1972 El Camino Protect-O-Plate Warranty Card

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. All examples, so far, also used a three letter suffix code on the rear end axle ratio code.

VIN identification changed in 1972 in a number of ways.
* The series was changed from a two-digit number to a single letter.
* The engine size is now identified in the VIN.

Baltimore, Maryland

No Examples

Kansas City, Missouri

File Photo
Courtesy Daniel Deuter

1st line:
1D80H2K553525 ~ VIN
1D80 ~ Chevrolet (1), Malibu (D), 2-door sedan pickup (80)
H ~ 350cid V8 2-bbl (L65)
2 ~ Year of Production: 1972
K ~ Final Assembly Plant: Kansas City, MO.
553525 ~ Sequence Assembly Number: 5,525th Chevelle at Kansas City

2nd line:
V1220CKA ~ Engine Number: Flint, MI (V), December 20 (1220), 350-2/165hp w/manual (CKA)
R2T08 ~ Transmission Code: Saginaw (R): Year 197(2), December 8 (T08)

3rd line:
GIC328 B ~ Rear Axle Number: Positraction 3.36:1 ratio (GI), Chevrolet (C [Buffalo]), November 23 (day #328)
B ~ Carburetor Source: Bay City

Options
	1	3	3
G	H	I	J	K	L	M

H-1 ~ Power Brakes [RPO J50]
I-3 ~ Radio type
J-3 ~ Disc Brakes [RPO J52]

A ~ Vehicle Build Month: January

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

1st line:
1D80W2K554178 ~ VIN
1D80 ~ Chevrolet (1), Malibu (D), 2-door sedan pickup (80)
W - 454cid V8 4-bbl (LS5)
2 ~ Year of Production: 1972
K ~ Final Assembly Plant: Kansas City, MO.
554178 ~ Sequence Assembly Number: 54,178th Chevelle at Kansas City

2nd line:
T1203CRW ~ Engine Number: Tonawanda, N.Y. (T), December 3 (1203), 454/270hp w/A.I.R. & TH400 (CRW)
72F30 ~ Transmission Code: Year 19(72), Turbo Hydramatic 400 engine code 454/270hp (F), January 30 (day #30)

3rd line:
RVC334 ~ Rear Axle Number: Positraction 3.31:1 ratio (RV), Chevrolet (C [Buffalo]), Nov 29 (day #334)
C ~ Carburetor Source: Carter

Options
1	1	3	3	1
G	H	I	J	K	L	M

G-1 ~ Power Steering [RPO N40]
H-1 ~ Power Brakes [RPO J50]
I-3 ~ Radio [RPO U63]
J-3 ~ Disc Brakes [RPO J52]
K-1 ~ Air Conditioning [RPO C60]

A ~ Vehicle Build Month: January

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

1st line:
1D80H2K606258 ~ VIN
1D80 ~ Chevrolet (1), Malibu (D), 2-door sedan pickup (80)
H ~ 350cid V8 2-bbl (L65)
2 ~ Year of Production: 1972
K ~ Final Assembly Plant: Kansas City, MO.
606258 ~ Sequence Assembly Number: 106,258th Chevelle at Kansas City

2nd line:
V0328CTL ~ Engine Number: Flint, MI (V), March 28 (0328), 350-2/165hp w/Powerglide (CTL)
Y2C24 ~ Transmission Code: Toledo TH350 (Y), Year 197(2), March 24 (C24)

3rd line:
GCG054 ~ Rear Axle Number: 2.73:1 ratio (GC), Chevrolet (C [Buffalo]), Feb 23 (day #054)
B ~ Carburetor Source: Bay City

Options
1	1	3	3	1
G	H	I	J	K	L	M

G-1 ~ Power Steering [RPO N40]
H-1 ~ Power Brakes [RPO J50]
I-3 ~ Radio [RPO U63]
J-3 ~ Disc Brakes [RPO J52]
K-1 ~ Air Conditioning [RPO C60]

D ~ Vehicle Build Month: April

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

Courtesy Doug Anderson

1st line:
1D80W2K608477 ~ VIN
1D80 ~ Chevrolet (1), Malibu (D), 2-door sedan pickup (80)
W - 454cid V8 4-bbl (LS5)
2 ~ Year of Production: 1972
K ~ Final Assembly Plant: Kansas City, MO.
608477 ~ Sequence Assembly Number: 108,477th Chevelle at Kansas City

2nd line:
T0327CRX ~ Engine Number: Tonawanda, N.Y. (T), March 27(0327), 454/270hp w/A.I.R. & manual (CRX)
P2C09 ~ Transmission Code: Muncie 4-speed (P), 1972 (2), March 9(C09)

3rd line:
RVC070 ~ Rear Axle Number: Positraction 3.31:1 ratio (RV), Chevrolet (C [Buffalo]), March 10 (day #070)
C ~ Carburetor Source: Carter

Options
1	1	3	3
G	H	I	J	K	L	M

G-1 ~ Power Steering [RPO N40]
H-1 ~ Power Brakes [RPO J50]
I-3 ~ Radio [RPO U63]
J-3 ~ Disc Brakes [RPO J52]

D ~ Vehicle Build Month: April

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

Courtesy Mark Flowers

1st line:
1D80W2K622343 ~ VIN
1D80 ~ Chevrolet (1), Malibu (D), 2-door sedan pickup (80)
W - 454cid V8 4-bbl (LS5)
2 ~ Year of Production: 1972
K ~ Final Assembly Plant: Kansas City, MO.
622343 ~ Sequence Assembly Number: 122,343rd Chevelle at Kansas City

2nd line:
T0408CRW ~ Engine Number: Tonawanda, N.Y. (T), April 08 (0408), 454/270hp w/A.I.R. & TH400 (CRW)
72F40 ~ Transmission Code: Year 19(72), Turbo Hydramatic 400 engine code 454/270hp (F), February 9 (day #40)

3rd line:
RVC090 ~ Rear Axle Number: Positraction 3.31:1 ratio (RV), Chevrolet (C [Buffalo]), March 30 (day #90)
C ~ Carburetor Source: Carter

Options
1	1		3	1
G	H	I	J	K	L	M

G-1 ~ Power Steering [RPO N40]
H-1 ~ Power Brakes [RPO J50]
J-3 ~ Disc Brakes [RPO J52]
K-1 ~ Air Conditioning [RPO C60]

D ~ Vehicle Build Month: April

Owner/dealer info: Original owner's name/address removed for obvious privacy reasons.
* The dates are counted from January 1, 1971
** This particular El Camino's transmission tag shows a date of 406. Counting from January 1, 1971 it makes it the 41st day of 1972, or Feb, 10, 1972.

Van Nuys, California

1st line:
1D80J2L537187 ~ VIN
1D80 ~ Chevrolet (1), Malibu (D), 2-door sedan pickup (80)
J - 350cid V8 4-bbl (L48)
2 ~ Year of Production: 1972
L ~ Final Assembly Plant: Van Nuys, CA.
537187 ~ Sequence Assembly Number: 37,187th Chevelle at Van Nuys

2nd line:
T1208CKD ~ Engine Number: Tonawanda, N.Y. (T), December 08 (1208), 350/175hp w/TH350 (CKD)
Y2S22 ~ Transmission Code: Year Toledo, Ohio (Y), 197(2), November 22 (S22)

3rd line:
CHC3332 ~ Rear Axle Number: Positraction 2.73:1 ratio (CH),Chevrolet (C [Buffalo]), November 29, 1971 (day #333), second shift (2)
R ~ Carburetor Source: Rochester

Options
1	1	3	3	1
G	H	I	J	K	L	M

G-1 ~ Power Steering [RPO N40]
H-1 ~ Power Brakes [RPO J50]
I-3 ~ Radio [RPO U63 or U69 or U79]
J-3 ~ Disc Brakes [RPO J52]
K-1 ~ Air Conditioning [RPO C60]

L ~ Vehicle Build Month: November

Owner/dealer info: Original owner's name/address removed for obvious privacy reasons.
* The dates are counted from January 1, 1971
** This particular El Camino's transmission tag shows a date of 406. Counting from January 1, 1971 it makes it the 41st day of 1972, or Feb, 10, 1972.