Pontiac serial number, 1959–1963 (Pontiac and Tempest)

Character by character

Where to find it: Pontiac and Tempest shop manuals 1959–1963, General Information, vehicle serial number plate figure (see the pack sources for each year's page).

Model year codes

Assembly plant codes

Series codes

Where the sources disagree

• {"code":"1","field":"series (position 1)","modelYears":{"from":1961,"to":1961},"claims":[{"claim":"Fig. 1-1 series legend for the 1961 Pontiac (full-size) lists only 3-23, 5-25, 6-26, 7-27, 8-28.","sources":[{"id":"vin-gm-sm-1961-pontiac","locator":"p. 1-1 (OCMP 01- Gen Information image 2), Fig. 1-1 Vehicle Identification Number Plate and Fig. 1-3 Car Model Identification"}]},{"claim":"The same Fig. 1-1 example plate reads \u00221 61 P 1001\u0022, i.e. series digit 1, which the legend does not define for full-size cars (1 = series 21 is the 1961 Tempest code).","sources":[{"id":"vin-gm-sm-1961-pontiac","locator":"p. 1-1 (OCMP 01- Gen Information image 2), Fig. 1-1 Vehicle Identification Number Plate and Fig. 1-3 Car Model Identification"},{"id":"vin-gm-sm-1961-pontiac-tempest","locator":"p. 1-0 (OCMP 01-General Information image 3), Fig. 1-1 Vehicle Identification Plate and Fig. 1-2 Body Identification Plate"}]}],"resolution":"Treat the example as a drafting carry-over from the Tempest figure; do not use 161P1001 as a full-size golden example; decode full-size series digits only from the legend."}
• {"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."}