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Decode VIN/CowlTag

3K views 13 replies 5 participants last post by  Deadwolf 
#1 ·
Just picked up a 1966, need some help deciding what the car came with i.e eng, color trim etc....

VIN 164376Y111547, TAG info
10B
ST=6616437
TR 866F
299
BWO 2096
MM
 
#2 ·
Welcome to the Team!

Engine information doesn't appear on the trim tag that just tells you model paint color and interior type. Engine information on a 1966 motor is encoded as the last two letters on the application information line (where it was built and when). Those two letters tell you what car it was installed in horsepower rating two or four barrel and type of transmission.

Big Dave
 
#4 ·
10B =====> Tenth month, second week, of 19 66
STyle=====>16437 Sports Coupe Two Door
TRim =====>866 Fawn (light tan to dark beige is the crayon color) Cloth interior
F ========> Marina Blue paint
299
B +=+=+=+=> unknown (in the book just no descritption
W ======> tinted windshield (not door glass)
O =======>two tone paint
2096
MM ======> PowerGlide transmission


As to where to look for the motor's Application Code that is stamped into the data pad in
font of the passenger's side head, as part of the block.




A big block reverses where the stamps are located. Top is a SBC the bottom is a BBC

Big Dave
 
#8 ·
Trim tag

10B is actually the 2nd week of October 1965, early car

MM is the body color Aztec bronze

The BW is the plant code for Wilmignton DE

02096 is the fisher body number

The reason for the confusion is because it's very hard to list the information on the trim tag unless you do it exactly in the same manner as it layed out. Thats' why we always ask for pics.

Thanks,

Paul
 
#11 ·
Selling dealership --> No, not from the VIN or data tag. Do you have any other paperwork for the car?
Cowl tag--> only the style will determine if the car is a V8 or 6-cylinder. Nothing on this cowl tag shows what engine/transmission.
 
#10 ·
Full break down, which include info that others have posted:
10B --> 10 = October; B = 2nd week
ST=6616437 --> ST=Style; 66=year; 16437=Impala 2-door coupe V8
BW 02096 --> BW=Wilmignton DE; 02096=sequence number of body type built --> 2096th Impala 2 door coupe built at the plant.
TR 866F --> TR=Trim; 866=Fawn interior; F= [this is typically the type of seat. "F" is not listed, so unknown at this time.]
MM --> MM=Aztec bronze, lower and upper body colors
299 --> [internal plant code]
 
#12 ·
Dealership

Unfortunately the only way to determine the dealership from the VIN is limited to: Camaros, Novas, Corvettes and Chevelles through: Chevy Muscle Docs, a division of NCRS and through permission and paperwork from GM Archives.
https://www.chevymuscledocs.com/

Other than that, other paperwork, perhaps a decal or trunk emblem, contacting previous owners; and in your case there is a good chance of finding a build sheet under a seat or inside the rear side panels.

Paul
 
#14 ·
Now if you had the "Protect-O-Plate" we could tell you just about everything about your car. I wonder if the dealerships forgot to hand these out most or the time or did that many people loose them?
 
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