I'm a newbie here and hoping for some VIN help with my 47 Olds 2 door (sedanette or fastback as I've heard it referred to). I didn't get an ownership with it, and am trying to play by the rules through the Canadian version of the DMV. First step is to find the VIN on the car. I found a plate on the firewall, but online research indicates this is probably the body info plate, but it is all I can find. The plate is 2 1/2 X 4 inches, says "General Motors Canada Limited" across the top and has a line that says "serial", as well as model, engine, trim and paint. This makes me inclined to think it is the VIN tag. From what I learned, 47 olds VIN's are supposed to start with the model number of the car, 66 or 67 etc followed by 2 letters indicating the plant of manufacture. The serial number on the tag is 835070**** - not what I expect. Is this the VIN tag? Any reason that the number isn't what I expect? Any help or info would be greatly appreciated.
I don't think it will help but I just looked at my 47. Mine has the plate but also has another 3"X1/2" plate with the # starting with 76(the correct body style #) The body # on the larger plate starts with 47. Here in WA. the ***le has the engine # and none of the body #s
Tip: No car had a "VIN" until 1968. Previous to this, cars had a serial number. For the purposes of registration and ownership, the two are interchangable. In some instances, engine numbers have been used in place of the serial number. Why the number differs: Your car was apparently built and sold in Canada and a lot of the Canadian GM cars differ in identification from their US counterparts.
I concur with Tinbender. There are two tags located one on top of the other on the drivers side of the firewall toward the top. There is an indentation in the firewall for them. The thinner one is located on top and starts with the model # followed by 6 digets 66-****** Then right below this is the larger plate that has specific info starting with Style # 47-**** for example Both mine are 1947's as well and are both the same although I did move both of Big Olds' tags for aesthetic purposes. They used the smaller tag with the 66-****** as the "vin#" on the ***le
Ok, I wondered, being a Canadian car and all if the tags and designations may be different, but I guess a serial number should be just that. Well, will um, 'get' a bill of sale and head to the DMV with that number to see if is has been registered since they went computerized in 1980, otherwise, off to a lawyer for an affidavit. Really appreciate the help. Thanks for taking it easy on me and my virgin post!
No, you aint a bad bunch at all. Just poking around, trying to add input on things I know (short list) things Ive tried (longer list) and read up on things I havent a clue on (really, really, long list)!
There would be 2 plates. There are 3 body styles, 60 (A body), 70 (B body) & 90 (C body) series. Fisher (Build) plate has style number 47-**** on top line. Last 4 digits indicate body style. As stated VIN didn't commence until years later. Thin tag commences with series, 76 or ?? followed by serial number. Suffix to 66, 76 or 98 was a letter indicating plant where car was built, eg. A-Atlant Serial number doesn't match body number on Build plate either. 3607 indicates - 36 Fisher (Oldsmobile) , 07 -70 series -Coupe - Sport Dynamic (Sedanette). If there was a 'D' suffix, 46-3607D. it was a deluxe version. Body #990. Production commenced with serial 76-92001. Mine is # serial 713
The long skinny tag is the serial number (VIN) and should also match the number that is stamped into the top of the frame just ahead of the the foward drivers side body mount. Just fo the record, my 41 is that way also. Doug
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