sean1997

33582025 3 = built at Linden, NJ 3582025 = sequential number, range was 3,405,088 to 3,593,652 for Linden, NJ for 1939 43772391 4 = Series 40/Special 3772391 = sequential number, range was 3,572,652 to 3,786,213 for 1939 BUICK MOTOR DIVISION GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION FLINT, MICH. 1939 MOD. 46 STYLE No 39-4427B BODY No. L 1658 TRIM No. 794 PAINT No. 531 MO. DAY YEAR BODY BY FISHER 1939 = 1939 model year MOD. 46 Buick model 46 = 2-door business coupe, 2-passenger STYLE No. 39-4427B = Fisher body style number 39 = 1939 model year 4427B = Fisher body style number 4 = Buick 4 = Series 40 (Special) 27B = 2-door business coupe, 2-passenger BODY No L 1658 L = body built at Linden, NJ 1658 = 1658th 4427B built at Linden, NJ Trim 794 = Tan Bedford Cord, available on models 41, 41A, 46, 46S Paint code 531 = solid Rainier Blue The production date was rarely stamped.

Would it be possible to get a picture of the entire trim tag that isn't blurry? I notice that it says SPL on the trim and paint code line, I'm wondering if that applies to the trim or the paint If the trim number is one of the trims available on the Riviera, then I'm guessing the SPL applies to the paint, but I can't see the trim number.

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.

1963 was the last year for the Dynaflow.

The car in question is not a late model year car, but built in the first half of the model year: http://www.teambuick.com/forums/showthread.php?26290-1963-Riviera-questions&p=102770#post102770

63542331 6 = Series 60/Century (I8 320, about 6 inches longer than the I8 248 that came in Series 40/Special) 3542331 = sequential number, range was 3,396,937 to 3,572,651 for 1938 BUICK MOTOR DIVISION GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION FLINT, MICH. 1938 MOD. 6.. STYLE No 38-4627 BODY No 1330 TRIM No 409 PAINT No 515 MO. DAY YEAR BODY BY FISHER 1938 = 1938 model year MOD. 6.. (hard to see, but it is stamped there) Buick model 66S = 2-door sport coupe with opera seats, 4-passenger STYLE No 38-4627 = Fisher body style number 38 = 1938 model year 4627 = Fisher body style number 4 = Buick 6 = Series 60 (Century) 27 = 2-door sport coupe with opera seats, 4-passenger BODY No 1330 no plant code means the body was built at Flint, MI 1330 = 1330th 4627 built at Flint, MI Trim 409 = Tan Bedford Cord, available on models 61, 66S, 67, 68 Paint code 515 = solid Rembrandt Black

The FB code on the POP is a mistake, as I noted in my POP decode (http://forums.aaca.org/topic/235806-wagon-mania-64-lesabre-wagon/?page=2#comment-1500329), because the body was built by Ionia and not Flint. Ionia built the wagon bodies for Buick from 1949 to 1964 and never used a plant code. If you look at the actual body tag you will see that it does not have a plant code. Also the body number is 4334 and not 43341 as there is a space between the body number and the last digit if you look at the actual body tag. For 1964 and earlier, the body number is related to model production at the plant. For example, for the 1964 Riviera the body number ran from 1 to 37,658 since all were built at Flint. The production of 1964 4635 was 6,517 so the body number would not exceed that since all were built at the same plant. If you look at other Ionia body tags from 1959 to 1964 you will see there is always a space after the body number followed by a single digit. For comparison, if you look at a 1967 Riviera body tag, it shows the body was built a Euclid, OH and then shipped to Flint for final assembly as indicated by the F in the upper right corner of the tag. If you look at a body tag from an early '50s convertible you will see the body plant code shows Flint (G) or Linden (BL) and that there is a number in the lower left corner that indicates the plant the body was shipped to for final assembly (which would match the plant code in the car serial number). Ionia did something similar for 1957-1964. For 1957-1958 the plant code was stamped on the model number line. For 1959-1964 the plant code was stamped after the body number. This plant code represents the plant the body was shipped to for final assembly, in this case 1 for Flint.

Joern has posted pictures of all the data plates here: http://www.teambuick.com/forums/showthread.php?25968-Help-decoding-1964-Buick-Lesabre-Station-Wagon

The car serial number is based on where the chassis was built or where final assembly took place. Thus the plant code of 1 in the car serial number is correct. It was the body that was built at Ionia. In the early 1950's convertible bodies were built at Flint or Linden, NJ and then shipped to the other plants for final assembly. I've seen several convertibles with bodies built in Linden but with final assembly in South Gate, CA.

Here is a list taken from the 1937-1966 Buick car order forms. 1937-1966 Buick Optional Wheel Colors.pdf

The paint code is 1 for Carlsbad Black. K and M are accessory (option) codes. K = flexible steering wheel M = Dynaflow trans

You can also tell from the plant code on the trim tag. The plant code is the letters preceding the body number: Flint, MI = G South Gate, CA = C or BC Linden, NJ = BL Kansas City, KS = BK Wilmington, DE = BW Atlanta, GA = BA Framingham, MA = BF

Most of the Flint built cars I've seen have painted plates and most of the cars I've seen built at other plants have non-painted plates.

The car was built at Oshawa, ON. Walkerville, ON was the engine plant and the Regina, SK plant didn't build McLaughlin Buick's in 1937. 74419xxxx = frame serial number 7 = 1937 model year 4 = Buick 4 = Series 4400/Special 19 = 4-door sedan - trunk back, 5-passenger xxxx = sequential number, starting at 0001 3290167 = engine serial number I found this engine number in my database, but it was listed as belonging to frame serial number 744274376 for some reason. Trim code 211 = sorry don't have this one Paint code 751 = Oshawa Blue Deep

My trim code list is here: http://forums.aaca.org/topic/231704-1932-1975-buick-trim-codes-by-model/ Paint codes can be found in the BCA judging manual (page 46 of 85): http://www.buickclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/bca_judging_manual.pdf or in various online databases: http://paintref.com/cgi-bin/chipdisplay.cgi?year=1939&manuf=GM&info=yes&page=1 Since the car was built at Flint there will not be a plant code in front of the body number, but there is no way to recover the exact body number once it is lost. Frame serial number 13574432 was model 46C and body number 2173.

The ending frame serial number for 1936 is 2,999,496. Your frame serial number is very close to the end. Assuming the body number is 13716, that would exceed the remaining production between your frame serial number and the ending frame serial number. The only number that would make sense is 18716. I have data on another model 48. Its frame serial number is 2955395 and the body number is 16205. This supports the body number being 18716.

BUICK-MOTOR-CO. FLINT, MICH. 1936 MOD. 48 STYLE No 36-4411 BODY No ??716 TRIM No 245 PAINT No 425 MO. DAY YEAR BODY BY FISHER The body number was based on the model and related to production. It started at one and production for the 1936 model was 21,323. So a 2 probably wouldn't make sense since it would give 23716 or 28716, which is higher than the model production. The frame serial number is located behind the right front tire on the side of the frame. If you send me a PM with your frame serial number, I can check my database and see if I have any other model 48 cars with similar serial numbers that I have the body number for.

The BCA judging manual has paint codes (see page 44 of 85): http://www.buickclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/bca_judging_manual.pdf My trim code list is located here: http://forums.aaca.org/topic/231704-1932-1975-buick-trim-codes-by-model/ Looks like maybe paint code 352 and trim code 202.

An X following the Buick model number indicated an export model. An X following the Fisher Body style number indicated power accessories.

I have data on the following two cars: 494475H901404 with trim tag build code of 09C (third week of September 1964) 494475H902153 with POP build code of P (for September 1964) and trans BR 246 So 902499 would probably be 09D or 09E.

I don't think that is correct. I've attached a page from the 1968 Buick Chassis Service Manual and a stamp from a 1968 GS 400 with an automatic trans.

Garnet Red is a very nice color. Garnet Red above Antique Ivory was as very popular combination in 1957.

Seminole Red and Castle Gray Metallic were carry-over colors, meaning they were used for the 1956 model year carried over to the 1957 model year. So you could get those colors in both 1956 and 1957. Rather than include a paint chip for them on the current chart, the manufacurer assumed you would have the previous years chart and they could save a little expense by not duplicating those color chips. Castle Gray Metallic was replaced by 1957 spring color Sylvan Gray Metallic in April of 1957.

..and some of the first release.

Here is a copy of the 4-57 revision that John is referring too.