GMC VIN decoder, 1946-1972

1946-1950

Looks like FC10166730 (10 characters)

Layout: year letter, C for conventional cab, two-digit chassis rating, one-digit wheelbase code, production number. LMC_CA prints a table mapping production-number ranges to the 1947, 1948, 1949 and 1950 model years for half-ton and three-quarter-ton trucks; those ranges are not encoded here because the printed layout of the table is ambiguous.

Example FC10166730 is the stated chassis number of a 1950 GMC FC 101 listing (HAGERTY_FC101). LMC_CA's printed example is FC15225889.

Rating 25 and wheelbase 3 come only from OGT_SERIAL and are unconfirmed; the half-ton 116 in. FC101 is confirmed by three sources.

GMC trucks of this period were not necessarily model-yeared like Chevrolets: a 1946 plate may be a truck built in early 1947 (VCCA thread, search summary).

Sources: [LMC_CA] [OGT_SERIAL] [HAGERTY_FC101]

1951-1953

Looks like 15222C5254 (10 characters)

Layout: optional M, chassis rating, wheelbase digit, two-digit engine code, plant letter (1952-53), production number. No model-year letter is used; LMC_CA's table of production-number ranges by plant separates 1952 from 1953 (for example half-ton Pontiac 28736-49332 for 1952 and 49333 and up for 1953).

Example 15222C5254 is built from a forum-quoted 1953 plate read as series 150, engine 22, Oakland, number 5254 (search summary only).

LMC_CA says the plant letter is on 1952-55 models only and 1951 models carry none.

Sources: [LMC_CA] [OGT_SERIAL]

1954-1955

Looks like M10122PZ3135 (12 characters)

Layout is that of 1951-53 plus the model-year letter Z after the plant letter. The example is the LMC chart's printed example (LMC_CA).

Sources: [LMC_CA] [OGT_SERIAL]

1955-1959

Looks like 1528PT5935 (10 characters)

Layout: chassis rating, wheelbase digit, optional 8 for V8, plant letter, model-year letter, production number. The example is the LMC chart's printed example (LMC_CA): three-quarter-ton, 123.25 in., V8, Pontiac, 1957.

S covers both 1958 and 1959; the year check uses 1958 for S.

Sources: [LMC_CA] [OGT_SERIAL]

1960-1961

Looks like K1001PN23456A (13 characters)

Layout: optional specialization letter, tonnage, wheelbase code, plant letter, series letter, production number, GVWR class letter. Body style is not encoded. The page's own example is K1001PN23456A.

Series letters overlap on larger GMC trucks, so the letter alone may not give the year (GMC6066). GMC did not stamp the number on the frame; check the ID plates (GMC6066).

Only the 1000, 1500 and 2500 series are encoded; 3000 (1.5-ton) is excluded as not a light truck.

Sources: [GMC6066]

1962

Looks like 1001PJ12345A (12 characters)

Layout: optional specialization letter, tonnage, wheelbase code, plant letter, series letter, production number, GVWR class letter. Body style is not encoded. The page's own example is K1001PN23456A.

Series letters overlap on larger GMC trucks, so the letter alone may not give the year (GMC6066). GMC did not stamp the number on the frame; check the ID plates (GMC6066).

Only the 1000, 1500 and 2500 series are encoded; 3000 (1.5-ton) is excluded as not a light truck.

Example built from the published layout; no real 1962 plate was seen.

Sources: [GMC6066]

1963

Looks like 1001PG12345A (12 characters)

Layout: optional specialization letter, tonnage, wheelbase code, plant letter, series letter, production number, GVWR class letter. Body style is not encoded. The page's own example is K1001PN23456A.

Series letters overlap on larger GMC trucks, so the letter alone may not give the year (GMC6066). GMC did not stamp the number on the frame; check the ID plates (GMC6066).

Only the 1000, 1500 and 2500 series are encoded; 3000 (1.5-ton) is excluded as not a light truck.

Example built from the published layout; no real 1963 plate was seen.

Sources: [GMC6066]

1964-1966

Looks like 2505ZF2807B (11 characters)

Layout: optional specialization letter, tonnage, wheelbase code, plant letter, series letter, production number, GVWR class letter. Body style is not encoded. The page's own example is K1001PN23456A.

Series letters overlap on larger GMC trucks, so the letter alone may not give the year (GMC6066). GMC did not stamp the number on the frame; check the ID plates (GMC6066).

Only the 1000, 1500 and 2500 series are encoded; 3000 (1.5-ton) is excluded as not a light truck.

Plant Z (Fremont) with series F means 1965 or 1966; plant H with F means 1964. A PF or ZF truck titled 1966 with a production number under 10,000 may be a 1965 (GMC6066). Example 2505ZF2807B is the page's worked example.

Sources: [GMC6066]

1967

Looks like CM2590DPC1001 (13 characters)

Example CM2590DPC1001 is the GBO1 1967 example CM2590DPC1001B without its last letter. LMC_CB says 1967 begins with serial 1001 and gives year codes C=1967, B=1968, A=1969, Z=1970, 1=1971 for GMC.

Written CM2590D PC1001B on the Protect-O-Plate; spaces are removed before matching.

Sources: [LMC_CB] [GBO1]

1968-1969

Looks like CM20DFB50001 (12 characters)

GBO1 examples: 1968 CM20DFB50001 (plant F, year B) and 1969 CM20DBA50001 (plant B, year A). LMC_CB year codes B=1968, A=1969.

Sources: [LMC_CB] [GBO1]

1970-1971

Looks like CS134FZ50001 (12 characters)

Written CS134-FZ50001 on the plate; the dash is removed before matching. LMC_CB worked example CE134-S113045 = plant S (St. Louis), 1971, the 3,045th truck. GBO1: CS134-FZ50001 (1970, plant F) and CE134-Z150001 (1971, plant Z).

The model-type value 04/34 is 1970-71 only; LMC_CB lists the Suburban codes 06 and 16 as 1970-72.

Sources: [LMC_CB] [GBO1]

1972

Looks like TCS142F500001 (13 characters)

The first character T is the GMC manufacturer letter (LMC_CB). LMC_CB worked example TCS142S500121 (plant S, the 121st truck); GBO1 TCS142F500001; GBO2 gives the Canadian example TCS1421500001 (plant 1, Oshawa).

Unlike 1967-71 GMC, the 1972 year digit comes before the plant letter (LMC_CB, GBO1).

Sources: [LMC_CB] [GBO1] [GBO2]