Where is the trim tag on a C3 Corvette?

Above the driver's upper door hinge on the body pillar (1968–1982).

What information does a C3 trim tag include?

Body build date, interior trim code and paint code; late 1981–1982 Bowling Green tags also include plant/date letters.

Are certain paint/trim combinations mandatory?

Chevrolet recommended combinations, but buyers could select any exterior/interior pairing.

How does the trim tag relate to numbers-matching verification?

The body build date should align with the vehicle’s VIN model year and components’ date codes; together with engine and partial VIN stamps, it supports originality checks.

Corvette C3 Trim Tag – location and decoding

Corvette C3 Trim Tag Decoder

1968–1982 • 100% Free

The C3 Corvette trim tag (trim plate) identifies the body build date, interior trim code and paint code. This dedicated Trim Tag Decoder covers all 1968–1982 formats, including the late 1981–1982 Bowling Green tags, and uses verified GM data for accurate results.

Decode Your C3 Corvette Trim Tag

Trim tag 1968-1981	Select Model Year:
Trim tag 1981 late-1982

Quick guide: Locate the trim tag above the driver’s upper door hinge → Enter the codes in the fields above → Click Decode.

No codes are stored; decoding runs in your browser.

Need help with a tricky tag? If a code looks unusual or data is missing, contact me. Happy to help.

How to Decode a Corvette C3 Trim Tag (1968–1982)

A trim tag (trim plate) is a steel plate located directly above the driver's upper door hinge.

Corvette C3 trim tag location above driver's door hinge — Trim tag location: above the driver's upper door hinge (1968–1982).

The trim tag includes:

Body build date – when the painted body received the tag
Trim code – interior material and color (leather, vinyl, cloth)
Paint code – exterior color

Chevrolet recommended certain color combinations, but buyers could order any exterior/interior pairing. The final assembly date is typically several days after the body build date.

Two Trim Tag Styles

C3 Corvettes used two different trim tag designs,Late 1981–1982 Bowling Green tags use a different format with plant/date letters.

Early Style (1968–1981): Rectangular metal tag riveted to the driver's door hinge pillar. Features a body date code (e.g., A07 for January 7), paint code (e.g., 13 = Silver), interior trim code (e.g., 192 = Black vinyl). This format is consistent across most of the C3 era and is the most common type encountered by restorers.
Late Style (1981–1982): Updated rectangular tag with a revised layout. The body date code changed and overall appearance and some label positions differ slightly from earlier years.

C3 Corvette trim tag variants: St. Louis vs Bowling Green — **Top:** St. Louis (1968–1981) – starts with "Chevrolet"
**Bottom:** Bowling Green (1981–1982) – starts with "B" or "C"

Note: 1968–early 1981 tags have no year mark – select the year manually in the Trim Tag Decoder. You can also see how I decoded the trim tag on my own Corvette here: my 1976 Corvette trim tag decoding.

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