Decoding the Tri-Five Chevy 55 56 57 Passenger Car VIN
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): The VIN tag is located on a stainless steel plate that is spot welded to the driver's side front door jamb. Although, hard to see, Chevrolet also had the vehicle identification number stamped on the frame roughly below the drivers seat.
Decoding the VIN number:
Digit 1 - Model Type
The VIN may be ten or eleven characters long. The letter "V" before the first digit is the eleventh character, and denotes a V8 engine in the 1955 - 1957 cars. For cars originally equipped with a six cylinder engine, the "V" was omitted and the VIN would be only ten characters long rather than eleven..
Code
|
Years
|
Series
|
Model Type
|
A
|
55-57
|
1500
|
150
|
B
|
55-57
|
2100
|
210
|
C
|
55-57
|
2400
|
Bel Air
|
D
|
55-57
|
1508
|
Sedan Delivery
|
E
|
55-57
|
2934
|
Corvette
|
Digits 2-3 - Year Of Vehicle
Code
|
Year
|
55
|
1955
|
56
|
1956
|
57
|
1957
|
Digit 4 - Assembly Plant
Code
|
Assembly Plant
|
A
|
Atlanta, GA
|
B
|
Baltimore, MD
|
F
|
Flint, MI
|
J
|
Janesville, WI
|
K
|
Kansas City, MO
|
L
|
Los Angeles, CA
|
N
|
Norwood, OH
|
O
|
Oakland, CA
|
S
|
St. Louis, MO
|
T
|
Tarrytown, NY
|
Digit 5+ - Sequence Number
Each plant used their own sequence numbers and usually started with number - 001001 for 1955 and 1956, and 10001 for 1957. This number became the car's serial number.
The format, and possibly the content of this article has been modified.
More
|
|
|
55 Chevy ID Numbers
|
|
VEHICLE INDENTIFICATION NUMBER
|
|
Located on the plate on the left front door hinge pillar post. The 8cylinder vehicles have a "V" preceding the first digit.
|
|
FIRST DIGIT: Identifies the series and model
|
|
|
CODE
|
MODEL - SERIES
|
A
|
One-Fifty, 6cyl - 1500
|
VB
|
One-Fifty, 8cyl - 1500
|
B
|
Two-Ten, 6-cyl - 2100
|
VB
|
Two-Ten, 8-cyl - 2100
|
C
|
Bel Air, 6-cyl - 2400
|
VC
|
Bel Air, 8-cyl - 2400
|
D
|
Sedan delivery, 6-cyl - 1508
|
E
|
Corvette, 6cyl - 2934
|
VE
|
Corvette, 8cyl - 2934
|
|
|
|
SECOND AND THIRD DIGITS: Identify the model year -1955
|
|
|
|
FOURTH DIGIT: Identifies the assembly plant
|
|
|
CODE
|
ASSEMBLY PLANT
|
A
|
Atlanta, GA
|
B
|
Baltimore, MD
|
F
|
Flint, MI
|
J
|
Janesville, WI
|
K
|
Kansas City, MO
|
L
|
Los Angeles, CA
|
O
|
Oakland, CA
|
S
|
St Louis, MO
|
T
|
Tarrytown, NY
|
N
|
Norwood, OH
|
|
LAST SIX DIGITS: Represent the basic production number
|
|
|
|
|
|
BODY NUMBER PLATE
|
|
Located on the right hand side of the cowl.
|
|
THE STYLE NUMBER indicates the model and body style.
|
|
|
BEL AIR
|
|
CODE
|
BODY STYLE
|
1011D
|
2-Dr. sedan
|
1019D
|
4-Dr. sedan
|
1037D
|
Sport coupe
|
1062DF
|
Station wagon (Beauville)
|
1064DF
|
Station wagon (Nomad)
|
1067D
|
Convertible
|
|
|
ONE-FIFTY
|
|
CODE
|
BODY STYLE
|
1211
|
2-Dr. sedan
|
1211B
|
Utility sedan
|
1219
|
4-Dr. sedan
|
1263F
|
Station wagon (Handyman)
|
1271
|
Sedan delivery
|
|
|
TWO-TEN
|
|
CODE
|
BODY STYLE
|
1011
|
2-Dr. sedan
|
1019
|
4-Dr. sedan
|
1011A
|
Club coupe
|
1037
|
Sport coupe
|
1062F
|
Station wagon (Townsman)
|
1063F
|
Station wagon (Handyman)
|
|
|
CORVETTE
|
|
CODE
|
BODY STYLE
|
2934
|
2-Dr.
|
|
|
|
THE BODY NUMBER is the production serial number of the body.
|
|
THE COLOR CODE indicates the paint color used on the car.
|
|
|
|
SINGLE COLORS
|
CODE
|
COLOR
|
585
|
Onyx Black
|
586
|
Sea Mist Green
|
587
|
Neptune Green
|
588
|
Skyline Blue
|
589
|
Glacier Blue
|
590
|
Copper Maroon
|
591
|
Shoreline Beige
|
592
|
Autumn Bronze
|
593
|
India Ivory
|
594
|
Shadow Gray
|
596
|
Gypsy Red
|
598
|
Regal Turquoise
|
626
|
Coral
|
630
|
Harvest Gold
|
683
|
Cashmere Blue
|
*
|
Polo White
|
*
|
Harvest Gold
|
*
|
Gypsy Red
|
*
|
Corvette Copper
|
|
*Corvette
|
|
|
|
TWO-TONE COLORS
|
CODE
|
COLOR
|
599
|
Sea Mist Green/Neptune Green
|
600
|
Skyline Blue/Glacier Blue
|
601
|
Neptune Green/Shoreline Beige
|
602
|
India Ivory/Skyline Blue
|
603
|
Autumn Bronze/Shoreline Beige
|
604
|
Neptune Green/Sea Mist Green
|
605
|
India Ivory/Sea Mist Green
|
606
|
Shoreline Beige/Autumn Bronze
|
607
|
Glacier Blue/Shoreline Beige
|
608
|
India Ivory/Onyx Black....
|
610
|
Glacier Blue/Skyline Blue
|
612
|
India Ivory/Regal Turquoise
|
613
|
Shoreline Beige/Neptune Green
|
614
|
Shoreline Beige/Glacier Blue
|
615
|
Shoreline Beige/Gypsy Red
|
617
|
India Ivory/Gypsy Red
|
624
|
India Ivory/Shadow Gray
|
627
|
Shadow Gray/Coral
|
628
|
Onyx Black/India Ivory
|
629
|
India Ivory/Coral
|
631
|
India Ivory/Harvest Gold
|
682
|
India Ivory/Cashmere Blue
|
684
|
India Ivory/Navajo Tan
|
685
|
India Ivory/Dusk Rose
|
|
|
|
THE TRIM CODE indicates the key to the trim color and material for each model series.
|
|
|
CODE
|
COLOR
|
500
|
Gray
|
547
|
Gray/Black
|
506
|
Blue/Beige
|
507
|
Green/Beige
|
508
|
Black/ivory
|
503
|
Blue
|
504
|
Green
|
505
|
Tan/Brown
|
509
|
Blue
|
510
|
Green
|
511
|
Brown/Beige
|
513
|
Turquoise/ivory
|
531
|
Gray/Coral
|
549
|
Gray/ivory
|
525
|
Red/Beige
|
526
|
Green
|
527
|
Blue
|
528
|
Brown/Beige
|
533
|
Gray/Coral
|
537
|
Truquoise/lvory
|
551
|
Gray/ivory
|
519
|
Beige/Blue
|
520
|
Beige/Green
|
521
|
Beige/Red
|
522
|
Beige/Turquoise
|
532
|
Gray/Coral
|
550
|
Gray/Ivory
|
514
|
Blue/Beige
|
515
|
Green
|
516
|
Brown/Beige
|
517
|
|
|
1956
|
|
|
56 Chevy ID Numbers
|
|
VEHICLE INDENTIFICATION NUMBER
|
|
Located on the plate on the left front door hinge pillar post. The 8cylinder vehicles have a "V" preceding the first digit.
|
|
FIRST DIGIT: Identifies the series and model
|
CODE
|
MODEL - SERIES
|
A
|
One-Fifty, 6cyl - 1500
|
VB
|
One-Fifty, 8cyl - 1500
|
B
|
Two-Ten, 6-cyl - 2100
|
VB
|
Two-Ten, 8-cyl - 2100
|
C
|
Bel Air, 6-cyl - 2400
|
VC
|
Bel Air, 8-cyl - 2400
|
D
|
Sedan delivery, 6-cyl - 1508
|
VD
|
Sedan delivery, 8-cyl - 1508
|
VE
|
Corvette, 8cyl - 2934
|
|
|
|
SECOND AND THIRD DIGITS: Identify the model year -1956
|
|
FOURTH DIGIT: Identifies the assembly plant
|
CODE
|
ASSEMBLY PLANT
|
A
|
Atlanta, GA
|
B
|
Baltimore, MD
|
F
|
Flint, MI
|
J
|
Janesville, WI
|
K
|
Kansas City, MO
|
L
|
Los Angeles, CA
|
O
|
Oakland, CA
|
S
|
St Louis, MO
|
T
|
Tarrytown, NY
|
N
|
Norwood, OH
|
|
LAST SIX DIGITS: Represent the basic production number
|
|
|
|
BODY NUMBER PLATE
|
|
Located on the right hand side of the cowl.
|
|
THE STYLE NUMBER indicates the model and body style.
|
BEL AIR
|
|
CODE
|
BODY STYLE
|
1011D
|
2-Dr. sedan
|
1019D
|
4-Dr. sedan
|
1037D
|
Sport coupe
|
1039D
|
Sport sedan
|
1062DF
|
Station wagon (Beauville)
|
1064DF
|
Station wagon (Nomad)
|
1067D
|
Convertible
|
|
|
ONE-FIFTY
|
|
CODE
|
BODY STYLE
|
1211
|
2-Dr. sedan
|
1211B
|
Utility sedan
|
1219
|
4-Dr. sedan
|
1263F
|
Station wagon (Handyman)
|
1271
|
Sedan delivery
|
|
|
TWO-TEN
|
|
CODE
|
BODY STYLE
|
1011
|
2-Dr. sedan
|
1019
|
4-Dr. sedan
|
1011A
|
Club coupe
|
1037
|
Sport coupe
|
1039
|
Sport sedan
|
1062F
|
Station wagon (Townsman)
|
1062FC
|
Station wagon (Beuaville)
|
1063F
|
Station wagon (Handyman)
|
|
|
CORVETTE
|
|
CODE
|
BODY STYLE
|
2934
|
2-Dr.
|
|
|
|
THE BODY NUMBER is the production serial number of the body.
|
|
THE COLOR CODE indicates the paint color used on the car.
|
|
|
|
SINGLE COLORS
|
CODE
|
COLOR
|
687
|
Onyx Black
|
688
|
Pinecrest Green
|
690
|
Sherwood Green
|
691
|
Nassau Blue
|
692
|
Harbor Blue
|
693
|
Dusk Plum
|
694
|
India Ivory
|
695
|
Crocus Yellow
|
697
|
Matador Red
|
698
|
Twilight Turquoise
|
749
|
Tropical Turquoise
|
750
|
Calypso Cream
|
752
|
Inca Silver
|
*
|
Onyx Black/Silver Panel
|
*
|
Aztec Copper/Beige Panel
|
*
|
Cascade Green/Beige Panel
|
*
|
Artic Blue/Silver Panel
|
*
|
Venetian Red/Beige Panel
|
*
|
Polo White/Imperial Ivory Panel
|
|
*Corvette
|
|
|
|
TWO-TONE COLORS
|
CODE
|
COLOR
|
696
|
Crocus Yellow/Onyx Black
|
700
|
Sierra Gold/Adobe Beige
|
701
|
India Ivory/Onyx Black.
|
702
|
Sherwood Green/Pinecrest Green
|
703
|
Harbor Blue/Nassau Blue
|
705
|
India Ivory/Pinecrest Green
|
706
|
India Ivory/Sherwood Green
|
707
|
India Ivory/Nassau Blue
|
708
|
India Ivory/Dusk Plum
|
710
|
India Ivory/Twilight Turquoise
|
711
|
India Ivory/Matador Red
|
715
|
Matador Red/Dune Beige
|
717
|
Crocud Yellow/Laurel Green
|
721
|
India Ivory/Dawn Gray
|
754
|
India Ivory/Tropical Turquoise
|
755
|
Calypso Cream/Onyx Black
|
756
|
Grecian Gold/Calypso Cream
|
757
|
Inca Silver/Imperial Ivory
|
763
|
Matador Red/Adobe Beige
|
|
Note : The first color is the upper body color, the second is the lower body color
|
|
|
|
THE TRIM CODE indicates the key to the trim color and material for each model series.
|
CODE
|
COLOR
|
560
|
Gold
|
567
|
Black/Ivory
|
568
|
Ggreen/Ivory
|
569
|
Turquoise/Ivory
|
564
|
Charcoal
|
565
|
Green
|
566
|
Blue
|
573
|
Charcoal/Ivory
|
574
|
Green
|
575
|
Blue
|
577
|
Turquoise
|
578
|
Charcoal/Yellow
|
617
|
Copper/Tan
|
626
|
Charcoal/Cream
|
602
|
Charcoal/Ivory
|
603
|
Turquoise/Ivory
|
604
|
Charcoal/Yellow
|
605
|
Red/Ivory
|
606
|
Green
|
607
|
Blue
|
621
|
Copper/Tan
|
631
|
Charcoal/Cream
|
579,610
|
Charcoal/Ivory
|
629,633,628
|
Red Taupe/Red
|
630,632,627
|
Charcoal Yellow/Cream
|
611
|
Charcoal/Ivory
|
580,590
|
Green
|
581,591
|
Blue
|
593
|
Red
|
584,587,594
|
Turquoise
|
585,588,595
|
Charcoal/Yellow
|
618,619,620
|
Tan/Copper
|
570
|
Green
|
572
|
Turquoise
|
|
1957
|
|
|
57 Chevy ID Numbers
|
|
VEHICLE INDENTIFICATION NUMBER
|
|
Located on the plate on the left front door hinge pillar post. The 8cylinder vehicles have a "V" preceding the first digit.
|
|
FIRST DIGIT: Identifies the series and model
|
CODE
|
MODEL - SERIES
|
A
|
One-Fifty, 6cyl - 1500
|
VA
|
One-Fifty, 8cyl - 1500
|
B
|
Two-Ten, 6-cyl - 2100
|
VB
|
Two-Ten, 8-cyl - 2100
|
C
|
Bel Air, 6-cyl - 2400
|
VC
|
Bel Air, 8-cyl - 2400
|
D
|
Sedan delivery, 6-cyl - 1508
|
VD
|
Sedan delivery, 8-cyl - 1508
|
VE
|
Corvette, 8cyl - 2934
|
|
|
|
SECOND AND THIRD DIGITS: Identify the model year -1957
|
|
FOURTH DIGIT: Identifies the assembly plant
|
CODE
|
ASSEMBLY PLANT
|
A
|
Atlanta, GA
|
B
|
Baltimore, MD
|
F
|
Flint, MI
|
J
|
Janesville, WI
|
K
|
Kansas City, MO
|
L
|
Los Angeles, CA
|
O
|
Oakland, CA
|
S
|
St Louis, MO
|
T
|
Tarrytown, NY
|
N
|
Norwood, OH
|
W
|
Willow Run, MI
|
|
|
|
LAST SIX DIGITS: Represent the basic production number
|
|
|
|
BODY NUMBER PLATE
|
|
Located on the right hand side of the cowl.
|
|
THE STYLE NUMBER indicates the model and body style.
|
BEL AIR
|
|
CODE
|
BODY STYLE
|
1011D
|
2-Dr. sedan
|
1019D
|
4-Dr. sedan
|
1037D
|
Sport coupe
|
1039D
|
4-Dr Sport sedan
|
1062DF
|
Station wagon (Townsman)
|
1064DF
|
Station wagon (Nomad)
|
1067D
|
Convertible
|
|
|
ONE-FIFTY
|
|
CODE
|
BODY STYLE
|
1211
|
2-Dr. sedan
|
1211B
|
Utility Sedan
|
1219
|
4-Dr. sedan
|
1263F
|
Station wagon (Handyman)
|
1271
|
Sedan delivery
|
|
|
TWO-TEN
|
|
CODE
|
BODY STYLE
|
1011
|
2-Dr. sedan
|
1019
|
4-Dr. sedan
|
1011A
|
Club coupe
|
1037
|
Sport coupe
|
1039
|
Sport sedan
|
1062F
|
Station wagon (Townsman)
|
1062FC
|
Station wagon (Beauville)
|
1063F
|
Station wagon (Handyman)
|
|
|
CORVETTE
|
|
CODE
|
BODY STYLE
|
2934
|
2-Dr.
|
|
|
|
THE BODY NUMBER is the production serial number of the body.
|
|
THE COLOR CODE indicates the paint color used on the car.
|
|
|
|
SINGLE COLORS
|
CODE
|
COLOR
|
793
|
Onyx Black
|
794
|
Imperial Ivory
|
795
|
Larkspur Blue
|
796
|
Harbor Blue
|
797
|
Surf Green
|
798
|
Highland Green
|
799
|
Tropical Turquoise
|
800
|
Colonial Cream
|
801
|
Canyon Coral
|
802
|
Matador Red.
|
803
|
Coronado Yellow
|
804
|
Inca Silver
|
805
|
Sierra Gold
|
806
|
Adobe Beige
|
821
|
Dusk Pearl
|
823
|
Laurel Green
|
|
|
|
CORVETTE
|
CODE
|
COLOR
|
704
|
Onyx Black
|
709
|
Aztec Copper
|
712
|
Cascade Green
|
713
|
Arctic Blue.
|
714
|
Venetian Red
|
718
|
Polo White
|
|
|
|
TWO-TONE COLORS
|
CODE
|
COLOR
|
807
|
India Ivory/Onyx Black
|
808
|
Imperial Ivory/lnca Silver
|
809
|
Harbor Blue/Larkspur Blue
|
810
|
India Ivory/Larkspur Blue
|
811
|
India Ivory/Tropical Turquoise
|
812
|
Surf Green/Highland Green
|
813
|
India Ivory/Surf Green
|
814
|
India Ivory/Coronado Yellow
|
815
|
Colonial Cream/Onyx Black
|
816
|
Colonial Cream/India Ivory
|
817
|
India Ivory/Canyon Coral
|
818
|
Adobe Beige/Sierra Gold
|
819
|
India Ivory/Matador Red
|
820
|
Colonial Cream/Laurel Green
|
822
|
Dusk Pearl/Imperial Ivory
|
|
Note : The first color is the upper body color, the second is the lower body color
|
|
|
|
THE TRIM CODE indicates the key to the trim color
|
CODE
|
COLOR
|
650
|
Black/Gray
|
651,652
|
Black/Gray
|
653
|
Green/Gray
|
654
|
Charcoal/Ivory
|
655
|
Green
|
656
|
Blue
|
657
|
Charcoal/Ivory
|
658
|
Green
|
659
|
Beige/Copper
|
660
|
Charcoal/Ivory
|
661
|
Green
|
662
|
Copper/Beige
|
663
|
Black/Silver
|
664
|
Black/Green
|
665
|
Black/Blue
|
666
|
Black/Turquoise
|
667
|
Black/Copper/Beige
|
668
|
Black/Yellow
|
669
|
Black/Red
|
670
|
Black/Silver
|
671
|
Black/Green
|
672
|
Black/Blue
|
673
|
Black/Turquoise
|
674
|
Black/Copper/Beige
|
675
|
Black/Yellow
|
676
|
Black/Red
|
677
|
Silver/Ivory
|
678
|
Green
|
679
|
Blue
|
680
|
Turquoise/Ivory
|
681
|
Copper/Beige
|
682
|
Silver/Yellow
|
683
|
Silver/Red
|
684
|
Black/Silver
|
685
|
Green
|
686
|
Black/Blue
|
687
|
Black/Turquoise
|
688
|
Black/Copper/Beige
|
689
|
Black/Yellow
|
690
|
Black/Red
|
691
|
Black/Silver
|
692
|
Black/Green
|
693
|
Black/Blue
|
694
|
Black/Turquoise
|
695
|
Black/Copper/Beige
|
696
|
Black/Yellow
|
697
|
Black/Red
|
|
