet had plants in Janesville, Oakland and eight other locations around the US producing cars in the mid fifties, a lot of people do not realize that General Motors also had a plant in Canada producing cars for both export overseas and for the Canadian domestic market. This plant is located in Oshawa, Ontario, and has been producing cars since 1908.

Canadian produced 1955-1956-1957 Chevys have several differences that make them just a little bit different from the American Cars. In this article we hope to outline the major differences and clean up some of the mystery and confusion about these cars. Hopefully this will make it easier for some of the nice restored (and unrestored) Canadian Classics that show up at sanctioned events to be correctly classified and judged.


Canadian Cowl Tags and Serial Numbers

For simplicity's sake, we will refer in this article to the two different sizes of cowl tags found on Canadian cars as: Large (2 3/8" x 4 1/8") and Small (1 5/8" x 4 1/8").
Unlike their American cousins, Canadian Classics do not have a VIN tag on the driver's side door post, but rather have the serial number recorded on the cowl tag. The 55's came with one large tag, which was normally located on the right side of the cowl, in roughly the same located as the cowl tag on American cars (See Fig. #1). The 56's had two tags, a large one in the same location as on a 55, and a small one on the left hand side of the upper cowl (See Fig. #2). the 57's again came with two tags, but these were both small ones, usually found either side by side, or one above another on the firewall under the windshield wiper motor (See Fig. #3).



The 1955 Cowl Tag would contain the following information:

Model Number

Serial Number

Engine Number

Body Serial Number

Paint and Trim Codes


In 1956, the large tag (referred to in most GM Canadian literature as the Vehicle Serial Plate) only had the vehicle and engine serial number stamped on it, with the rest of the information, along now with B.S.O. (Body Special Option) numbers, recorded on the small tag (the Body Serial Plate). This held true for 1957 as well, although, as previously noted, the Vehicle Serial Plate was smaller than in the previous 2 years.







MODEL IDENTIFICATION BY SERIAL NUMBER

With the commencement of the 1956 production, the vehicle serial plate, located on the right front of the cowl, did not include the body serial, trim or paint combination numbers. A separate body serial plate, located on the left front of the cowl, now shows body type, body serial, paint trim and body special option numbers. 1957 production will be identified in a similar manner.




The information on these tags is broken down as follows:


Body Style

Model
150
210
B/A

Utility Sedan 12118
2 Door Sedan 1211 1011 1011D
Delray Club Coupe 1011A
4 Door Sedan 1219 1019 1019D
2 Door Wagon 1263F 1063F
4 Door Wagon 1062F 1062DF
Convertible 1067D
2 Door Hardtop 1037 1037D
4 Door Hardtop 1039 1039D
Sedan Delivery 1271




You will notice that the Nomad is not listed above. That is because none were produced in Canada. All Nomads sold by Canadian Dealers were imported from the U.S.



Vehicle Serial Number

Looking at the 55 tag shown in Fig. #1, the serial number 51011800967 can be broken down as follows:



5 1011 8 00967



5 = Model Year 1955

1011 = Body Style, 2 Door Sedan

8 = 8 Cylinder Engine

00967 = Vehicle Production Number



Although the 1011 in the serial number only indicates that it is a 2 Door Sedan, by checking the Model number on the same tag, the stamping 10-11D tells us that this car should be a Bel Air, not a 210.



Engine Serial Number

All Canadian-produced cars had their engine serial numbers also stamped on one of the tags. While this does make it a lot easier to determine if your car has its original engine, the engine codes were not broken down to the extent that the ones on American cars were. For instance, if your cowl tag indicates that your 57 came with an automatic transmission, there is no way of telling whether it was originally equipped with a Powerglide or Turboglide. Similarly, other than by checking fuel line routing, etc., if your car was V-8 equipped, you cannot tell for sure whether it was 2 Barrel, 4 Barrel, Duals or Fuel Injected.



Again looking at the 55 tag in Fig. #1, the engine serial number 9V17014 breaks down like this:

9 V 17014



9 = Automatic Transmission. If the engine serial number does not begin with a "0", the car was originally equipped with either a standard or an overdrive transmission.

V = V-8. If the "V" is not in the sequence, the car was originally equipped with a six cylinder.

17014 = Engine production number.



Listed below are the first Engine production number for each year and type of engine:

1955 6 cylinder = 52501

1955 8 cylinder = V2001

1956 6 cylinder = V30001

1957 6 cylinder = 199001

1957 8 cylinder = V50001



PRODUCTION FIGURES & OTHER TIDBITS OF USEFUL INFORMATION

Unfortunately the production figures available from G.M. of Canada are not broken down by model or even body style. I have listed below the production figures for each year and also the number of cars imported from the U.S. You will notice that the figures for 1956 differ substantially from those for the other two years. This was due to a bitter 4 1/2 month strike at the plant, lasting from September 9. 1955 right through until February 22, 1956 that very nearly resulted in G.M. canceling Canadian production for the 56 model year entirely!

Year Built Imported

1955 79,030 4,668

1956 48,556 12,017

1957 79,318 324

Totals 206,904 17,009

Besides the obvious differences that I have outlined in this article, there were a host of smaller, subtle differences that set the Canadian-produced car apart. These differences are far too numerous to detail them all now, but a few of the more significant ones included:

- Electrical components such as starters and generators were manufactured in Canada by McKinnon Industries of St. Catherines, Ontario and are identified by a green tag.

- Horns have a flatter profile with "Autolite" embossed on the cover. Some people swear they have a different tone as well, although I personally can't tell.

- All Canadian built cars had one piece bumpers and all 57 rear bumper ends were the blank variety.

- Many of the cast components (ie: Blocks, Head, Wheel Cylinders) were made in Canada and are easily identified by the "CANADA" cast into the piece.








Canadian Cowl Tags

Trim & Paint Codes and

Body Special Options



Trim & Paint Codes



The interior trim codes on Canadian produced Classics were the same as the ones on American cars, the only notable difference being that it appears that you could get some paint/trim combinations that were not available in the U.S. I have recently seen a Canadian produced 57 Convertible, paint code 1001, which is Onyx Black, with trim 677, which is the Ivory & Silver interior.



Paint, however, is quite a different matter. While there were some colours common to both sides of the border, there were also colors during all three model years that were available only in Canada. To further confuse matters, some colors available in both countries were known by a different name in Canada, and some colors known by the same name in both countries were two different shades of the same color. Two good examples of this are 56 Crocus Yellow, which has a decidedly greenish tinge to it compared to the U.S. colour and the 57 Highland Green, which is a much darker shade of green than usual. Also, all Canadian produced cars were painted in enamel, not nitiocellulose lacquer.



Listed below are the paint codes for all three years. We have indicated with a # those colors that were peculiar to the Canadian cars, and provided a brief description of each one. Also listed is the Canadian equivalent for some common U.S. colors.


1955 ONE COLOUR

55J - Cashmere Blue 555 - Sunsand Beige #
514 - Shoreline Beige 55A - Shoreline Beige
550 - Black 556 - Lido Green
551 - Lancer Blue Metallic 557 - Malibu Blue
552 - Empress Maroon 558-Greystone White#
553 - Oxford Grey Metallic 559 - Autumn Bronze Metallic
554 - Highland Green Metallic 560 - Matador Red #
561 - Regal Turquoise Metallic



1955 TWO TONE COMBINATIONS

55A - Navajo Tan Metallic/India Ivory 55B - Dusk Rose Metallic/India Ivory
55C - Cashmere Blue/India Ivory 515 - Shoreline Beige/Autumn Bronze Metallic
516 - Shoreline Beige/Lancer Blue Metallic 518 - Highland Green Metallic/Shoreline Beige
519 - Lancer Blue Metallic/Shoreline Beige 570 - Greystone White/Matador Red
571 - Greystone White/Regal Turquoise Metallic 572 - Sunsand Beige/Autumn Bronze Metallic
573 - Greystone White/Black 573A - Black/India Ivory
574 - Greystone White/Malibu Blue 575 - Lancer Blue Metallic/Sunsand Beige
575A - Lancer Blue Metallic/Shoreline Beige 576 - Malibu Blue/Lancer Blue Metallic
578 - Highland Green Metallic/Sunsand Beige 578A - Highland Green Metallic/Shoreline Beige
579 - Lido Green/Highland Green Metallic 580 - Highland Green Metallic/Sunsand Beige
580A - Shoreline Beige/Highland Green Metallic 581 - Sunsand Beige/Lancer Blue Metallic
581A - Shoreline Beige/Lancer Blue Metallic 582 - Matador Red/Sunsand Beige
582A - Matador Red/Shoreline Beige 584 - Seastone Coral/Oxford Grey Metallic
585 - Greystone White/Black 585A - India Ivory/Black
598 - Greystone White/Seastone Coral

1956 ONE COLOUR

1001 - Black 1006 - Nassau Blue
1002 - Harbour Blue Metallic 1007 - India Ivory
1003 - Dusk Plum Metallic 1008 - Crocus Yellow
1004 - Sherwood Green Metallic 1009 - Gypsy Red #
1005 - Pinecrest Green 1010 - Twilight Turquoise
1021 - Dawn Grey Metallic


1956 TWO TONE COMBINATIONS

UPPER
LOWER

1201 - Black Crocus Yellow
1202 - India Ivory Black
1203 - Sherwood Green Metallic Pinecrest Green
1204 - Nassau Blue Harbor Blue Met
1205 - India Ivory Pinecrest Green
1206 - India Ivory Sherwood Green Metallic
1207 - India Ivory Nassau Blue
1208 - India Ivory Dusk Plum Met
1209 - India Ivory Twilight Turquoise
1210 - India Ivory Gypsy Red
1250 - India Ivory Dawn Grey Metallic
UPPER/LOWER
CENTRE

1301, 1401 - Crocus Yellow Black
1302, 1402 - Black India Ivory
1303, 1403 - Pinecrest Green Metallic Sherwood Green Metallic
1304, 1404 - Harbor Blue Metallic Nassau Blue
1305, 1405 - Pinecrest Green India Ivory
1306, 1406 - Sherwood Green Metallic India Ivory
1307, 1407 - Nassau Blue India Ivory
1310, 1410 - Gypsy Red India Ivory
1408 - Dusk Plum Metallic India Ivory
1409 - Twilight Turquoise India Ivory
1405 - Dawn Grey Metallic India Ivory
UPPER/CENTRE **
LOWER

1604 - Black Crocus Yellow
1602 - India Ivory Black
1603 - Sherwood Green Metallic Pinecrest Green
1604 - Nassau Blue Harbor Blue
1605 - India Ivory Pinecrest Green
1606 - India Ivory Sherwood Green Metallic
1607 - India Ivory Nassau Blue
1608 - India Ivory Dusk Plum Metallic
1609 - India Ivory Twillight Turquoise
1610 - India Ivory Gypsy Red
1611 - Crocus Yellow Laurel Green
1612 - Iris # Dawn Grey Metallic
1650 - India Ivory Dawn Grey Metallic
1651 - Adobe Beige Sierra Gold Metallic
**Rear Deck & Centre on Model 1067D (Convertible)




1957 ONE COLOUR

1001 - Onyx Black 1009 - Seminole Red #
1002 - Haven Blue Metallic 1010 - Tropical Turquoise
1003 - Dusky Rose Metallic # 1011 - Limefire Green Met
1004 - Highland Green Metallic 1012 - Coronado Yellow
1005 - Mist Green 1013 - Silver Grey Metallic
1006 - Larkspur Blue 1014 - Sierra Gold Metallic
1007 - Imperial Ivory 1015 - Adobe Beige
1008 - Colonial Cream 1016 - Laurel Green Metallic
1017 - Chateau Grey Metallic #



1957 TWO TONE COMBINATIONS

UPPER/LOWER
CENTRE

1201, 140 - Colonial Cream Onyx Black
1202 - Onyx Black Dover White
1203, 1403 - Mist Green Highland Green Metallic
1204, 1404 - Haven Glue Metallic Larkspur Blue
1205 - Mist Green Dover White #
1206 - Larkspur Blue Dover White
1207 - Silver Grey Metallic Imperial Ivory
1209 - Tropical Turquoise Dover White
1210 - Seminole Red Dover White
1213, 1413 - Colonial Cream Dover White
1216 - Chateau Grey Metallic Dover White
1402 - Doer White Onyx Black
1405 - Dover White Mist Green
1406 - Dover White Larkspur Blue
1407 - Imperial Ivory Silver Grey Metallic
1409 - Dover White Tropical Turquoise
1410 - Dover White Seminole Red
1411 - Colonial Cream Laurel Green Metallic
1412 - Adobe Beige Sierra Gold Metallic
1414 - Dover White Dusky Rose Metallic
1415 - Dover White Coronado Yellow
1416 - Dover White Chateau Grey Metallic
UPPER
LOWER

1601 - Onyx Black Colonial Cream
1602 - Dover White Onyx Black
1603 - Mist Green Highland Green Metallic
1604 - Larkspur Blue Haven Blue Metallic
1605 - Dover White Mist Green
1606 - Dover White Larkspur Blue
1607 - Imperial Ivory Silver Grey Metallic
1609 - Dover White Tropical Turquoise
1610 - Dover White Seminole Red
1611 - Colonial Cream Laurel Green Metallic
1612 - Adobe Beige Sierra Gold Metallic
1613 - Dover White Colonial Cream
1614 - Dover White Dusky Rose Metallic
1615 - Dover White Coronado Yellow
1616 - Imperial Ivory Chateau Grey Met
1618 - Dover White Limefire Green Metallic



CANADIAN ONLY COLOURS

55 Sunsand Beige - Very close to, and in fact superceded by Shoreline Beige early into the model year.

55 Greystone White - "Refrigerator" White replaced by India Ivory part way through model year

55 Madador Red - Very close to 56 Matador Red

56 Gypsy Red - Same as U.S. 55 Gypsy Red

56 Iris - Metallic Lavender similar to 57 Dusk Pearl

57 Dusky Rose - Metallic Rose Pink

57 Dover White - A slightly "purer" white than India Ivory

57 Seminole Red - Same Red as found on 57 Buicks, more orange than Matador Red

57 Limefire Green - Very rare and unusual metallic "lemon-lime" green

57 Chateau Grey - A Pewter Grey, a shade darker than 56 Dawn Grey


BODY SPECIAL OPTIONS

As previously indicated, Chevrolet changed the manner in which they recorded information on the cowl tags for the 1956 model year. The Vehicle Serial Plate now only had the car's serial number and its engine number, with the balance of the information being recorded on the Body Serial Plate. Besides all the data found on the 55's tag, there was only one new piece of information, an area stamped "B.S.O.". These Body Special Options were equivalent to the Accessory codes on the American cars, with the exception that they sometimes went into further detail. What I mean by this is that, for instance, we have seen Canadian built factory V-8 cars both with and without code "340" stamped on the Body Serial Plate, code 340 standing for a V-8 engine. Listed below are the B.S.O.'s that commonly appear on Canadian built 56's & 57's.


186 = Shade Lite Glass (Tinted)

202 = Automatic Transmission

303 = Power Brakes

339 = Overdrive Transmission

340 = V-8 Engine

348 = Power Windows

349 = Power Seat

372 = Power Steering

Strangely enough, we have been unable to find any indication that there was a B.S.O. number for a padded dash. We are not sure whether that means that a padded dash was not available in Canada, or that they just did not bother stamping it on the cowl tag. However, we have been advised by a customer that they know for sure that the 57's came with with a padded dash. His uncle owned a GM dealership in the 50's and sold a new 1957 B/A 2 Door Hardtop, power pack, powerglide to his friend's father. The car came equipped with a factory black padded dash and a black and silver interior. The exterior was black. His cousin now owns the car.
Some of the other differences noted between the Canadian and American 55-57 Chevys are:

Canadian cars have different accessory codes.
American radiators say Harrison and have a P/N on them.
All Nomads were produced in the US.
All Canadian cars have 1- piece bumpers.
All California cars have 1-piece bumpers, the rest are 3-piece.
Original Canadian starters and generators had green tags not red like the American ones.
Canadian engines, generators, exhaust manifolds and starters were made by McKinnon Industries, not GM.
McKinnon Industries produced products like intake and exhaust manifolds have a raised mark to ID them. It is a capital M with a square around it.
Canadian 1955 remote oil filters were painted black not orange and blue like the American ones.
Canadian cars use Phillips head screws, American cars use clutch head screws.
All Canadian cars had Deluxe radios if ordered.
All Canadian 1955 150 models came with side trim, American models had none.
Canadian hood birds and antenna bases were made by a different manufacturer than in the US and therefore are slightly different in shape.
1955 Canadian door handles are not the same contour as American ones.
Canadian 1956 antennas have an arrow head tip.
The 1957 shop manual has a section on fuel injection, the American one does not.
Canadian Pontiacs used Chevrolet engines but they were painted green.
Canadian tinted glass is named SHADE-LITE
Canadian generators are longer than their American counterparts.
No Canadian cars had 1-piece frames.
Canadian full disc hubcaps are shinier and have a different "spring" type mounting system.
There were no Canadian-produced 1955 Belair 4 door wagons.
1955 Chevy horn wires are black with a white stripe, the American ones are all black.
Canadian 5-6-7 clocks are built in Canada.
All right-hand drive cars for export were produced in Canada, ie. Australia.
The interior of Canadian 1955's have the interior surface of the glove box door painted a light shade of grey instead of body color.
Undersides of Canadian cars were painted lower body color or dealer undercoated.
 
#18 ·
Canadian 56

I see this thread has some Canadian content so perhaps someone can answer a question for me. I am looking at an Oshawa built 56 Belair sedan that has a 265 engine with serial No. 9Vnnnnnn. It appeared to have a two barrel carb but when I pulled off the air cleaner it turned out to be a single barrel carb!! The oil filter is the old 1955 style sitting on top of the engine!

The car looks absolutely original with no modifications. I can't find any info on such a factory setup any where. My question is - Can I simply remove the existing intake manifold and bolt on a 56 two barrel or 4 barrel unit without having to change the cylinder heads?
 
#24 ·
Bob W thank you for some insight to the Canadian Vin Codes but I'm having trouble decoding my two Canadian 55 Chevys. Do you have more information or is there a web sight that shows more?

Or is there anyone else that has more information on Canadian Codes?
 
#27 ·
Hi Guys.
I had wanted to decode my Canadian 55' wagon VIN/Trim tag and found this thread pretty helpful. I found a little more info on some Canadian Pontiac sites as well. I thought I would post what I found as it might help someone else sometime in the future. My car is not going to be restored to stock but it is still nice to know what it came of the assembly line with.



This is what I decoded from those numbers. If anyone can see it differently let me know.

VIN
5 = 1955
22 = 150
63 = 2dr
8 = V8
3xxxx = Assembly number

Engine.
9 = 2 speed auto
V = V8
21909 = engine assembly number

Model
22 - 150 Handyman
63F - 2dr Wagon.


Trim
524 = Green interior with light green vinyl and dark green text vinyl inserts

Paint
556 = Lido Green.

Body
1001 = the 1001 2dr wagon body assembled

The few other different things I learned about my 2dr 150 handyman wagon is that Canadian 150s had the side spear on the quarter and chrome trim around the windshield. My car also seems to have the bowtie stainless insert across the dash. I am not sure if it came that way or if someone added it. I will assume it was added till I see otherwise.
My Dad was originally the co-owner of the car with me and we were kind of arguing on what we thought the car originally had. He figured it was a 265 V8 with 3 speed std. overdrive. He also thought the car was originally black. I had seen some signs that there was green underneath some of the paint chips so I figured green was the original colour. I am kind of surprised it was an auto. I don't see any signs of having an auto installed anywhere. Plenty can be changed through 60 years of different owners though. Hope somebody finds this of some interest.
Cheers.
Greg
 
#32 ·
Looks like he may have retired. I found this info at the GM Heritage site:

http://www.gmmediaarchive.com/?page=4

Vintage Vehicle Information ($50)

The GM Heritage Center can provide model-specific Vintage Vehicle Information Packages. For a fee of $50, the GM Heritage Center will decode the vehicle identification number (VIN), the body plate/trim tag codes and provide photocopies of product literature including (when available):

•Divisional Engineering Specifications
•AMA/MVMA Specifications
•Product Selling Information/Salesperson's Guides
•Options and Accessories Information
•Paint and Trim Guides
•Sales Literature
•Owner's Literature
•Production Volumes

Vintage Vehicle Information Packages are available for all GM makes but the amount of information varies from model to model and year to year. Information relevant to a specific model if available will be mailed USPS.

Ordering Instructions

Ordering options:

1) Paying by credit card:
» Complete this online order form.
» A representative of Allied Vaughn will contact you to complete the ordering process.
» Fulfillment is expected to take 2 to 3 weeks. Your account will be charged within two business days of fulfillment.

2) Paying by check or money order:
» Download and print a version of the order form, available in the following formats: MS Word (.doc)
» Complete the order form, providing the vehicle year, style #, body #, serial/VIN, and/or a legible pencil rubbing of the body plate.
» Mail the completed order form, and a check or money order payable to Allied Vaughn to:

Allied Vaughn
11923 Brookfield
Livonia, MI. 48150
Attention: GM Vehicle Invoice

Check or money order payments may cause a delay in fulfillment, as it must clear before your order is shipped.

All prices are per vehicle.

General Motors can not authenticate any vehicle, merely provide what ever documentation of information is available based on vehicle information provided.



If you have any questions, please contact us at:

» vehicleinvoice@gmmediaarchive.com
» Telephone: 1-734-261-5086
» Fax: 1-734-261-5216

Hope this helps. If I find his replacement at GM, I'll post it up.

Dave
:bowtieb:
 
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