But can anyone tell me what the 158 is? Trim code, I think, matches what's on the cowl tag. Black bench seat interior??? Is there any significance to the 483 after the engine code, and the 380 after the tranny code? Are they date related, or just production numbers. Thanks in advance to all the Buick number gods.
They are called production codes.... sort of a date code. I was told it is the number of shifts, starting with the first day of production. For example, for 2 shifts per day, 483 would be somewhere around 8 months into the model year.
Documentation Decoding and Vehicle Matching Guide fully explains the protect o plate including the production date code stuff its in the library info/owner manual section at http://www.boattail-riviera-by-buick.com/ <center> </center> Documentation Decoding and Vehicle Matching Guide lots of the decode for non boattails early 60's to 72 (model, trim, colors etc) is in the master parts illustration books in the library repair manuals section <center> </center> Master Parts Book Body Illustrations -- Feb 72 reprint -- 1972 GM Corp
I thought I had put how to decode these in the book but just checked i didn't They are production date code - which go by model year which starts the Prevous Jan - so for numbers over 365 just sub that what is left is the number of the day that that the trans or engine was produced (important for date code correct replacements) - also remember to account for leap years which 72 was so for example a 1970 - code 483, model year started 01 Jan 1969 483 - 365 = 118 1970 day # 118 = Tuesday April 28th 380 = Thursday Jan 15th 1970 numbers below 365 would be 1969 dates with standard engine trans ahead times , would except this car was built between May -July 1970. could not before engine end Apr July/Aug was when change over 71 would start. here's something that helps http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/custom.html?year=1971&country=1&lang=en&cdt=31&doy=1&typ=0&display=3&df=1
Rob, that is awesome. The cowl tag indicates the car was built in the 3rd week of June, 1970. So, the build dates for the engine/tranny work. It does seem to be a very complicated system though, doesn't it?! The Warranty card info indicates the car was delivered on July 2, 1970, at Addison on Bay in Toronto. So, those dates are all fitting together. I did just buy it this year from the original owner. Thanks so much!
I grew up in Toronto and lived about 9 blocks from the address on the protect o plate - thing is GM tape ditto wouldn't be black, it was clear and had GM marked on it. dont know what 95516 would be, usually the mileage that was on the car when it was delivered to the dealer is on the tape that's way to high for the date. Addison on bay was pretty well known high end dealership I remember going by there when I was kid and in high school - lived not far away and went to central tech high. Cadillac of dealers closing Mar 02, 2007 04:30 AM Tony Wong business reporter Bay Street brokers looking to spend bonus money on an upscale Cadillac would most likely have ended up at Addison On Bay, one of Toronto's most historic car dealerships. But in a few weeks, they'll have to look elsewhere. The dealership is closing its doors this month. The site north of the intersection of Bay and College and across from Toronto Police Services headquarters has been a dealership since 1925. But Toronto's real estate boom has made it increasingly difficult for businesses that need large showrooms to operate on prime land in the city. "This decision was a difficult one and one that was ultimately based on economic factors, including the increasing cost of maintaining a central downtown location," Clarke Addison, president of the dealership, wrote in a letter to customers. Addison said the business would be closed on or before March 16. "Watching the business grow and prosper has been the trip of a lifetime." In 1999, the Addison showroom at 832 Bay St. was designated a historic property by the City of Toronto. The building originally housed the Toronto dealership of Col. Sam McLaughlin, once president of General Motors of Canada. The handsome structure is constructed of steel with brick cladding and limestone trim. An elegant interior showcases plaster columns and ceiling beams, and mouldings in the first-floor new car showroom. Since 1955, Addison has been the tenant, renting the property from the Ontario government. But in a controversial deal in 2000, Addison Properties Ltd. bought the site in addition to another piece of land on the east side of the street from the Ontario Realty Corp. The site was sold without tender for what some media reports pegged at one-third its market value. An Ontario government spokesperson said at the time that Addison was given the exclusive right to buy the properties without a competitive bidding process because the dealership was a long-term tenant. Since then, the value of the site has further skyrocketed with the increasing popularity of condominium development. The site is particularly attractive for development because of its proximity to the luxury shops of Bloor Street to the north, the Bay Street financial district to the south, Queen's Park to the west and Yonge Street to the east. The former used car lot across the street has already been developed as an upscale condominium and retail project. It is unclear what plans Addison has for the existing heritage site. Addison management did not return calls yesterday. Clarke Addison said in his letter to customers that the majority of staff would be relocated to other Addison businesses in the GTA. The company has new- and used-car dealerships in Mississauga and Toronto selling various General Motors brands such as Buick, Pontiac, GMC and Cadillac.
95 516 would be the dealer number - didn't click in at first Canadian area start at 80 - although Addision isn't in the dealer list - Roy Foss also in TO is 95 599
Here's the rest of the story http://thetorontoblog.com/2011/02/21/historic-addison-on-bay-building-gets-a-second-life-reconstruction-partly-revealed-at-burano-condo-site/ pretty odd and interesting stuff - with the dealership.
I've read about some of Addison's history, but had never seen this article, so thank you for that. In their day, they were certainly the Cadillac of GM Dealers. Sadly, the current incarnations of Addison "stores" seem markedly disinterested in a car they sold 41 years ago. The original Addison badge is gone from the trunk lid, probably removed when the car was painted in 1994. While I'm lucky to have the p-o-p, warranty card, and original manual, I don't have the bill of sale, window sticker, and the build sheet has yet to surface.
Where might one find a list of Canadian dealer codes - would like to get the proper number for 'Montreal Buick', no longer around. I have the P-O-P for my car, but the dealer code is not on it, and was going to get a window sticker replica from Mike here on v8buick. I do have some Buick Dealer Service Information Bulletin info on P-O-Ps from '66 to '68 if you need any additional info. :TU:
<center> </center> 60-70's BUICK Dealership Codes & Address listing courtesy of the 70-72 GSX Registry www.buickgsx.net - Marks site
