Independent · Source-led · American performance history Issue 01 · 1951–2023
American Muscle Car Facts

Showroom arguments.
Race-bred answers.

Scheme guide · 1955–1958

Pontiac serial number, 1955–1958

What each character of a 1955–1958 Pontiac VIN means, with the factory or regulatory source for every code.

4 sources · 53 sourced codes · decode a VIN

Two-tone green and cream 1955 Pontiac two-door hardtop seen from the rear three-quarter at a car show, driver's door open onto a red interior
1955 Pontiac two-door hardtop in two-tone green over cream with red interior, catalogued at the source as a Star Chief Photo: Michel Curi, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Copper-colored 1958 Pontiac Bonneville with a white roof seen head-on in a museum, showing quad headlamps, the BONNEVILLE hood lettering and the Pontiac V grille emblem
1958 Pontiac Bonneville hardtop, head-on, with BONNEVILLE lettering across the hood Photo: GPS 56, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Serials of this scheme appear in more than one length (the factory did not always print leading zeros), so 11-character numbers and 10-character and 9-character numbers all decode with the codes below.

Character by character

PositionsFieldHow it is read
1 Assembly plant See the code table below
2 Series See the code table below
3–4 Model year See the code table below
5 Transmission See the code table below
6–11 Sequence Production sequence number

Where to find it: Pontiac shop manuals (1955–1958, General Information, serial number plate figure): see the pack sources for the page of each year.

Assembly plant codes

CodeMeaningApplies toSource
P Pontiac model year 1955 1955 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-0 (OCMP 01-Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-4 (OCMP 00-Contents, Models image 4)
C South Gate model year 1955 1955 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-0 (OCMP 01-Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-4 (OCMP 00-Contents, Models image 4)
W Wilmington model year 1955 1955 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-0 (OCMP 01-Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-4 (OCMP 00-Contents, Models image 4)
F Framingham model year 1955 1955 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-0 (OCMP 01-Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-4 (OCMP 00-Contents, Models image 4)
K Kansas City model year 1955 1955 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-0 (OCMP 01-Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-4 (OCMP 00-Contents, Models image 4)
L Linden model year 1955 1955 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-0 (OCMP 01-Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-4 (OCMP 00-Contents, Models image 4)
A Atlanta model year 1955 1955 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-0 (OCMP 01-Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-4 (OCMP 00-Contents, Models image 4)
T Texas model year 1955 1955 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-0 (OCMP 01-Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-4 (OCMP 00-Contents, Models image 4)
P Pontiac model year 1956 1956 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-1 (OCMP 03- Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-2 (OCMP 01-Gen Information image 2)
C South Gate model year 1956 1956 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-1 (OCMP 03- Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-2 (OCMP 01-Gen Information image 2)
W Wilmington model year 1956 1956 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-1 (OCMP 03- Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-2 (OCMP 01-Gen Information image 2)
F Framingham model year 1956 1956 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-1 (OCMP 03- Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-2 (OCMP 01-Gen Information image 2)
K Kansas City model year 1956 1956 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-1 (OCMP 03- Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-2 (OCMP 01-Gen Information image 2)
L Linden model year 1956 1956 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-1 (OCMP 03- Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-2 (OCMP 01-Gen Information image 2)
A Atlanta model year 1956 1956 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-1 (OCMP 03- Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-2 (OCMP 01-Gen Information image 2)
T Texas model year 1956 1956 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-1 (OCMP 03- Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-2 (OCMP 01-Gen Information image 2)
P Pontiac model year 1957 1957 Pontiac Shop Manual (S-5704, January 1957), General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-1 (OCMP 1-Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-2 (OCMP 00-General Information image 2)
C South Gate model year 1957 1957 Pontiac Shop Manual (S-5704, January 1957), General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-1 (OCMP 1-Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-2 (OCMP 00-General Information image 2)
W Wilmington model year 1957 1957 Pontiac Shop Manual (S-5704, January 1957), General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-1 (OCMP 1-Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-2 (OCMP 00-General Information image 2)
F Framingham model year 1957 1957 Pontiac Shop Manual (S-5704, January 1957), General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-1 (OCMP 1-Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-2 (OCMP 00-General Information image 2)
K Kansas City model year 1957 1957 Pontiac Shop Manual (S-5704, January 1957), General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-1 (OCMP 1-Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-2 (OCMP 00-General Information image 2)
L Linden model year 1957 1957 Pontiac Shop Manual (S-5704, January 1957), General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-1 (OCMP 1-Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-2 (OCMP 00-General Information image 2)
A Atlanta model year 1957 1957 Pontiac Shop Manual (S-5704, January 1957), General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-1 (OCMP 1-Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-2 (OCMP 00-General Information image 2)
T Texas model year 1957 1957 Pontiac Shop Manual (S-5704, January 1957), General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-1 (OCMP 1-Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-2 (OCMP 00-General Information image 2)
P Pontiac model year 1958 1958 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information section, p. 00-2 (OCMP 01-Gen Information image 3), Fig. 00-1 Car Serial Plate and 1958 Car Model Identification table
C South Gate model year 1958 1958 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information section, p. 00-2 (OCMP 01-Gen Information image 3), Fig. 00-1 Car Serial Plate and 1958 Car Model Identification table
W Wilmington model year 1958 1958 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information section, p. 00-2 (OCMP 01-Gen Information image 3), Fig. 00-1 Car Serial Plate and 1958 Car Model Identification table
F Framingham model year 1958 1958 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information section, p. 00-2 (OCMP 01-Gen Information image 3), Fig. 00-1 Car Serial Plate and 1958 Car Model Identification table
K Kansas City model year 1958 1958 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information section, p. 00-2 (OCMP 01-Gen Information image 3), Fig. 00-1 Car Serial Plate and 1958 Car Model Identification table
L Linden model year 1958 1958 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information section, p. 00-2 (OCMP 01-Gen Information image 3), Fig. 00-1 Car Serial Plate and 1958 Car Model Identification table
A Atlanta model year 1958 1958 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information section, p. 00-2 (OCMP 01-Gen Information image 3), Fig. 00-1 Car Serial Plate and 1958 Car Model Identification table
T Texas model year 1958 1958 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information section, p. 00-2 (OCMP 01-Gen Information image 3), Fig. 00-1 Car Serial Plate and 1958 Car Model Identification table

Transmission codes

CodeMeaningApplies toSource
H Hydramatic model year 1955 1955 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-0 (OCMP 01-Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-4 (OCMP 00-Contents, Models image 4)
S Syncro-Mesh model year 1955 1955 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-0 (OCMP 01-Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-4 (OCMP 00-Contents, Models image 4)
H Hydramatic model year 1956 1956 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-1 (OCMP 03- Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-2 (OCMP 01-Gen Information image 2)
S Syncro-Mesh model year 1956 1956 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-1 (OCMP 03- Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-2 (OCMP 01-Gen Information image 2)
H Hydramatic model year 1957 1957 Pontiac Shop Manual (S-5704, January 1957), General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-1 (OCMP 1-Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-2 (OCMP 00-General Information image 2)
S Syncro-Mesh model year 1957 1957 Pontiac Shop Manual (S-5704, January 1957), General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-1 (OCMP 1-Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-2 (OCMP 00-General Information image 2)
H Hydramatic model year 1958 1958 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information section, p. 00-2 (OCMP 01-Gen Information image 3), Fig. 00-1 Car Serial Plate and 1958 Car Model Identification table
S Syncro-Mesh model year 1958 1958 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information section, p. 00-2 (OCMP 01-Gen Information image 3), Fig. 00-1 Car Serial Plate and 1958 Car Model Identification table

Model year codes

CodeMeaningApplies toSource
55 1955 all 1955 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-0 (OCMP 01-Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-4 (OCMP 00-Contents, Models image 4)
56 1956 all 1956 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-1 (OCMP 03- Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-2 (OCMP 01-Gen Information image 2)
57 1957 all 1957 Pontiac Shop Manual (S-5704, January 1957), General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-1 (OCMP 1-Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-2 (OCMP 00-General Information image 2)
58 1958 all 1958 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information section, p. 00-2 (OCMP 01-Gen Information image 3), Fig. 00-1 Car Serial Plate and 1958 Car Model Identification table

Series codes

CodeMeaningApplies toSource
7 Series 27: Chieftain Eight Seventy (870), Chieftain Eight Sixty (860) model year 1955 1955 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-0 (OCMP 01-Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-4 (OCMP 00-Contents, Models image 4)
8 Series 28: Star Chief model year 1955 1955 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-0 (OCMP 01-Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-4 (OCMP 00-Contents, Models image 4)
7 Series 27: Star Chief Safari, Eight Seventy (870), Eight Sixty (860) model year 1956 1956 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-1 (OCMP 03- Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-2 (OCMP 01-Gen Information image 2)
8 Series 28: Star Chief model year 1956 1956 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-1 (OCMP 03- Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-2 (OCMP 01-Gen Information image 2)
7 Series 27: Custom Star Chief Safaris, Super Chief, Chieftain model year 1957 1957 Pontiac Shop Manual (S-5704, January 1957), General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-1 (OCMP 1-Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-2 (OCMP 00-General Information image 2)
8 Series 28: Deluxe and Custom Star Chief (exc. Safari) model year 1957 1957 Pontiac Shop Manual (S-5704, January 1957), General Information and Body sections, Body section p. 1-1 (OCMP 1-Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-2 (OCMP 00-General Information image 2)
5 Series 25: Bonneville; Chieftain Convertible Coupe model year 1958 1958 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information section, p. 00-2 (OCMP 01-Gen Information image 3), Fig. 00-1 Car Serial Plate and 1958 Car Model Identification table
7 Series 27: Star Chief Safari; Chieftain model year 1958 1958 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information section, p. 00-2 (OCMP 01-Gen Information image 3), Fig. 00-1 Car Serial Plate and 1958 Car Model Identification table
8 Series 28: Custom Star Chief (exc. Safari); Super Chief model year 1958 1958 Pontiac Shop Manual, General Information section, p. 00-2 (OCMP 01-Gen Information image 3), Fig. 00-1 Car Serial Plate and 1958 Car Model Identification table

Cautions for this scheme

  • A decode reads what Pontiac's own shop manuals say each character means. It does not prove the car is original.
  • The serial shows assembly plant, series, model year and transmission type (H Hydramatic, S Synchro-Mesh). Numbers start at 1001 for each prefix combination and are printed without leading zeros, so the serial is 9, 10 or 11 characters long (gm-pontiac-1955-1958-seq4 and -seq5 decode the shorter forms).
  • Engine, body style and options are not in the serial.

Where the sources disagree

  • {"code":"C / S","field":"Pontiac South Gate plant letter","modelYears":{"from":1955,"to":1960},"claims":[{"claim":"1955-1959 Pontiac manuals: C = South Gate.","sources":[{"id":"vin-gm-sm-1955-pontiac","locator":"Body section p. 1-0 (OCMP 01-Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-4 (OCMP 00-Contents, Models image 4)"},{"id":"vin-gm-sm-1958-pontiac","locator":"p. 00-2 (OCMP 01-Gen Information image 3), Fig. 00-1 Car Serial Plate and 1958 Car Model Identification table"},{"id":"vin-gm-sm-1959-pontiac","locator":"p. 00-2 (OCMP 01- Gen Information image 2), Fig. 00-1 Manufacturer\u0027s Motor Vehicle Identification Number plate and 1959 Car Model Identification table"}]},{"claim":"1960 and later Pontiac manuals: S = South Gate.","sources":[{"id":"vin-gm-sm-1960-pontiac","locator":"p. 00-2 (OCMP 01-Gen Information image 2), Fig. 00-1 Vehicle Identification Number Plate and series/sales-name table"}]}],"resolution":"Not a contradiction: the letter changed with the 1959-to-1960 layout. Scope C to 1955-1959 and S to 1960 onward, as entered."}
  • {"code":"A","field":"Pontiac plant letter A","modelYears":{"from":1955,"to":1964},"claims":[{"claim":"1955-1959 Pontiac manuals: A = Atlanta.","sources":[{"id":"vin-gm-sm-1955-pontiac","locator":"Body section p. 1-0 (OCMP 01-Body image 1), Fig. 1-1 Car Serial Plate; series table p. 00-4 (OCMP 00-Contents, Models image 4)"},{"id":"vin-gm-sm-1959-pontiac","locator":"p. 00-2 (OCMP 01- Gen Information image 2), Fig. 00-1 Manufacturer\u0027s Motor Vehicle Identification Number plate and 1959 Car Model Identification table"}]},{"claim":"1960-1964 Pontiac manuals: A = Arlington (Doraville is D).","sources":[{"id":"vin-gm-sm-1960-pontiac","locator":"p. 00-2 (OCMP 01-Gen Information image 2), Fig. 00-1 Vehicle Identification Number Plate and series/sales-name table"},{"id":"vin-gm-sm-1964-pontiac","locator":"p. 1-1 (archive.org item 1964-pontiac-owners-guide, file \u00221964 - Pontiac - Chassis Shop Manual Supplement.pdf\u0022, jp2 leaf 0002), Fig. 1-1 Vehicle Identification Number Plate and Fig. 1-3 Car Model Identification"}]}],"resolution":"Year-scoped meanings; decode A by model year exactly as entered."}