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

1st line:
1D80U2B527395 ~ VIN
1D80 ~ Chevrolet (1), Malibu (D), 2-door sedan pickup (80)
U ~ 402cid V8 4-bbl (LS3)
2 ~ Model Year of Production: 1972
B ~ Final Assembly Plant: Baltimore, MD.
527395 ~ Sequence Assembly Number: 27,395th Chevelle at Kansas City

2nd line:
(Believed to be misstamped as T0906CTL)*
T0906CTA ~ Engine Code: Tonawanda Engine Plant (T), September 06 (0906), 402-4/240hp w/manual (CTA)
P2P24 ~ Transmission Code: Muncie (P): Year 197(2), September 24 (P24)

3rd line:
CFC269E ~ Rear Axle Number: Positraction 3.31:1 ratio (CF), Chevrolet (C [Buffalo]), September 15 (day #259), Eaton Positraction (E)
R ~ Carburetor Source: Rochester

Options

  1 3 3    
G H I J K L M

H-1 ~ Power Brakes [RPO J50]
I-3 ~ Radio [RPO U63 or U69 or U79]
J-3 ~ Disc Brakes [RPO J52]

J ~ Vehicle Build Month: November

Owner/dealer info: Original owner's name/address removed for obvious privacy reasons.
* CTL is the code for an L65 w/TH350 and this is clearly an LS3 w/Muncie 4-speed


Kansas City, Missouri


Courtesy Daniel Deuter

1st line:
1D80H2K553525 ~ VIN
1D80 ~ Chevrolet (1), Malibu (D), 2-door sedan pickup (80)
H ~ 350cid V8 2-bbl (L65)
2 ~ Model Year of Production: 1972
K ~ Final Assembly Plant: Kansas City, MO.
553525 ~ Sequence Assembly Number: 53,525th Chevelle at Kansas City

2nd line:
V1220CKA ~ Engine Code: Flint Engine Plant (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 [RPO U63 or U69 or U79]
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 ~ Model 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 Code: Tonawanda Engine Plant (T), December 3 (1203), 454/270hp w/A.I.R. & TH400 (CRW)
72F30 ~ Transmission Code: Year 19(72), Turbo Hydra-Matic 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 or U69 or U79]
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 ~ Model 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 Code: Flint Engine Plant (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 or U69 or U79]]
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
Courtesy Doug Anderson

1st line:
1D80W2K608477 ~ VIN
1D80 ~ Chevrolet (1), Malibu (D), 2-door sedan pickup (80)
W - 454cid V8 4-bbl (LS5)
2 ~ Model 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 Code: Tonawanda Engine Plant (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 or U69 or U79]
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 ~ Model 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 Code: Tonawanda Engine Plant (T), April 08 (0408), 454/270hp w/A.I.R. & TH400 (CRW)
72F40 ~ Transmission Code: Year 19(72), Turbo Hydra-Matic 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 ~ Model 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 Code: Tonawanda Engine Plant (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.


1st line:
1D80K2L575395 ~ VIN
1D80 ~ Chevrolet (1), Malibu (D), 2-door sedan pickup (80)
J - 350cid V8 4-bbl (L48)
2 ~ Model Year of Production: 1972
L ~ Final Assembly Plant: Van Nuys, CA.
575395 ~ Sequence Assembly Number: 75,395th Chevelle at Van Nuys

2nd line:
V0328CDG ~ Engine Code: Flint Engine Plant (V), March 28 (0328), 350/175hp, Manual (CDG)
R2D19 ~ Transmission Code: Saginaw 4-speed (R), 197(2), D19 (April 19)

3rd line:
CFC0991W ~ Rear Axle Number: Positraction 3.31:1 ratio,  (CF), Chevrolet (C [Buffalo]), April 8 (day #099), 1st shift, unknown W
R ~ Carburetor Source: Rochester

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 or U69 or U79]
J-3 ~ Disc Brakes [RPO J52]

D ~ Vehicle Build Month: April

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