VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (VIN)

The Vehicle Identification Number plate (VIN) has similar information to the trim tag such as the model, year, and assembly plant. One difference is the last six numbers relating to the assembly plant sequence as opposed to the trim tag's Fisher Body sequence and the series will designate a 6-cyl (odd 3rd digit) or V8 (even 3rd digit) on the VIN plate where the 3rd digit on the trim tag does not.

This VIN reads 136370K160138 and is for a Malibu V8 2-door sport coupe assembled in Kansas City, MO. and is the 60,138th model sequenced at the plant for 1970.

First Character: Division of General Motors
1 - Chevrolet

Second and Third Character: Series Designation
31 - Nomad, 6-cylinder
32 - Nomad, 8-cylinder
33 - Chevelle Standard, El Camino, Greenbrier, 6-cylinder
34 - Chevelle Standard, El Camino, Greenbrier, 8-cylinder
35 - Malibu, El Camino (Custom), Concours, 6-cylinder
*36 - Malibu, El Camino (Custom), Concours, 8-cylinder
38 - Concours Estate, 8-cylinder

Fourth and Fifth Character: Body Style/Model
35 - 4-door station wagon, 2 seats
36 - 4-door station wagon, 2 seats
*37 - 2-door sport coupe
39 - 4-door sport sedan
46 - 4-door station wagon, 3 seats
57 - Monte Carlo 2-door sport coupe
67 - 2-door convertible
69 - 4-door sedan
80 - 2-door sedan pickup

Sixth Character: Year of Production
0 - 1970

Seventh Character: Final Assembly Plant
R ~ Arlington, Texas
A ~ Atlanta, Georgia
B ~ Baltimore, Maryland
F ~ Flint, Michigan
*K ~ Kansas City, Missouri
L ~ Van Nuys, California
1 ~ Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

Eighth through Thirteenth Characters: Sequential Production Number
The sequential starting number for the 1970 Chevelle was 100001 at most Chevelle assembly plants with Arlington and Oshawa being the exceptions. Arlington started Chevelle numbering at 200001, and Oshawa, Ontario started Chevelle numbering at 500001. Each assembly plant sequenced Chevelles of all series/models without regard to specific series/models. For example, if a series 13435 station wagon followed a 13667 Malibu convertible, the sequence number would be one unit higher for the wagon. It's also entirely possible to have the same sequence number from five 1970 U.S. assembly plants (Atlanta, Baltimore, Flint, Kansas City, and Van Nuys) with the only difference between the VINs being the plant code. This would only apply to Arlington sequence numbers from 200001 through 222339 since Arlington sequence numbers began with 200001 and Baltimore's last reported sequence being 207939 and Kansas City's last reported sequence being 222339.

Production at the Baltimore assembly plant in July and the Kansas City plant exceeded 100,000 units in February so the VIN sequence from those time frames to the end of production would be 4nnnnn for the Baltimore and Kansas City plants.