Data Plate Decoding

[58limited]

This post is incomplete. There is a lot of data to post so I'm doing it in stages.


For VIN plate decoding, go here: http://www.1958buickforum.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=253

I decided to post the data plate information since it is not all found in one place. This info comes from the Chassis Service Manual, the Body Service Manual, and the Chassis and Body Parts Book - a rare book that most people do not have.

The first line shows the year and model number of the car:

Riviera = Hardtop, no post between the front and rear door windows.

Model Numbers:

Special
41=Four Door Sedan
43=Four Door Riviera
46C=Two Door Convertible
46R=Two Door Riviera
48=Two Door Sedan
49 =Four Door Estate Wagon
49D=Four Door Riviera Estate Wagon

Century
61=Four Door Sedan
63=Four Door Riviera
66C=Two Door Convertible
66R=Two Door Riviera
69=Four Door Riviera Estate Wagon (Caballero)

Super
53=Four Door Riviera
56R=Two Door Riviera

Roadmaster
75= Four Door Riviera
75C=Two Door Convertible
75R=Two Door Riviera

Limited
750=Four Door Riviera
755=Two Door Riviera
756=Two Door Convertible

The second line is the Style Number:

The year "58" is the prefix. The first "4" in the style number indicates Buick Motor Division, the second digit is the series number, the last two digits is the body style:

Body Style codes

69 = four door sedan
39 = four door riviera
67 = convertible
37 = two door riviera
11 = two door sedan
93 = four door estate wagon
95 = four door estate wagon riviera


Model Number / Style Number
41= 4469
43= 4439
46C= 4467TX
46R = 4437
48= 4411
49= 4493
49D= 4495
61= 4669
63= 4639
66C= 4667X
66R= 4637
69= 4695
53= 4539
56R= 4537
75= 4739X
75C= 4767X
75R= 4737X
750= 4839X
756= 4867X
755= 4837X

"X" after the style number indicates the car is equipped with electric power assists. Not sure what the "T" used on the 46C style number means, I thought that it might be a typo in my book, but it is written that way in two different books.

The third line is the Body Number:

The letter prefix is the plant where the body was produced, the numbers are the body's individual serial number.

G=Flint
BC=South Gate
BL=Linden
BK=Kansas City
BW=Wilmington
BA=Atlanta
BF=Framingham
BT=Arlington

The third digit of the Vin number should correlate with these codes: xE1001001 = Flint, xE2001001 = South Gate, xE3001001 = Linden, etc. (x=series code) See VIN plate decoding post.

The fourth line is the Trim Number:

4/1/2012 - OK, after a couple of years I finally remembered to update this section.

This is a very long section, I scanned the pages and posted them as jpeg images, links below:

http://www.1958buickforum.net/webpage/trimcodes1.jpg

http://www.1958buickforum.net/webpage/trimcodes2.jpg

http://www.1958buickforum.net/webpage/trimcodes3.jpg

The fifth line is the Paint Number:

Duco Paint
A=Carlsbad Black
B=Sylvan Grey
C=Glacier White
D=Hunter Green
E=Spray Green
F=Colonial Blue
G= Warwick Blue
H=Dark Turquoise
J=Light Turquoise
K=Antique Ivory
L=Casino Cream
M=Seminole Red
N=Garnet Red
P=Reef Coral
R=Desert Beige
S=Cobalt Blue
T=Desert Sage
U=Mojave Yellow
W=Canyon Cedar

Lucite Paint
1=Green Mist
2=Blue Mist
3=Laurel Mist
4=Silver Mist
5=Polar Mist
6=Gold Mist

I believe Lucite was only available on Roadmaster and Limited - can anyone confirm this?

Single color cars will have two numbers or letters, both the same. Two-tone cars will have two different letters or numbers. The first is the top color, the second is the bottom color. Factory two tone cars only came with the roof painted a separate color. Cars that have a different color under the sweep spear (or the louver bank of the Limited) are after market paint jobs.

Below are links to scans of the 1958 Buick paint chips. My paint chip pages are worn and have smudges, but I thought it would be fun to scan and post these:

http://www.1958buickforum.net/webpage/chip1.jpg

http://www.1958buickforum.net/webpage/chip2.jpg

http://www.1958buickforum.net/webpage/chip3.jpg

http://www.1958buickforum.net/webpage/chip4.jpg

The sixth line is the Accessory Code:

I have been unable to find info on these codes - can anyone help?

I copied dvonk's post below and put it here to make one complete list. Thanks for posting this info, dvonk.

Here is a site with a fairly comprehensive list of 1958 Buick Identification Codes. also included is a partial list of accessory codes (copied directly from the site): http://www.rowand.net/Shop/Tech/1958BuickAccessoryCodes.htm

B: Heater & Defroster

D#: Radio - trailing number designates radio type/style
Known possibilities are:
• D1 - Sonomatic Radio and electric antenna
• D? - Radio and Rear speaker
• D? - WonderBar radio with electric antenna and rear speaker
• D? - Any Radio and antenna with no rear speaker for convertibles

E: Upper Padded Dash
F: Safety Group - Speed Minder and Brake Warning Light
G: Windshield Washer and Wide Angle (Cam-o-matic) Wipers
I: Tinted Glass
J: Luggage Rack (for Wagons)
K: Foamex Seat Cushions
L: Power Brakes

P#: Exterior Chrome Trim Style, Special Only - trailing number designates style
Known possibilities are:
• P? - Narrow Mouldings
• P? - Wide Mouldings
• P? - No Mouldings

Q: Permanent Antifreeze
T1: Wide Whitewall Tires (does this mean there were also Standard/Narrow Whitewall Tires?)
U: Power Windows
X2: Map Light

[dvonk]

Here is a site with a fairly comprehensive list of 1958 Buick Identification Codes. also included is a partial list of accessory codes (copied directly from the site):

B: Heater & Defroster

D#: Radio - trailing number designates radio type/style
Known possibilities are:
• D1 - Sonomatic Radio and electric antenna
• D? - Radio and Rear speaker
• D? - WonderBar radio with electric antenna and rear speaker
• D? - Any Radio and antenna with no rear speaker for convertibles

E: Upper Padded Dash
F: Safety Group - Speed Minder and Brake Warning Light
G: Windshield Washer and Wide Angle (Cam-o-matic) Wipers
I: Tinted Glass
J: Luggage Rack (for Wagons)
K: Foamex Seat Cushions
L: Power Brakes

P#: Exterior Chrome Trim Style, Special Only - trailing number designates style
Known possibilities are:
• P? - Narrow Mouldings
• P? - Wide Mouldings
• P? - No Mouldings

Q: Permanent Antifreeze
T1: Wide Whitewall Tires (does this mean there were also Standard/Narrow Whitewall Tires?)
U: Power Windows
X2: Map Light

if anyone has any supplemental information, feel free to enlighten us further.

[58limited]

Thanks for the info!

[dvonk]

i have a question that perhaps someone may be able to answer. the last line on my data plate reads like this:

BODY BY FISHER 2-5

anyone have any idea what the "2-5" means, or does anyone else have any supplemental stamped numbers on the last line?

[limited58]

My data plate for my Limited says something similar but it's "Body by Fisher 1-1"

Sorry, but I don't know what 1-1 means either...

[dvonk]

hm, interesting. perhaps if others have these numbers as well we might be able to find some sort of correlation...

[ttotired]

Brilliant info thank you for taking the time to work all this out

Mick