VIN | |
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Trim tag 1968-1981 |
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Trim tag 1981 late-1982 |
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Engine code |
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Engine partial VIN |
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Block casting number |
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Quadrajet part number |
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RPO codes | |
Exterior colors | |
Interior colors / types |
Format:
1968-1971 194378S400001
(13 characters)
1972-1980 1Z37K2S500001
(13 characters)
981-1982 1G1AY8764BS400001
(17 characters)
See Code Information for details.

1. Select the model year first, as the codes were reused over the years.
2. Insert the three character date code from the top line of the trim tag after the word Chevrolet, e.g. A07
3. The next line indicates the trim code after the word TRIM, e.g. 192
4. The external color code is shown before the word PAINT, e.g. 13
See Code Information for details.

1. The first line of the trim tag consists of three character sets, insert a space between them.
The second line consists of three or four sets of characters and at the end of the letter E, put a space between them.
See Code Information for details.
The engine code consists of a letter, four numbers and two to three letters, e.g. V0101CJL.
See Code Information for details.
Engine partial VIN code consists of one number, two numbers / letters and six numbers (vin sequence).
See Code Information for details.
The block casting number consists of six to eight numbers.
See Code Information for details.
The Quadrajet part number consists of seven or eight digits.
See Code Information for details.
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Corvette C3 Code locations and information
VIN
VIN (vehicle identification number) number is stamped on a plate riveted to the bottom front face of the driver's windshield pillar and it is visible only through the glass.
The VIN number consists of the Division code (Chevrolet), car series (Corvette), body style (coupe/convertible), engine, assembly plant (St. Louis/Bowling Green), and serial number (sequence). During the Chevrolet Corvette C3 generation, there were three different forms of VIN.
- 1968, 1968, 1970, 1971: 194379S100001
- 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980: IZ37K2S500001
- 1981, 1982: 1G1AY8764BS400001
VIN info for 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982
The Corvette C3 Decoder solves these codes automatically.
Corvette 1968 VINCorvette 1969 VINCorvette 1970 VINCorvette 1971 VINCorvette 1972 VINCorvette 1973 VINCorvette 1974 VINCorvette 1975 VINCorvette 1976 VINCorvette 1977 VINCorvette 1978 VINCorvette 1979 VINCorvette 1980 VINCorvette 1981 VINCorvette 1982 VIN1968

Corvette 1968 VIN: 194378S400001 – 194378S428566
Production:
28,566 cars built in 1968
coupe 9,936, covertible 18,630
1969

Corvette 1969 VIN: 194379S700001 – 194379S738762
Production:
38,762 cars built in 1969
coupe 22,129, covertible 16,633
1970

Corvette 1970 VIN: 194370S400001 – 194370S417316
Production:
17,316 cars built in 1970
coupe 10,668, covertible 6,648
1971

Corvette 1971 VIN: 194371S100001 – 194371S12180
Production:
21,801 cars built in 1971
coupe 14,680, covertible 7,121
1972

Corvette 1972 VIN: 1Z37K2S500001 – 1Z37K2S527004
Production:
27,004 cars built in 1972
coupe 20,496, covertible 6,508
1973

Corvette 1973 VIN: 1Z37J3S400001 – 1Z37J3S434464
Production:
30,464 cars built in 1973
coupe 25,521, covertible 4,943
1974

Corvette 1974 VIN: 1Z37J4S400001 – 1Z37J4S437502
Production:
37,502 cars built in 1974
coupe 32,028, covertible 5,474
1975

Corvette 1975 VIN: 1Z37J5S400001 – 1Z37J5S438465
Production:
38,465 cars built in 1975
coupe 32,028, covertible 5,474
1976

Corvette 1976 VIN: 1Z37L6S400001 – 1Z37L6S446558
Production:
46,558 cars built in 1976
coupe 46,558
1977

Corvette 1977 VIN: 1Z37L7S400001 – 1Z37L7S449213
Production:
49,213 cars built in 1977
coupe 49,213
1978

Corvette 1978 VIN: 1Z87L8S400001 – 1Z87L8S440274, 1Z87L8S900001 – 1Z87L8S906502 (Corvette Pace Car)
Production:
46,777 cars built in 1978
coupe 40,275, pace car 6,502
1979

Corvette 1979 VIN: 1Z8789S400001 – 1Z8789S453807
Production:
53,807 cars built in 1979
coupe 53,807
1980

Corvette 1980 VIN: 1Z878AS400001 – 1Z878AS440614
Production:
40,614 cars built in 1980
coupe 40,614
1981

Corvette 1981 VIN: 1G1AY8764BS400001 – 1G1AY8764BS431611 (St. Louis), 1G1AY8764B5100001 – 1G1AY8764B5108995 (Bowling Green)
Production:
40,606 cars built in 1981
coupe 40,606
1982

Corvette 1982 VIN: 1G1AY8786C5100001 – 1G1AY8786C5125408
Production:
25,407 cars built in 1982
coupe 25,407
Chevrolet made a total of 542,862 C3 Corvettes.
The model year was three to four months in advance of the calendar year, so the year of manufacture of the body may be earlier than the model year.
Corvette C3 VIN Decoder automatically detects the format of the VIN and calculates the body built date from the sequence number.

Trim tag
atrim tag or trim plate is a steel plate located directly above the driver's upper door hinge.
The trim tag consists of a body build date, trim code, and external color code. The body build date is the date when the partially assembled and painted body got the trim tag. The car's final assembly date is typically several days after the body build date.
The C3 Corvettes used two trim tags, the cars built at the St. Louis plant (1968-1981) there is written "Chevrolet" at the top, and card built at the Bowl Green plant (late 1981 - 1982) starts with the letter B or C, depending on the year of manufacture.
Because the 1968 - early 1981 trim tag does not have a year mark, it must be entered when decoding.

Engine code, partial VIN, block casting code
Engine code (assembly date and suffix code) and partial VIN code is stamped into a pad at the front passenger side of the engine near the water pump mount area.
The engine block casting number is located on the flange that mates to the transmission bell housing.
All Chevrolet C3 Corvettes engines were marked with an engine code at the engine assembly plant, which indicated location, date, and limited engine specifications (engine code suffix).
When the engine arrived at the body assembly plant, it was stamped with a partial VIN code consisting of divisonal code, assembly plant code, and the VIN sequential number.
Engine suffix codes may be reused over time, so you must also check the partial VIN code.
The block casting number identifies the years in which the block was in use and the cubic inches.
Corvette C3 Decoder also recognizes engine and block codes other than those used in the Corvettes.

Quadrajet part number
The Quadrajet is a four-barrel carburetor, made by the Rochester Division of General Motors. It was used in all C3 Corvettes except in 1981 when crossfire injection replaced carburetors. Alongside the Quadrajet, Holley carburetors were also in use from 1968 to 1972.
Quadrajet identification information is stamped into the main body on the driver's side.
The part number shows the year of manufacture, type of carb, division, and is it a manual/automatic transmission model.
Corvette C3 Decoder Quadrajet part number decoder recognizes carburetors used originally in the Chevrolet Corvettes.

Matching numbers
The matching numbers term can be defined in different ways. At the very least, it means that the partial VIN code of the engine corresponds to the VIN number on the pillar of the car’s windshield, but it can also mean that every component of the car is original and the stamps are correct.
RPO codes
RPO (Regular Production Option) is a General Motors standard for coding vehicle configuration options.
The options are divided into groups so that e.g. A means body options, L is for engine options and M is for transmission options. Almost all C3 Corvettes were built to customer order, and dealers bought only a few cars for stock at the turn of the model year, so it is rare to find two cars that are exactly alike.
Chevrolet Corvette also known as the Vette
The Corvette C3 (third-generation) is a two-seater sports car manufactured by Chevrolet, a division of General Motors Corporation, between the years 1967 (the model year 1968) and 1982. The Chevrolet 350 was the most common engine type, the big block was only available as an option from 1968 to 1974. A manual transmission was available from the factory in all years except 1982. Carburetors were in use until 1981, after which crossfire injection was introduced. The engine control module (ECM or ECU) was first used with the 1980 LG4 engine and since then in all 1981 and 1982 cars. All cars from 1968 to 1980 were manufactured at the St. Louis assembly plant and late 1981 and 1982 cars were manufactured at the Bowling Green assembly plant.
VIN | Vehicle Identification Number |
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Corvette VIN | See "Code information" for vehicle identification numbers differences from different years. |
Model year | A version of the car - which may have been manufactured in the previous year. |
Assembly plant | A factory where Corvettes are put together, parts came from other factories, (St. Louis or Bowling green) |
Body style | The Corvette C3 was made as a coupe and convertible. |
General Motors | American automotive manufacturing corporation. |
Chevrolet | A division of General Motors Company. |
RPO | Regular Production Option. |
The idea behind the Chevrolet Corvette VIN decoder was that I needed a quick and easy way to check the information on cars for sale. When I got the first version ready, I decided to release it to the delight of others as well. There are no ads on this site (except the free web host's ad) and it is not intended to benefit in any way financially but merely for the pleasure of the hobby. If you find any errors on the page or come up with something useful to add here, please leave feedback:

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Version history of Chevrolet Corvette C3 Decoder
22 Apr 2022 | RPO codes |
28 Mar 2022 | Color samples |
25 Mar 2022 | Added tooltips |
18 Mar 2022 | Tweaks for desktop devices |
13 Mar 2022 | New domain and minor tweaks for mobile devices |
5 Mar 2022 | UI improvements and added information about codes |
1 Mar 2022 | Mobile usage improvement |
25 Feb 2022 | Added info about code locations |
20 Feb 2022 | New UI |
14 Feb 2022 | Codes for Bowling Green built cars |
10 Feb 2022 | Codes for St.Louis built car |
6 Feb 2022 | Paint codes |
4 Feb 2022 | Added tooltip for VIN |
30 Jan 2022 | First release of Corvette VIN decoder |