1965 Chevelle Fisher Body Number Plate General Information

[ 1964 ] | [ 1965 ] | [ 1966 ] | [ 1967 ] | [ 1968 ] | [ 1969 ] | [ 1970 ] | [ 1971 ] | [ 1972 ]

  • In-depth analysis of 1965 Fisher Body Number Plates

  • Decode your 1965 Chevelle Fisher Body Number Plate

  • Generally, in 1965 the series/model designation on the trim tag is a trim level and not an indication of the engine type installed in the vehicle as Fisher Body didn't care what engine type was to be installed. Fremont and Oshawa are the only two known plants to match the Fisher Body style number with the series/model of the VIN. Baltimore and Framingham are known to use a style number with an even 3rd digit regardless; Atlanta, Euclid, and Kansas City are not certain and only the Vehicle Identification Number plate can determine whether the model was delivered with a V8 or L6 engine.

  • The SS series was produced with both the L6 engine and the V8 engine in both the 2 door sport coupe and convertible models. Hence, even numbered series/model (e.g., 13837) is assumed to be a V8 series while odd numbered series/model (e.g., 13737) are assumed to be a L6 series for production figures.

  • Indications are the body numbers are sequential for the particular series/model per plant.

  • A popular publication states, "On all 1965 through 1971 trim tags, the engine identification portion of the model identification number always indicates a V-8 engine. No 6-cylinder engine identification numbers are stamped on any trim tag." This is an incorrect statement for not only 1965 through 1971 but includes 1972 as well. There are numerous examples of trim tags with an odd 3rd-digit style on this website.

  •  Group option Trim Codes

  • Links to Fisher Body Number Plates (a.k.a., trim tag, cowl tag, firewall tag, etc.)

  • ATL ~ Atlanta, Georgia ~ El Camino
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    • Assembly month padded with leading zero where applicable.
    • Has dash character (-) after interior trim code.
    • Separates lower and upper body colors with a dash character (-).
    • Includes group option codes.
    • Almost all have a hand-stamped number visible. Believed to be the body assembly platform number.
    • The Fisher Body plant at Euclid, OH. supplied El Camino bodies to Atlanta for final assembly.
  • BAL ~ Baltimore, Maryland ~ El Camino
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    • Assembly month padded with leading zero where applicable.
    • Does NOT have a dash character (-) after interior trim code.
    • Only one tag does NOT separate lower and upper body colors with a dash character (-).
    • Does NOT list option codes in groups but rather as a row of numbers above the plant id code denoting the trim tag broadcast sheet number.
    • Malibu convertible tag (13667) does NOT state "Body By Fisher". Lists trim color of 721 that does not appear in GM documentation. The only colors listed in sales literature available with Mist Blue (D) are 766 Fawn and 742 Blue. The 742 Blue does not appear in GM trim combination list.
    • One example of "13837" on the body tag and "13737" on the VIN with very late 1965 build date of August, 3rd week as noted by VIN 187999.
    • The Z16 prototype was assembled at Baltimore, all 200 production Z16 optioned Chevelle Sport Coupes were built at Kansas City.
  • BF ~ Fremont, California ~ El Camino
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    • Fremont has several variations of showing unit's color and wheel colors.
    • Assembly month not padded with leading zero where applicable.
    • Does NOT have a dash character (-) after interior trim color. However, they do include the GM letter code for the rest of the interior trim paint color.
    • Does NOT separate lower and upper body colors with a dash character (-).
    • Does NOT list option codes in groups but rather as a row of numbers after ACC.
    • The only assembly plant to use the text, "THIS CAR FINISHED WITH Magic Mirror ACRYLIC LACQUER" above the "BODY BY FISHER" line.
    • The only assembly plant to use the text "DETROIT, MICHIGAN" and "CHEVROLET DIV. GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION" instead of simply "GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION"
    • Some have a space between the second and third letter of the paint code showing wheel color. Most Malibu SS cars do not show a wheel color although a few do for some reason. This 3-letter paint code practice appears to be random in June and July for all models except the El Camino that appears to consistently use 3-letter paint codes.
    • Also interesting to note that convertibles did not include the top color on the body plate but continued with a two-letter paint code.
    • Vinyl top equipped sport coupes did not include the top color on the body plate but continued with a two-letter paint code.
    • Convertibles did not include the top color on the body plate but continued with a two-letter paint code.
    • One body plate dated July of 1965 is a completely different style. More like the 1966 model year although early 1966 body plates (pre January 1966) retained 1965 style of information presented.
  • EUC ~ Euclid, Ohio ~ El Camino
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    • Assembly month padded with leading zero where applicable.
    • Does NOT separate lower and upper body colors with a dash character (-).
    • Euclid, Ohio continued to supply bodies to Atlanta, Baltimore and Kansas City even though these plants had their own 1965 body plant. The  2-door, 2-seat 300 station wagons and El Caminos were the most common series/styles supplied. Final assembly plant is usually  noted by a single letter in the upper right hand corner; "A" for Atlanta, "B" for Baltimore and "K" for Kansas City.
  • FRA ~ Framingham, Massachusetts
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    • Assembly month padded with leading zero where applicable.
    • Has dash character (-) after interior trim code.
    • Does separate lower and upper body colors with a dash character (-).
    • Includes group option codes.
    • Mysterious "P" code found in Group 4 options.
    • Stamped letter in upper right corner the tag identifies the interior paint color and matches the interior paint color code found on the warranty card Protect-O-Plate; not to be confused with the seat type/material/color also identified on the trim tag.
  • KAN ~ Kansas City, Missouri ~ El Camino
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    Click either tag for more Kansas City examples...
    • Assembly month padded with leading zero where applicable.
    • Has dash character (-) after interior trim code.
    • Does separate lower and upper body colors with a dash character (-).
    • Includes group option codes.
    • Several production Z16 body plates included.
    • Mysterious "P" code found in Group 4 options.
    • El Camino tags have been found with both KAN and EUC Fisher Body plants.
    • Sometime around late June, a 2- to 4-digit number began appearing next to the body date and its meaning is unknown at this time.
  • OS ~ Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
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    • Wording and data presentation is different than any U.S. assembly plant.
    • Body date is completely different from U.S. assembly plant counterparts. Instead of a month and week letter, a real date is shown such as 4-13 for April 13. There is also a number ("1" or "2") preceding the date. It's been reported this leading number is a shift number for the Oshawa plant.
    • RPO codes for options requiring some type of modification are listed on the tag such as B70, C06, M35, etc. much like U.S. plants (Atlanta, Framingham & Kansas City) that use group codes.
    • A single letter is used for paint code. If it is a convertible, the top color will be listed with the RPO codes with wording such as TOP10 where '10' is the code for a black top.

This is a typical example of a 1965 Chevelle trim/cowl tag for a Kansas City, MO. assembled Malibu SS Sport Coupe. Assembly plant body number plates varied from plant to plant in how the information was presented.

International Trim Tags


300 Deluxe 4-dr sedan trim tag from General Motors Continental Antwerp.


Malibu SS Convertible from Suisse S.A. Bienne Switzerland
Courtesy ~ Andre Laubach


A Malibu 4-dr sedan trim tag from Norway.


A typical trim tag from the Norwood, OH. plant for a 1965 Nova. The Nova trim tag was affixed next to the blower motor on the heater box as opposed to the Chevelle's trim tag location just above and to the inside of the master cylinder.


A 1965 Buick Skylark trim tag from the Fairfax plant in Kansas City, Kansas.


A 1965 Pontiac LeMans trim tag from the Fairfax plant in Kansas City, Kansas.

Anyone having a clear picture of 1965 Chevelle Body Number Plates (trim tags) and/or Protect-O-Plates, please contact me here.