Assembly Plant "L" ?? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**jocko** · 10-21-2009, 09:32 PM

Recently bought a 62 short fleet that has an "L" code in the VIN for the assembly plant location - can't find that letter in any of my manuals for location. Anyone got any idea where the L was "L"?

*LILRED66* · 10-21-2009, 09:43 PM

Welcome to the forums from Kansas City, KS.

I don't see an L either. Perhaps you have a Canadian truck...obviously they used different plant letters.

markeb01 · 10-21-2009, 10:08 PM

It may be Los Angeles. Per the attached link, there may have been more assembly plants than just what is listed above. Many that are shown are the same on both charts.

http://www.autofacts.ca/classics/VIN/Chevrolet.htm

**jocko** · 10-21-2009, 10:23 PM

Yep, Los Angeles is about all I could think of too - but didn't know they ever made trucks there - just seems odd. In fact, several "odd" things about this little truck. The title was the original title from late '61, yet I noticed the back was signed over in Jan 2008 (and I just bought it) - and the guy I bought from said he was the original owner. Hmmm.

Anyway, thanks very much for the help. If anyone else might have any ideas - please chime in. Maybe I have the only chevy truck ever made in Los Angeles in 62, making it extremely rare, and worth a fortune!! Yeeaaah, that's the ticket... Or not.

**jocko** · 10-21-2009, 10:02 PM

Good point. But I just bought it from the original owner - the title is dated fall 1961(!) and it's been in California its whole life on a farm. I'm cornfuzed. Thanks - I'll keep digging - let me know if you think of any other possibilities - I've checked online, LMC, and the 62 assembly manual with no joy.

markeb01 · 10-21-2009, 10:52 PM

If the guy was close to 70 years old (or older), he could very well be the original owner. I've seen pre-dated titles like that several times where an elderly person made the decision to sell, then something happened and the deal fell through or they changed their mind and held the vehicle longer.

**jocko** · 10-21-2009, 11:12 PM

Just found out some more info from the dealer that had this thing listed - the guy selling it was a collector - and he's only owned it since Jan 2008 - and when he stuffed it in his barn he never changed the title over from the original owner. So much for my assumption that I bought it from the original owner (well, actually, it was more than an assumption, the dealer SAID it was the original owner's..) Well, technically, I did buy it from the original owner according to the title - it's just that a guy that never bothered to re-title it once he bought it was wedged between me and the original owner. (that doesn't seem quite legal...) Oh well. Still a nice truck, great shape, no rust. Doesn't really matter to me if 50 people have owned it.

Thanks for helping - and I'm still trying to figure out the L assembly plant code... really odd that no L's listed for 62 trucks in any of the manuals - but I think you're probably right - it probably is Los Angeles. Regardless of make, Chevy didn't change the assembly plant codes depending on the model - they were the same across all models (if they used a common plant). I want to check the trim tag - if there even is one on this truck(?)... to make sure it wasn't a "GM of Canada" truck - something Lil Red 66 mentioned - could be the case. But if I think about it, a Canadian truck would have the Oshawa plant code, ("1") the only one in Canada at the time - and this VIN clearly has a capital "L". Must be Los Angeles. That's my story and I'm stickin to it.

markeb01 · 10-21-2009, 11:25 PM

Here's another link to more production specificaitons listing the L code in the 53-64 factory codes box on the right. I'm curious now if there are any production line photos showing what was being built in that plant in 1962. If I find anything I'll post a link.

http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/VIN.htm

**jocko** · 10-21-2009, 11:38 PM

That's a great link - thanks very much. It's truck-specific and it actually lists an L for Los Angeles in 60-64 trucks. First and only place I've seen that. If that were the first place I'd looked, I'd never have had any questions at all. If I had no info, I'd have guessed Los Angeles since the guy that bought it new lived in SoCal, so I'm willing to bet it's a Los Angeles truck. Unfortunately, I'll be the first person to have to remove that good lookin' California black plate...

Slow Build · 10-22-2009, 12:52 AM

Thanks for the link. It turns out my truck is locally built. Code H for Oakland, Ca. I guess it was made in a GMC plant.

markeb01 · 10-22-2009, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jocko

Unfortunately, I'll be the first person to have to remove that good lookin' California black plate...

Sadly, I had to do the same thing about 15 years ago. Just make sure to keep the old plates. I slapped mine back on just before my recent repaint, just to have a before and after comparison.

63 & 64 Bowties · 10-22-2009, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jocko

it's just that a guy that never bothered to re-title it once he bought it was wedged between me and the original owner. (that doesn't seem quite legal...)

I don't know about MD, but it's definitely illegal in VA. It's called "jumping" the title, and since the state misses out on one of the sales tax transactions, they're not too happy when that happens.
They have no sense of humor.

mbgmike · 10-22-2009, 08:40 AM

Yeah I just called a guy. L was LA

**jocko** · 10-22-2009, 06:29 PM

Thanks all - pretty much certain the L is Los Angeles - have used all the decoders you all sent and it's showin up every time. Still seems like it would have shown up in the original VIN decode section of the assembly manual (many have forwarded it, it's in the LMC catalog, and it's identical to my assembly manual). Maybe it was a short run or something! Good to go though, thanks. Hopefully I won't get "surprised" when I go to register this thing and they see the title was signed over 2 yrs ago...
Thanks again.

jonzcustomshop · 10-22-2009, 08:01 AM

there might be some help here:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=316902
type your vin into the decoder on post #4, as you can see the 60- vin I chose to picture in the first post was an L as well, coded out as losangeles...

Dee61Apache10 · 10-20-2017, 02:18 PM

If you find out "L" plant location please post. I have a 1961 Apache 10 with the L listed for the Plant. It was my grandfathers truck that he bought in San Diego in 60-61.

Thanks!

ImpalaJim · 10-21-2017, 07:00 AM

I'm a car/truck nut not once did I ever care of the numbers matching and or where it was made game.

**jocko** · 10-21-2017, 10:51 AM

Well that's good to know.

10-21-2009, 09:32 PM	#1
jocko Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Godley, TX Posts: 17,975	Assembly Plant "L" ?? Recently bought a 62 short fleet that has an "L" code in the VIN for the assembly plant location - can't find that letter in any of my manuals for location. Anyone got any idea where the L was "L"?

10-21-2009, 09:43 PM	#2
LILRED66 Account Suspended Join Date: May 2005 Location: Kansas City, KS Posts: 3,906	Re: Assembly Plant "L" ?? Welcome to the forums from Kansas City, KS. I don't see an L either. Perhaps you have a Canadian truck...obviously they used different plant letters. Attached Images

10-21-2009, 10:08 PM	#3
markeb01 Senior Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Spokane Valley, WA Posts: 8,356	Re: Assembly Plant "L" ?? It may be Los Angeles. Per the attached link, there may have been more assembly plants than just what is listed above. Many that are shown are the same on both charts. http://www.autofacts.ca/classics/VIN/Chevrolet.htm

10-21-2009, 10:02 PM	#5
jocko Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Godley, TX Posts: 17,975	Re: Assembly Plant "L" ?? Good point. But I just bought it from the original owner - the title is dated fall 1961(!) and it's been in California its whole life on a farm. I'm cornfuzed. Thanks - I'll keep digging - let me know if you think of any other possibilities - I've checked online, LMC, and the 62 assembly manual with no joy.

10-21-2009, 10:52 PM	#6
markeb01 Senior Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Spokane Valley, WA Posts: 8,356	Re: Assembly Plant "L" ?? If the guy was close to 70 years old (or older), he could very well be the original owner. I've seen pre-dated titles like that several times where an elderly person made the decision to sell, then something happened and the deal fell through or they changed their mind and held the vehicle longer.

10-21-2009, 10:23 PM	#4
jocko Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Godley, TX Posts: 17,975	Re: Assembly Plant "L" ?? Yep, Los Angeles is about all I could think of too - but didn't know they ever made trucks there - just seems odd. In fact, several "odd" things about this little truck. The title was the original title from late '61, yet I noticed the back was signed over in Jan 2008 (and I just bought it) - and the guy I bought from said he was the original owner. Hmmm. Anyway, thanks very much for the help. If anyone else might have any ideas - please chime in. Maybe I have the only chevy truck ever made in Los Angeles in 62, making it extremely rare, and worth a fortune!! Yeeaaah, that's the ticket... Or not.

10-21-2009, 11:12 PM	#7
jocko Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Godley, TX Posts: 17,975	Re: Assembly Plant "L" ?? Just found out some more info from the dealer that had this thing listed - the guy selling it was a collector - and he's only owned it since Jan 2008 - and when he stuffed it in his barn he never changed the title over from the original owner. So much for my assumption that I bought it from the original owner (well, actually, it was more than an assumption, the dealer SAID it was the original owner's..) Well, technically, I did buy it from the original owner according to the title - it's just that a guy that never bothered to re-title it once he bought it was wedged between me and the original owner. (that doesn't seem quite legal...) Oh well. Still a nice truck, great shape, no rust. Doesn't really matter to me if 50 people have owned it. Thanks for helping - and I'm still trying to figure out the L assembly plant code... really odd that no L's listed for 62 trucks in any of the manuals - but I think you're probably right - it probably is Los Angeles. Regardless of make, Chevy didn't change the assembly plant codes depending on the model - they were the same across all models (if they used a common plant). I want to check the trim tag - if there even is one on this truck(?)... to make sure it wasn't a "GM of Canada" truck - something Lil Red 66 mentioned - could be the case. But if I think about it, a Canadian truck would have the Oshawa plant code, ("1") the only one in Canada at the time - and this VIN clearly has a capital "L". Must be Los Angeles. That's my story and I'm stickin to it.

10-21-2009, 11:25 PM	#8
markeb01 Senior Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Spokane Valley, WA Posts: 8,356	Re: Assembly Plant "L" ?? Here's another link to more production specificaitons listing the L code in the 53-64 factory codes box on the right. I'm curious now if there are any production line photos showing what was being built in that plant in 1962. If I find anything I'll post a link. http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/VIN.htm

10-21-2009, 11:38 PM	#9
jocko Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Godley, TX Posts: 17,975	Re: Assembly Plant "L" ?? That's a great link - thanks very much. It's truck-specific and it actually lists an L for Los Angeles in 60-64 trucks. First and only place I've seen that. If that were the first place I'd looked, I'd never have had any questions at all. If I had no info, I'd have guessed Los Angeles since the guy that bought it new lived in SoCal, so I'm willing to bet it's a Los Angeles truck. Unfortunately, I'll be the first person to have to remove that good lookin' California black plate...

10-22-2009, 12:52 AM	#10
Slow Build Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: California Delta Posts: 2,163	Re: Assembly Plant "L" ?? Thanks for the link. It turns out my truck is locally built. Code H for Oakland, Ca. I guess it was made in a GMC plant. __________________ Name: Rich Current Ride: 1964 C-10 Short Fleetside Daily Driver: 2005 GMC crew cab short fleetside /2001 Chevy Tahoe Past GM Trucks: 1959 GMC short stepside 1968 GMC short stepside-4x4 1973 Chevy short stepside 1989 Chevy short fleetside-reg cab 1993 Chevy short fleetside-Xcab 2002 Chevy short fleetside-Xcab Save the dinosaurs, use synthetic oil. Last edited by Slow Build; 02-25-2010 at 05:00 PM.

10-22-2009, 08:40 AM	#13
mbgmike Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Pasadena,Tx /Pto Pta DR Posts: 5,415	Re: Assembly Plant "L" ?? Yeah I just called a guy. L was LA

10-22-2009, 06:29 PM	#14
jocko Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Godley, TX Posts: 17,975	Re: Assembly Plant "L" ?? Thanks all - pretty much certain the L is Los Angeles - have used all the decoders you all sent and it's showin up every time. Still seems like it would have shown up in the original VIN decode section of the assembly manual (many have forwarded it, it's in the LMC catalog, and it's identical to my assembly manual). Maybe it was a short run or something! Good to go though, thanks. Hopefully I won't get "surprised" when I go to register this thing and they see the title was signed over 2 yrs ago... Thanks again.

10-22-2009, 08:01 AM	#15
jonzcustomshop 1961 crewcab Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: missoula, mt Posts: 6,164	Re: Assembly Plant "L" ?? there might be some help here: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=316902 type your vin into the decoder on post #4, as you can see the 60- vin I chose to picture in the first post was an L as well, coded out as losangeles... __________________ 60 build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=280904 61 crew build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=646830 63 build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=336537 64 'burb build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=448681 65 'burb build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=590715 65 build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=281955 Last edited by jonzcustomshop; 10-22-2009 at 08:06 AM.

10-20-2017, 02:18 PM	#16
Dee61Apache10 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Fredericksburg, VA Posts: 1	Re: Assembly Plant "L" ?? If you find out "L" plant location please post. I have a 1961 Apache 10 with the L listed for the Plant. It was my grandfathers truck that he bought in San Diego in 60-61. Thanks!

10-21-2017, 07:00 AM	#17
ImpalaJim Registered User Join Date: May 2014 Location: Kewanee IL Posts: 283	Re: Assembly Plant "L" ?? I'm a car/truck nut not once did I ever care of the numbers matching and or where it was made game.



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10-21-2017, 10:51 AM	#18
jocko Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Godley, TX Posts: 17,975	Re: Assembly Plant "L" ?? Well that's good to know.

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