1971 Chevelle Protect-O-Plate Warranty Card (Oshawa, ON)

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Decode your Protect-O-Plate Warranty card

I have more examples but only list a few examples on this page. If you request help with yours, contact me and I'll be glad to answer any questions you have. Include a photo of the Protect-O-Plate as plants often deviate during the model year.

You'll notice some plants used a three letter engine suffix code while some used a two letter code; Arlington even used both for the 454, LS5 engine - PD and CPD. All examples, so far, also used a three letter suffix code on the rear end axle ratio code.

You'll also notice that some plants code the rear end with the assembly plant first followed by the rear axle code and some will code the rear axle code first followed by the assembly plant.

Note:  GM offers 2 explanations on decoding the VIN.  Using the common 13637 as an example:
1. When describing the VIN plate: 1 ~ Chevrolet Division, 36 ~ Malibu V8, 37 ~ 2-door sport coupe
...and...
2. When describing the POP: 13 ~ Chevelle, even number (2,4,6,8) is a V8 - odd number (1,3,5) is a L6, 37 ~ 2-door sport coupe. The engine designations of 2, 4, 6 or 8 for a V8 engine, and 1, 3, or 5 for a L6 engine was determined by the series.

A V8 Nomad would be 2, Greenbrier/Standard would be 4, Concours/Malibu would be 6, and Concours Estate/Monte Carlo would be 8.
An L6 Nomad would be 1, Standard would be 3, and Malibu would be 5.

[ Arlington ] | [ Baltimore ] | [ Kansas City ] | [ Van Nuys ] | [ Oshawa ]

Note this Oshawa Protect-O-Plate is formatted like a 1970 plate and not like any 1971 U.S. assembly plant. The rear end code and transmission code are reversed in their positions from U.S. assembly plants. Additionally the carburetor code letter is directly after the VIN instead of between the rear end code and option numbers.

1st line:
1343711530539 ~ VIN
13437 ~ Chevelle (13), Chevelle V8 (4), 2-door sport coupe (37)
1 ~ Model Year of Production: 1971
1 ~ Final Assembly Plant: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
530539 ~ Sequence Assembly Number, 30,539th 1971 Chevelle at Oshawa
R ~ Carburetor Source: Rochester

2nd line:
K0316CGC ~ Engine Code: McKinnon Engine Plant (K) ~ March 16 (0316) ~ 350/245hp w/TH350 (CGC)
GAK074 ~ Rear Axle Number: 2.56:1 ratio (GA), McKinnon Industries (K), March 15 (074)
5 ~ Vehicle Build Month:  May

3rd line:
J1A05N ~  Transmission Number: J - GM of Canada TH350, 1971 (1), ~ January 5 (A05), N unknown on TH350

G-1 ~ Power steering [RPO N40]
H-1 ~ Power brake [RPO J50]
I-3 ~ Radio [RPO U63/U69/U79] (any one of the three)
J-3 ~ Disc brakes [RPO J52]

Owner/dealer info: Original owner's name/address removed for obvious privacy reasons

1st line:
1363711541204 ~ VIN
13637 ~ Chevelle (13), Malibu V8 (6), 2-door sport coupe (37)
1 ~ Model Year of Production: 1971
1 ~ Final Assembly Plant: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
541204 ~ Sequence Assembly Number, 41,204th 1971 Chevelle at Oshawa
R ~ Carburetor Source: Rochester

2nd line:
T0322CLB ~ Engine Code: Tonawanda Engine Plant (T) ~ March 22 (0322) ~ 402/330hp w/TH400 (CLB)
CHK116E ~ Rear Axle Number: 2.73:1 ratio (CH), McKinnon Industries (K), April 25 (116), Eaton (E)
5 ~ Vehicle Build Month:  May

3rd line:
71D463 ~  Transmission Number: 1971 (71), Turbo-Hydramatic 400 engine code 402 (D)  ~ April 7 (463*)

H-1 ~ Power brake [RPO J50]
I-3 ~ Radio [RPO U63/U69/U79] (any one of the three)
J-3 ~ Disc brakes [RPO J52]

Owner/dealer info: Original owner's name/address removed for obvious privacy reasons