Protecto-Plate

[jim34671]

I'm trying to decode my plate to source the original dealer.
I purchased the car from the 2nd owner and thus the plate was remade to his name.
The "Catalogue of Corvette ID numbers 1955-93" book does in fact show a breakdown of Protecto-plate codes,but mine somewhat doesn't have the same format.
Is the original dealer code actually on the Protect-Plate?
If so,would this same original dealer code be transferred to the the rplmt plate
once a dealer sold the car as used and transferred the warranty.
Mine is a '70 coupe....bought from Ohio..But believe originally from Michigan.
I've got all original Ohio documents....titles,plates,bill of sale,salesman's card,etc...but only from 2nd owner who purchased from a Chev dealer in 1971 as used.
This Ohio dealership long gone.
Any help appreciated.
also have tank sticker,but too faded to read dealer code and not about to spend 800 bucks to have it restored...
Thx
Jim

[Joe L.]

Re: Protecto-Plate

Jim----

I don't think that the selling dealer's name was encoded or otherwise shown on the Protecto-Plate, itself. The debossed information on the metal portion of the plate was produced at the time of the car's manufacture. As far as I know, the identity of the dealer to which the car was shipped was not included on the plate. In those days, as well as today, cars were often dealer-traded so the dealer to whom delivered might not be the selling dealer, anyway.

The dealer added the purchaser's name and address information via the "reverse image" dymo labeler and tape. Then, the dealer usually stamped the outside of the cardboard portion of the "folder" which the Protecto-Plate was affixed to with the dealer's name and address. There was a box on the folder for this purpose. Actually, it was not really important that the selling dealer's name appear anywhere on the Protecto-Plate or folder to which it was attached. The purpose of the Protecto-Plate was, of course, for warranty repair. In those days as well as today, an owner does not need to return his vehicle to the selling dealer for warranty repair. He could take it to any dealer franchised by GM to sell that make.

Some of this varied from year-to-year. However, I believe that the procedure for 69 and 70 were the same. I am, of course, most familiar with the procedure used for 69.

[Dave S.]

Re: Protecto-Plate

Jim, I believe the so called "REPLACEMENT" protect-o-plates have less information on them than the original plates. In any event Joe is right on, as usual, in his description.

[Jim T.]

Re: Protecto-Plate

Jim I am an origianl 70 owner and still have my protecto-plate. I read what is on it by placing it up to a mirror.
On the first line of data is my cars serial number and then a space and a C at the end of the first data line. I have wondered what the C was for.
Next line is the engine V0702CTG a few spaces and CAV0702W for the read end. At the end of the line is a 7 which is directly under the C mentioned above.
Next line is 70CK4275 which I believe is for the transmission (Turbo-400). This is followed by 113 13. At the end of this line is a vertical bow tie symbol which is directly under the 7 mentioned above.
Below this is my name and address on three pieces of embossed clear type plastic that has GM embedded in blue in the plastic.
I bought my car on the 18th Aug 70 and the dealer I purchased it from was stamped in the appropiate area. I still have my intact window sticker and the car was initially shipped to another dealer in the area.

[Dave S.]

Re: Protecto-Plate

Jim, The C on the top line is for the type of carburetor you have. In your case it is obviously a Carter. If you had a Holley it would be an H. Your engine date is interesting as it is the same as mine i.e. V0702, July 2, 1970. My car is VIN 14803 and was purchased on July 26,1970.

[Roger Legge]

Re: Protecto-Plate '68 Info (Long)

I have the original Protect-O-Plate and warranty booklet for my '68. Here's some info:

The booklet itself is approx 4 inches high and 9 inches wide, 24 pages not counting front/back covers. On page 1, at bottom, it states Second Edition and Part No. 3936265. A perforated VIN for the car is vertical stamped on the right edge of the booklet on every page, including the front cover, but not the back cover page. There's a row of larger perforates holes just 'below' the VIN as if one would tear here and keep the VIN tag as part of a service, etc. There's warranty and service info, then on page 15 the Validation Report info is listed and there are pages for 12, 24, 36 and 48 month Validation Report procedures.

The plate itself is attached to the inside back cover and has this info stamped in the metal plate itself:

STD 986 194378S425118 R
V0703HPR A00701W 7
P8H26 *

The * shown above at the bottom, right is actually an odd stamped shape. It almost looks like a small, vertical Chevy bowtie. The original buyer's name and address is on three Dynamo labels below the stamped info. The labels look to be a clear that shows some aging over the years. The dealer, Harry Mann Chevrolet Co., Los Angeles, and address info is stamped just below the plate. In the place that states "date originally placed in service, hand written in ink, is "9 6 68", mo, day, year. The dealer info is stamped a second time on the same page. The only other thing written in the booklet is "1813" in black magic marker on the front cover, maybe a vehicle lot number? None of the perforated VIN tabs have been removed from the booklet and there are no other written or stamped additions to the booklet. I have a color copy of the original California title and that owner name/address matches the info on the Protect-O-Plate.

I apologize if this was too long. My intent is to provide what I believe is original info.

Roger
#36313

[Roger Legge]

Re: Protecto-Plate '68 Info (Long)

The spacing on the above Protect-O-Plate did not 'tab' correctly when it got posted. Post if anyone wants clarification.

Roger
#36313

[Jim T.]

Re: Protecto-Plate

Dave my car is 14654. It is also Donnybrooke Green like yours.

[Juliet P.]

Photo Online

If you go to the '70 Reigstry - in the Photographic Details section - Documentation Area (bottom of page) there's a photo of Marty's original protecto plate he was kind enough to share for online use. :-) His 1970 is #02967). http://corvetteforum.net/c3/1970registry/Details.html You can't read all the numbers but it will show the general layout etc. Click on the thumbnail for an enlarged photo.

There's lots of cool stuff pictured on the '70 Registry site - you should check it out! ~Juliet

http://www.1970corvetteregistry.org

[John C. Woods]

Re: Protecto-Plate

Jim: Some additional information on decoding of Protect-O-Plate that might be helpful to you. There is an article in the Restorer Magazine (Volume 12, Issue #1, Summer 1985) written by NCRS member, Drew Papson, that contains codes and other descriptions of Protect-O-Plate data. Also, the Assembly Instruction Manual (AIM) for your car details the layout of the Protect-O-Plate including the relative positions of the data and some of the coding information. These manuals are available through the NCRS Publications Office.

Like most instances with this hobby, I've found that there are lots of guidelines that were used but not as many hard and fast rules. That is to say that the documentation that is found in the AIMs and other sources does not always hold true, at least to the letter.

For example, the second row of Protect-O-Plate on the right hand side contains the transmission code. Drew's article points out that for Turbo Hydra-Matic 400's, this data sequence should contain the year of production, a code for the type engine and a date code for the transmission. I have two known original Protect-O-Plates for LS5's that were assembled within one month of each other, both with T-400's. One has the year prefix on the date code whereas the other does not. The date code for the transmission on the Protect-O-Plates are the same as that which is stamped on the metal tag that is affixed to right side of the transmission.

With respect to your question about the carburetor code, I agree with the others who responded already on that point. The code is located in the second data field on the third row, just to the right of the rear axle code. A "C" in that space indicates a Carter carb. According to the AIM, the code field just to the right of the carburetor code contains data for: power steering, power brakes, radio, disk brakes, air conditioning, and power windows. The single letter code just to the right of the Bowtie identifies the month of assembly. It is interesting to note that this code differs from the code on the Trim Tag. The letter "A" on the Trim Tag would indicate the first month of production, for example, August of 1971 for '72 production. An "A" on a 1972 model Protect-O-Plate would indicate January of 1972 assembly.

I hope this helps!