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1932-1975 Buick trim codes by model


sean1997

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You may have seen my posts on threads about Buick decoding. One of the things I do to help with that is maintain a list of trim codes. The first year the trim and paint codes appear on the body tag is 1932, so that's when my list begins. Recently I've been upgrading my trim code list to include the models on which each trim was available. I've exhausted all of my reference sources but I'm still missing trim codes for the following:

 

-1934 Series 40 (all models)

-1940 models 51C, 56C, 59, 66, 66S, 71C, 76C

-1951 models 51, 56S

-1955 model 68

-1962 style 4167

-1967 style 43417 (trim 118 only?), and style 44469

 

If anyone has a reference source for the above or knows which trims were available on those models, I would greatly appreciate it if you shared it with me. I've attached a copy of my trim code list (Excel file printed as a PDF). The cells highlighted in yellow are either missing information or need further verification, so if anyone can help with those that would be great too. In my trim code list, for 1959 and later I've used the Fisher body style number for clarity. The Buick model number and the Fisher body style number are not always the same and for 1959 and later only the Fisher body style number is given on the body tag and I wanted to be clear that the style number given on my list is the number that will actually be found on the body tag. Notes and references are given at the bottom of the list.

 

Search tags:

1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 Buick interior trim code number cowl body tag decoding

 

1932-1975 Buick Trim Codes 01d.pdf

 

 

Edited by sean1997
Fixed formatting that was obliterated by website upgrade. (see edit history)
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Sean, your effort on this is incredible! What a great resource!

Any chance we will see you and the '57 Special at the Puyallup Buick show in June and the Buick Nationals in Portland in July?

If you can break away for the Buick Nationals, a group of us will be driving south together from Tacoma on Tuesday, July 22.

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Guest Rob McDonald

Clearly, the Buick fraternity has a new Numbers Guy. Thanks for this exhaustive list and for all the answers you provide whenever asked on the forums.

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  • 3 months later...
Guest Comtesse_Bathory

Hi,

I have the trim code of my 75 Electra Limited but I can't translate :S

Anybody can help me ?

Thanks

post-100515-143142528035_thumb.jpg

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ST 75 4CX39 FL1 205325 BDY

TR 16E 19 19T PNT

04B AM6 C09

Decodes like this:

ST = style

75 = 1975 model year

4CX39 = Fisher body style number

4 = Buick

C = C-body platform

X = Electra 225 Limited

39 = 4-door hardtop sedan

FL1 = body built at Flint, MI

205325 = sequential body number

BDY = body

TR = trim

16E = Greystone Cloth and Vinyl with 60/40 Front Seat (Brahmin cloth and Doeskin grain vinyl) (sales code 163, available on styles 4CX37, 4CX39)

19 = Regal Black paint

19T = Black vinyl top

PNT = paint

04B = body build date = April (04) 1975, second week (B)

Option codes:

AM6 = SEAT ASM, FRT SPLIT W/CTR ARM REST (60-40)

C09 = ROOF, VINYL PADDED, FULL TOP

Here are some links showing the fabric (sales code 163):

http://www.smsautofabrics.com/product-info.php?pid=75-5714&pcl=c&ino=6302

http://www.smsautofabrics.com/product-info.php?pid=L-4826&pcl=v&ino=6302

Edited by sean1997 (see edit history)
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Sean,

Do you have any idea on what month model year production starts and ends? i.e, for Model year 1957 Production would start in: ???? 1956 and end in ???? 1957. I was working with Dave Corbin (God rest his soul) on this before he passed away, but he never got a chance to answer that question for me. Maybe you have an idea on that. Thanks.

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Some of that can be found in sources like Ward's Automotive Yearbook, Branham Automobile Reference Book, or the Reb Book Used Car Valuations.

Ward's list the following:

1954 model year dealer introduction date = 1/8/1954, (change over to 1955 production began 10/4/1954, no production for 10/11/1954 to 10/16/1954 as changeover operations occupy full time)

1955 model year dealer introduction date = 11/19/1954

(4-door hardtops introduced 1/4/1955)

1956 model year start = 10/19/1955 (introduction date = 11/4/1955) end =9/19/1956

1957 model year start = 10/15/1956 (introduction date = 11/9/1956)

1958 model year dealer introduction date = 11/29/1957

1959 model year dealer introduction date = 9/19/1958

For some years Ward's just lists the dealer introduction date so the actual production start would be about 3 weeks earlier to have the cars ready for the introduction, same with the other sources listed above.

(Some 1960 and all 1961 and later body tags have a date code on them.)

Edited by sean1997 (see edit history)
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I am restoring a 1970 Buick Wildcat 4-door hardtop with factory 3-speed stick shift and sandalwood interior (trim code #114). I have the paint chart for that year of Buick, but there is no formula for the sandalwood paint that goes on the top of the dashboard, on the steering column or on the window and door garnish moldings. The paint supply store is no help and the painter doesn't know what to do. Can anyone help?

Pete Phillips, BCA #7338

Leonard, Texas

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post-32059-143142528786_thumb.jpg

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I have never seen an interior paint code. Even if there was one, finding a current mixing formula would be impossible. Maybe I am lucky to have a good paint supplier that will patiently custom mix my needs from my 55's to most recently my 76 Olds (acrylic enamel for the trim and SEM for the plastic)...dead-on match and even the correct gloss. This shop selects a current chip that is close and alters to match; other shops can scan a sample and come fairly close. And fairly close would show less variation than would be on the cars during the model year and produced at different locations.

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Sean: My Buick Parts Book does not list trim for style 4167 separately. It is listed as a notation with Style 4067 as a Red vinyl interior Code 079-BX400. Footnote says "BX-400 Red Trim 4167 - Use Seat Trim Parts 4167 Trim 179 - Side Panel Parts 4067 Trim 079. Hope this helps.

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Guest my3buicks

1967 style 43417 (trim 118 only?), and style 44469

43417 Special 2 dr hardtop coupe(GS 340) trim 118 was black vinyl

44469 Slylsrk 4 door sedan - 181 Blue, 183 Champagne, 187 Maroon, 188 Black - these were cloth/vinyl combo

Edited by my3buicks (see edit history)
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Sean: My Buick Parts Book does not list trim for style 4167 separately. It is listed as a notation with Style 4067 as a Red vinyl interior Code 079-BX400. Footnote says "BX-400 Red Trim 4167 - Use Seat Trim Parts 4167 Trim 179 - Side Panel Parts 4067 Trim 079. Hope this helps.

Yes, I've seen that before. There must of been more than one trim available though. I have a wholesale car order form dated 3/27/1962 but it doesn't even list 4167. The SMS Auto Fabric site also lists trim codes 110, 119, 130, 139, 140, and 170 in addition to 179, none of which show up on the wholesale car order form or in the 1940-1966 Master Body Parts Book.

http://www.smsautofabrics.com/results.php?make=Buick&year=1962&qu%5B%5D=C&qu%5B%5D=V&qu%5B%5D=L&rpp=200

1967 style 43417 (trim 118 only?), and style 44469

43417 Special 2 dr hardtop coupe (GS 340) trim 118 was black vinyl

44469 Skylark 4 door sedan - 181 Blue, 183 Champagne, 187 Maroon, 188 Black - these were cloth/vinyl combo

Do you know if 43417 was available with any trim other than 118?

Thanks, I missed 188 for 44469 on my list, but 181, 183, and 187 for 44469 are there. Were there any others? 44469 is not listed in the 1940-1974 Buick Master Body Parts Book for some reason.

1967 Interior Trim Colors.pdf

Edited by sean1997 (see edit history)
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  • 1 year later...
  • 2 months later...
Guest Astro409

Sean, how does SMS Auto Fabrics get a 3 digit trim number? I have a 1976 Buick Regal and trying to order the seat fabric but for trim I have 64H and SMS is asking for a three digit number. Please see attachment. Thanks

post-154614-0-02648600-1441081485_thumb.

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SMS is using the Buick sales code which is from the car order form or other such literature.  The body tag uses the Fisher service code.  I have a Buick sales code column in my list, but I haven't found anything that correlates the Buick sales code and the Fisher service code for 1976.

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I thought I remember seeing a post with the order form or some other Buick document showing the trim codes for 1957 but cannot find it now. Anybody have this or can point to it? Thanks!

For some reason I just saw this reply. That's it! Thanks! Must be a rare document.

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  • 1 month later...

Here's one for your file along with a question.  See photo below.

 

What does the "K" mean that is stamped near the top right corner?

Te trim code is 863 which by your list applies to the 60 and 80 series bodies.  The remnants from this car are red leather so I presume the 70 series bodies could possibly be added to this list.

 

As for the SPEC under paint code, I have no idea what the original color was, nor what the original color could have been.

IMG_3870.JPG

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I believe the K is an option code.  I'm missing option codes for 1940, but for 1941 K was heater and defroster.  1940 model 76C is one of the models I'm missing trim codes for.  The 70 series is not included in the Buick trim code data I have for some reason, so I will add it to the list.  It would be reasonable to assume that the trims available on the 60 and 80 series were also available on the 70 series.  As for the paint, a special order color could be any color not on the Buick color options list, so not easy to track down.

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  • 2 years later...

ST 76 4AJ29 G 035640 BDY
TR 97N A51 36L 36U PNT
12C 80045

 

76 = 1976 model year

 

4AJ29 = Fisher body style number
4 = Buick (division)
A = A-body platform
J = Regal
29 = 4-door colonnade sedan

 

G = body built at Framingham, MA

 

035640 = sequential body number, no relation to VIN

 

Trim 97N = Firethorn Vinyl (Oxen and Madrid grain)

 

A51 = seat option code = Strato bucket seats

 

36L 36U = solid Boston Red Metallic

 

12C = build date = third week (C) of December (12) 1975

 

80045 = broadcast/sequence number, also found on buildsheet


 

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  • 1 year later...

Can someone help me decode my body tag from my 68 Wildcat? I got all the info except what these accessories codes are. The “C60” and “B8” I was told they mean A/C -C60 and Console-B8. My car does have a/c but it’s got a bench seat. My car is all original with only 23,000 miles on it. So I know it never had a console in it. Can someone please help me decode this tag

DD7E872B-1930-45BD-ADC1-376CB4FEDAB9.jpeg

Edited by stevenschuda
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  • 1 year later...

1941 MOD. 56  O.K.
STYLE No. 41-4527B
BODY No. 2004
TRIM No. 902
PAINT No. 560

 

STYLE No. 41-4527B

41 = model year

 

Fisher body style number 4527B
4 = Buick
5 = Series 50/Super
27B  = 2-door business coupe, 3-passenger

 

BODY No. 2004
Lack of plant code means body built at Flint, MI
2004 = 2004th 4527B built at Flint

 

TRIM No. 902
Trim 902 = Tan Canda Cloth (Mohair), available on models 41, 44, 44S, 46, 46S, 47, and 56.
Replaced trim code 901 after approx. the first 1200 cars


PAINT No. 560
Paint code 560 = solid Carlsbad Black

 

The stamped O.K. are accessory option codes for the following:
O = Grained Garnish Molding
K = Heater & Defroster
 

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  • 1 month later...

Wow! I had missed this thread! I can tell you that 4 of the unknown Canadian codes for 1965 Models are for Wildcats like my 1965 with cloth interior. Body style 46669 and 46639 codes 978-982 same cloth as Electra 225 Custom models. Back when I ordered cloth for my car from SMS auto fabrics 18 years ago, They asked me for the trim number and they didn’t have those in their catalogs. They mailed me samples which didn’t match but I sent them a picture and they figured it was the cloth used on Electra 225 Custom models.

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  • 10 months later...

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