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VIN information (GM)

The VIN tells a lot about a car.  If you are unsure about the year, you can take a glance at the VIN for cars 1949 and later.  Oldsmobile started using VINs in 1946, the first model year after World War II.  Oldsmobile made rockets during the war, which is why the rocket is used as the logo.


                       
1946 - 1948  		     
7 or 8-digit VIN (2 or 3 symbols plus 4, 5 or 6-digit sequential production number)
1949 - 1960 8 or 9-digit VIN (4 symbols plus 4 or 5-digit sequential production number)
1961 - 1962 9-digit VIN (4 symbols plus 5-digit sequential production number)
1963 - 1964 10-digit VIN (4 symbols plus 6-digit sequential production number) *
1965 - 1980 13-digit VIN (7 symbols plus 6-digit sequential production number)
1981 - 2001  7-digit VIN (11 symbols plus 6-digit sequential production number)
  * 1963 and 1964 used different formats

The letters "I" or "O" are never used in VINs.  The character is probably a number "1" or "0".

Year Symbols (GM)
                      
1946 - 1948		   
Not included in VIN
1949 - 1963 First two numbers
1964 Third symbol
1965 - 1981 Sixth symbol
1981 - 2001 Tenth symbol


VIN Locations (GM)
                 
1946 - 1948  		    Left front door hinge pillar
1949 - 1956 Left front door pillar on right side of cowl
1957 - 1962 Left front door pillar on right side of cowl
On cowl under hood
On flange left of frame, just around cowl
On metal plate on top of left front end of frame
On engine number plate
1963 - 1967 Left front door pillar
1968 - 2001 Top left of dashboard viewable through windshield

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