Ok, so here`s what I found out with the swiss type sheets: the 455 had not, at least here, an engine code with a T in it. I completed the type sheets you have seen earlier with a second page that belongs to each. The 350 has under "Motorenbezeichnung(engine decoding)" a PS, the 455 a SP, both meaning automatic transmission (page two).There are other codes indicating reinforced automatic trans, 3- and 4 speed.No T-code to see in my papers, check for yourself Jens
SP is not a 455 engine code. It is the code for a 1970 model only high compression, 315 Horsepower 350 cid Buick.
For 1971 : "SP" = "TR" = GS 455 (automatic) All of the codes listed for 350 & 455 on the sheets are correct. The "PS" shown is correct. "PS" = "TD" = GS 350-4bbl (automatic) Jens, If you have a GS 350 then the PS code on your tag is correct.
Ok guys, thanks very much for clearing things. Very informative searching through the car with you. But we still haven`t solved why the hand written sheets under the seats are different from the numbers on the tags. Most likely not from the car? Jens
Not from yours, not official paperwork - workers were not supposed to leave things like that behind - its just a note someone made, probably did few at a time - as they were working - dropped it in your car, the one for yours probably got dropped in the next car.
This has great learning for me too getting to see an exported car documentation, Car sold in Canada also some different paperwork called import sheets, but I have never seen one, body tags for cars built here had slightly different layout than US cars, but not as different as yours. If a Buick was built or initially sold in Canadia here you can options/colors/emission info and some other basic info from GM Canada thru vintage vehicle services http://www.gm.ca/gm/english/shopping/parts/vintage examples at http://www.vintagevehicleservices.com/options.html you may be able get similar documents from GM Switzerland ??? If anyone has Canadian import or Documenation export/import to othe Countroes I'd like to include that in the update to <center> </center> Documentation Decoding and Vehicle Matching Guide Jens did you notice this also has sheet like what you found in yours plus are couple more in other threads I will add yours in the update. along with other other documentation and tags, Thanks to you Switzerland will have its own page - let me what you find for documention from GM Switzlerland And if you can from the sheets you have "Motorenbezeichnung-Typennummer"and do something like below for the guide - Does yours have a Swiss badge like the Camaro see below The Camaro guys have a web page on foreign plants - I would like to add similiar info for Buicks to the guide. As you can some rarer machines were built in these plants I think a factory 283 powered Camaro would be great. This also why Jens probably got a 350 rather than 455 -Taxes http://www.camaros.org/foreign.shtml Bienne, Switzerland <table align="left" border="0"> <caption align="bottom">GM Suisse Grille Emblem </caption> <tbody><tr><td> </td></tr> </tbody></table> The General Motors Suisse SA plant was located in Bienne (the town is called Bienne in French and Biel in German) in western Switzerland. It produced Chevrolets, Vauxhalls, and Opels. The plant also homologated SUP's. It ceased production of Camaros and other Chevrolet models after 1968. Total Chevrolet production was 511 in 1967 and 343 in 1968, mostly for the Swiss market. Unfortunately the production quantities are not broken down by model, but by the VIN's observed so far, there were just over 200 67 Camaros made. We don't have much data on 68 Swiss Camaros, but there were at least 80 produced. Cars that were assembled by the Bienne plant received a unique emblem on the grille representing the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau peaks and bearing the words "General Motors Montage Suisse" - Montage Suisse meaning Made In Switzerland. Emblems on homologated cars had "General Motors Suisse SA Bienne" on them, since the cars weren't made in Switzerland. <table align="right" border="0"> <caption align="bottom">1967 Swiss Homologation Document BT5776</caption> <tbody><tr><td> </td></tr> </tbody></table> Swiss Camaros were unique in that they were the only application of the 283 cu. in. V8 engine in any Camaro. This was done for tax reasons (the tax was based on engine displacement). The 283 was used in 1967 models. The 1968 models used the 327/210 hp engine. No L6 Swiss cars have been found. The transmission choice was either a Powerglide automatic or a manual 4-speed. Most cars had several options such as power windows, rear defroster, console, power disc brakes, power steering, and deluxe interior. The Swiss plant took the most liberties of any plant with the VIN. The format was S9-YY5xxx where YY was the year, 67 or 68. 5 was the code for Camaro (also used on U.S. window stickers). xxx was the consecutive serial number. The VIN on the tag below is S9-675199. The VIN was attached to the dash and also was stamped on the cowl tag. The cowl tag four lines of information: Line 1: Make and road homologation document. The homologation document (called a type certificate by the Swiss) confirms that the model is in compliance with Swiss traffic laws. This document will be on-file with the Swiss authorities and an example is shown to the right. Line 2: Model and model number, release number. Like the Antwerp cars, this is an internal tracking number. It appears to be the XCO number and the unit number in the XCO. Line 3: Motor code and exterior color. The motor code is the engine suffix stamped on the engine pad. The exterior color codes use an X and then a 3-digit number. The meaning of the color code is undetermined. Line 4: Chassis number (VIN) and interior trim. The interior trim code also uses an unknown code format. It is in the form of XJ and then a 3-digit number. <table align="center" border="0"> <caption align="bottom">1967 Swiss Trim Tag</caption> <tbody><tr><td> </td></tr> </tbody></table>
Hi Rob, thanks for the info, I`ll keep the sheets just to show that the workers did mix up things back then. NS in your profile stands for Nova Scotia? Do you speak french? I have to dig it out but actually have french info about the GM Bienne history. And just as a side note, the first car rolling off the assembly line was....a Buick!Yeah, 1936, long ago. They assembled the cars here until tne early 60ties, then tax regulation were changed and it was more lucrative to import the cars as partially knocked down versions(as I`m informed, chassis, engine and drivetrain in 3 seperate boxes), than "finished" over here. Yes, I also have the GM Suisse sign in the grill, actually, many young people back then used to get rid of them for they wanted a "real" american car and not a swiss import.Today though they are sought after. On my cowl tag there`s a few things missing instead of the full-trimmed plate on the Camaro you`ve shown here, e.g. Rel, Col, Trim. I`m not at work right now,where I store most of the Buick infos I`ve gathered, but when I return, I`ll look up some more info. And that 1974 Buick GS type sheet I`ll have
Finding this late. That's my article on Bienne and the other Camaro plants. The sheets are for the trim shop. The model #'s are often abbreviated and aren't always the same as the VIN - it's just to tell them if they are making full-size or A-body parts. The sheets won't have the exterior color. What options are on the car? I see A31 (power windows), A46 (power seat?), B22, D35, D55, M38, and U80. Also, POWER is written down the right side of the one sheet - probably for the power seat. 391 and 444 are probably the rotation/sequence #'s for the cars. Meaning these tags appear to be for 2 different cars, though they are similarly optioned. Your Bienne tag is obviously in conflict - 350 engine code and 455 type sheet #. I'd say just a error. Note that your Flint cowl tag is missing the US conformance data - an export only feature. I'd be interested in seeing that. And if you run across any other Bienne cars...... Thanks!
