1970 Van Nuys El Camino Protect-O-Plate Warranty Card

Decode your Protect-O-Plate Warranty card

Only one example. 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.

Only Atlanta and Kansas City abbreviated the engine suffix code and rear axle code to two letters omitting the initial "C" letter (e.g., TW for engine instead of CTW or CF for rear axle instead of CCF). Arlington, Baltimore, Flint, Van Nuys, and Oshawa used the full three letter code  for these two items. Often other 'concessions/errors' were made such as the TH400 coding on the Van Nuys example of 70F273 instead of 70CF273.

Note:  GM offers 2 explanations on decoding the VIN.  Using the common 13680 as an example:
1. When describing the VIN plate: 1 ~ Chevrolet Division, 36 ~ Malibu V8, 80 ~ 2-door sedan pickup
...and...
2. When describing the POP: 13 ~ Chevelle, even number (4 or 6) is a V8 - odd number (3 or 5) is a L6, 80 ~ 2-door sedan pickup. The engine designations of 4 or 6 for a V8 engine, and 3 or 5 for a L6 engine was determined by the series.

A V8 Standard would be 4 and Malibu would be 6.
A L6 Standard would be 3 and Malibu would be 5.

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

Van Nuys California

1st line:
136800L127620 ~ VIN
13680 ~ Chevelle (13), Malibu V8 (6), 2-door sedan pickup (80)
0 ~ Model Year of Production: 1970
L ~ Final Assembly Plant: Van Nuys, CA.
127620 ~ Sequence Assembly Number ~ 27,620th Chevelle at Van Nuys
R ~ Carburetor Source: Rochester

2nd line:
T0923CTW ~ Engine Plant: Tonawanda Engine Plant, September 23 (0923), L34 402/350hp w/TH400 (CTW)
CCO1005B ~ Rear Axle Number: Positraction 2.56:1 ratio (CCO), October 5 (1005), Buffalo (B)
O ~ Vehicle Build Month: October

3rd line:
70F273 ~ Transmission Number: 1970 (70), Turbo Hydramatic 400 engine code 402/350hp (F), 273 being the 273rd day counted from January 1, 1969...making the transmission date September 30, 1969.

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

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

Interesting note: Rear end prefix code is shown with 3 letters "CCO" instead of typical 2 letters "CO."

1st line:
136800L144197 ~ VIN
13680 ~ Chevelle (13), Malibu V8 (6), 2-door sedan pickup (80)
0 ~ Model Year of Production: 1970
L ~ Final Assembly Plant: Van Nuys, CA.
144197 ~ Sequence Assembly Number ~ 44,197th Chevelle at Van Nuys
R ~ Carburetor Source: Rochester

2nd line:
T1107CTW ~ Engine Plant: Tonawanda Engine Plant, November 07 (1107), L34 402/350hp w/TH400 (CTW)
CCW1030B ~ Rear Axle Number: 3.31:1 ratio (CCW), October 30 (1030), Buffalo (B)
N ~ Vehicle Build Month: November

3rd line:
70F304 ~ Transmission Number: 1970 (70), Turbo Hydramatic 400 engine code 402/350hp (F), 304 being the 304th day counted from January 1, 1969...making the transmission date October 31, 1969.

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

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

Interesting note: Rear end prefix code is shown with 3 letters "CCW" instead of typical 2 letters "CW."