Hello - I'm new to the site and am looking for help in decoding the cowl tag on my late father's 79 Elky. He purchased this car early last year to show and became ill and passed away last fall. I am wanting to sell this car as the family has no use for it and I don't want to see it just set. It is a 60K mile car and runs like a dream. I need to know exactly what we have so I can advertise with some assurance. The car has SS badges and is a black car with red interior. Here is the cowl tag info and thanks so much in advance:

71 1AW80 Z 107804
74D A52 15L 15U
11C--- 640638

Sorry for your loss!!


Here is what I come up with...

71 1AW80 Z 107804

71 should be 79 for the model year. Typo?
1AW80 - El Camino 2-Dr. Pickup Delivery
Z - Fremont CA final assembly plant code
107804 - Body serial number

74D A52 15L 15U
74D - Dark Carmine cloth interior trim code
A52 - Seat code for a bench seat
15L - Silver Poly lower paint color (L)
15U - Silver Poly upper paint color (U)


11C--- 640638
11C - Production date code for Nov (11), 3rd week (C)
640638 - Internal plant processing number. Nothing about the car, just how they identified it.

No other codes on the lower part of the tag??

If you want to post the VIN (top of dash, drivers side at base of windshield) I can tell you what the engine was, there were 2 V6's and 3 V8's offered. The SS was only with the 305 and 350 engines, so if it not those we can elimate that option.


good luck

I was able to decode the VIN to figure out it was and is a 305. Is there any possible way to tell whether it was built as a Super Sport? It has all the badges and decals but I don't know anything about these cars. Your help is much appreciated.

Nothing on the body tag or in the VIN will tell you the options on the car. You would need a vehicle invoice for that info.

They are available for 1977 up GM vehicles from a GM tier 1 supplier, Allied Vaughn.

It will cost you money and time to get the info. Thats you only option at this point. The invoice will list everything, it baically the dealers copy of the window sticker only with more info.


HERE IS THE link to the form to fill out (http://www.chevelles.com/vis/vehicle_invoice_order_form.pdf)