VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (VIN)

The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) has much the same information as the Trim Tag such as the model, year, and assembly plant. The big change is how that data are coded differently than earlier VIN plates. A single letter (B, C, D, or H) replaces the two-digit series number, the body style retains a two-digit number, and new for 1972 is a letter (D, F, H, J, U, or W) indicating the engine installed. In previous years only the base engine type (L6 or V8) was indicated by an odd or even number. The sixth digit is the model year followed by a letter for the final assembly plant and the sequence assembly number for that plant.

A typical 1972 Chevelle VIN might read: 1D37J2B504388 meaning a Chevrolet (1), Malibu (D) 2-dr sport coupe (37) with a 350-4 (J) engine and assembled in Baltimore, MD (B).

First Character: Division of General Motors
1 - Chevrolet

Second Character: Series Designation
B - Nomad
C - Chevelle, El Camino, Greenbrier
D - Malibu, El Camino (Custom), Concours
H - Concours Estate. Monte Carlo

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

Fifth Character: Engine size/type
D - 250cid L-6 1-bbl (L22)
F - 307cid V8 2-bbl (L14)
H - 350cid V8 2-bbl (L65)
J - 350cid V8 4-bbl (L48)
U - 402cid V8 4-bbl (LS3)
W - 454cid V8 4-bbl (LS5)

Sixth Character: Year of Production
2 - 1972

Seventh Character: Final Assembly Plant
R ~ Arlington, Texas
B ~ Baltimore, Maryland
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 1972 Chevelle was 500001 at all Chevelle assembly plants. 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 all four 1972 U.S. assembly plants (five if you include Oshawa, Ontario) with the only difference between the VINs being the plant code.

Production at the Arlington assembly plant exceeded 100,000 units in early June, the Baltimore plant exceeded 100,000 units in mid February, and the Kansas City plant exceeded 100,000 units sometime in late March, so the VIN sequence from those time frames to the end of production would be 6nnnnn for the Arlington, Baltimore, and Kansas City plants.