You\u00a0can see how we determined the authenticity of this 63 impala SS in this email dialog from a gentleman who’s found\u00a0a 63 Impala SS for sale. I’ll show you how we\u00a0get a handle on the VIN number and the cowl trim tag details, and how we interpret them.<\/p>\n

He wants to be sure he will\u00a0get what he’s expecting to\u00a0pay for,\u00a0or at least\u00a0verify the details of this 63 Impala SS. If it proves to be something other than what he’s looking for, he can use this information to negotiate the price, or walk away from the deal.<\/p>\n

I’ll call him by his initials, LG.<\/p>\n

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<\/p>\n

> Hi
\n> I am looking at purchasing a 1963 Impala SS I think ,and I was wondering If
\n> you could help me with the
\n> ACC\u00a0 codes
\n>
\n> the vin number is\u00a0 31847L[nnnnnn](Numbers Removed for this post)
\n> the engine suffix is F1228HB
\n> The trim tag reads (this is what the person emailed me):
\n>
\n>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 9D
\n> style\u00a0\u00a0 63-1847\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Body\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 TVN2858
\n>
\n> Trim\u00a0 858-s\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Paint 932
\n>
\n> ACC\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 E\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2 CKM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 3 Z28
\n>
\n> I am retired and I have been trying to research this vehicle out and
\n> purchase it.
\n> I would truly appreciate any help you can give me on this issue. I tried
\n> to
\n> write down everything as he sent it .I may have messed up in some of the
\n> sequence of the numbers and letters, I hope these are correct.
\n>
\n> thank you for your time and effort
\n> LG
\n>
\n>
\nHi LG,<\/p>\n

E is tinted glass all around
\nI have nothing for C, could it be a G?
\nK is air conditioning
\nM is Powerglide transmission
\nZ is metallic brakes, don’t know about the 28. There shouldn’t be any
\nnumbers other than the group designators. Could he be misreading the tag?<\/p>\n

Trim\u00a0 858-s is “Saddle” w\/ vinyl buckets,\u00a0 Paint 932 is Saddle and Tan<\/p>\n

Get a picture of it if possible.<\/p>\n

HB was used between 65-69, so the motor isn’t original.
\n65-68 Impala 327
\n69 Nova, Impala, Chevelle 350<\/p>\n

TVN is not in the code book. This should be the assembly plant code and
\nthe first letter should match the L in the VIN. The numbers after the
\nletters should be the same as the trailing numbers in the VIN as well.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I would suggest you go to the motor vehicle branch to find the records on
\nthis VIN. This car either has the wrong VIN or the wrong cowl tag. It has
\npossibly had major body repairs in the past that might account for this
\nmismatch if some major body parts were replaced (like the firewall).<\/p>\n

I wouldn’t pay top dollar for this car, and I might even walk away from it.<\/p>\n

Carl
\n—
\nThe Impala Project<\/p>\n

> HI Carl:
\n> I want to thank you for that fast and very educational response.
\n> Here I am a perfect stranger and you took the time to give decode the data
\n> off the cowl tag.
\n> I am slowly getting the information I need and again, I thank you for your
\n> time.
\n> I just emailed the person and I ask him for a closeup pic of the tag so I
\n> can hopefully clarify some of the questions you raised.
\n> I guess from your reading on the info I sent you it is not a SS?
\n> I will email you when I get the pic of the cowl tag.
\n>
\n> LG<\/p>\n

Well, I can’t say it’s not an SS. Unfortunately, not all SS models were
\nstamped with SS options unless the purchaser ordered those additonal
\noptions. SS was a package, and only package options in addition to the
\nstandard package items (options) were stamped on the cowl tag.<\/p>\n

It might be an SS, but previous to 64, it is hard to prove. Funny enough,
\nafter 67 it was also hard to prove since GM stopped recording SS package
\noptions.<\/p>\n

64 thru 67 were the only years that are easy to prove.<\/p>\n

If you can get the suffix code off the differential housing, it might tell
\nyou something. It’s stamped into the flat machined part of the housing
\njust like the engine suffix code. The diff suffix letters match the engine
\nsuffix letters.<\/p>\n

Carl<\/p>\n

> Hi Carl
\n>
\n> regarding vin #31847L[nnnnnn]\u00a0 on the Impala,
\n> I guess the biggest concern or problem ,according to your data, is the
\n> last 4 or 5 numbers of the vin has to match the last 4 or 5 numbers on the
\n> body line of the cowl tag. And the first letter of the assembly plant code
\n> should be the same as the “L” in the vin.
\n> The other concerns I have are:
\n>\u00a0 The motor is not original.
\n>\u00a0 The last numbers on the ACC line (28) should not be there.
\n> I have a question about “TVN” in the
\n> body line.
\n> Carl do you think I have missed anything?
\n>
\n> Thanks for your time
\n> LG<\/p>\n

Hi LG,<\/p>\n

Sounds like you’ve got it down.<\/p>\n

I’m not saying the numbers 28 shouldn’t be there, there are always cases
\nof undocumented stampings popping up. There are no records of numbers
\nappearing in the ACC code line other than the numbers that designated the
\ngroupings of codes. The option codes are always letters.<\/p>\n

There is no record of a TVN in the body line. The body line generally has
\n1 to 3 letters and they are an abbreviation of the name of the city the
\ncar was assembled in. The first letter of the city should match the letter
\nin the VIN, and the first letter in the city abbreviation on the cowl tag.
\nThis is a standard rule for all early 60’s chevy’s.<\/p>\n

The only city that had an assembly plant that started with a T was
\nTarrytown, NY. No TVN in that abbreviation. TA was used on cowl tags from
\n59-64 for cars that came from Tarrytown, NY.<\/p>\n

I would be very careful about buying that car. The problems with these
\ncodes may be an honest one. People misread these things all the time but
\nyou still need to make sure you don’t overpay based on what this guy
\nthinks the car should be worth.<\/p>\n

Carl<\/p>\n

LG,<\/p>\n

This is a good dialog for my blog. Do you mind if I post it? I won’t put
\nany of your contact info or your name in the posting. I’ll just use your
\nintials.<\/p>\n

Carl<\/p>\n

> Hi Carl
\n> You may post this ,no problem
\n> again I appreciate your professionalism in the handling of my questions.
\n> Thanks
\n> Ls<\/p>\n

OK, Thanks LG, I’ll send you the link.<\/p>\n

Carl<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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