I just added another link off my web site to a NEW help program I put together. Trim Tag Decoder ===>

It only does the basic decoding and NOT all the little idosyncrasies and mistakes that we hear so much about here on the forum. Also ECL codes are NOT included as there are thousands of combinations base on Trim Color and some have multiple revision throughout a model year. So just the Trim Colors are listed and you will need to refer to other publications to interpret the actual ECL's.

Just select a year and click on the various fields (Date, Style, Body, Trim, Paint) for decoding.



Any errors - please report to jansseng@stl-vettes.com

George

 

Oustanding work George.

Ok DZVette - I think you need to retire too, so you have time to keep up with George

 

shhweeeet little item to use..

jack

 

1965 Paint color "SILVER PEARL" has been corrected/added.

Thanks to ALL that emailed with fixes.

George

 

Great job George, Thanks, it works for my 65 Coupe. Tim

 

Wonderful job, George

Thanks for sharing all your hard work and research with the forum.

Dave

 

Thanks, George. Just one question: On Trim, the tag on my '65 convertible shows 437BA. What is the BA for?

 

The "BA" is the trim ECL code - for your car it means it was originally built as a convertible with a 2-tone white vinyl/black interior.

 

My trim date code is June 23 but my born date is July 7th on my 65 coupe? Is that right?

 

Thanks JohnZ. What is ECL an abbreviation for?

 

why, Bad *** of course!

 

Yes, but all of the mid-years are. They don't need a code on the trim tag for that!

 

ECL = Exception Control Letter

Now ask what that mean?

George

 

Okay, I'll bite, George.

 

JohnZ (John H, actually) had a great article in the CE a few years back on all of these codes and ECLs, that would be the very best resource to asnwer the "what is an ECL" question. While I am sure John himself will step in here, in my mind the ECL system of identifying parts or groups of parts was used to allow line workers to have the correct parts on hand (inventory) for the day's work, and also to ensure that the correct parts (correct in that they were the right color, and accomadated the intended options) were installed in the right car.

For instance, a red interior with power windows would require non-standard door panels (red, without the crank handle cut out) as well as a non-standard center console (with the PW switch cut-outs).

anyway, John will provide some document from GM where the ECL system is described to the zone mangers in 1963 (ok, I am kidding, but maybe?). For fun and discussion, here is a broadcast sheet (I think that is what this thing is called) for a 69 ZL-1 Camaro, I think the various codes in there are ECLs, but maybe these are more properly called "braodcast codes":

 

There are thousands of ECL codes.

I want to added ECL to the decoder but when I ask JohnZ about them I found out how really BIG a task and next to impossible to impliment. So like I stated at the top of this thread "you will need to refer to other publications to interpret the actual ECL's."



A quote from JohnZ
"The NCRS "Trim Tag Book" breaks down ALL the midyear trim ECL's, including running changes during each model year - only took six years of research; that's why it's $50.00."

George

 

Very interesting. Thanks to the experts who understand the codes and help the rest of us with 'em!

JohnZ said my BA ECL means "a convertible with a 2-tone white vinyl/black interior." I presume that means white seats and door skins with black carpet. Correct? Also, would the dash pad, console and seat belts be black in such a configuration?

My '65 is a driver, not a correct car. It's currently all-black on the interior and I don't have the inclination to put it back to original, but I am curious about it.

 

No expert here but the info I have here say same thing.

Convertible with White and Black Vinyl interior

Which normally is Door panels & seats

George

 

That's correct - the codes on the Broadcast Sheet are "broadcast codes" that tell the assembler what part goes on that car, and are unrelated to the ECL's on the car's paperwork.

Without going into a lot of gory detail, the ECL's for each option (not just the trim combination number) allowed the computer to build a parts list, by individual part number, for each car; that's what drove the procurement system for parts so the parts to build each car were ordered and on hand in the plant before the car was scheduled for build.

When the dealer order was accepted for production by the plant, their computer analyzed each option on the order blank and assigned the correct ECL for each option depending on what other options it was combined with on that particular car. With each option assigned its ECL, the computer then broke them all down to the part number level for that car and forecast the material requirements for procurement.

That's why there's always a time span between the "Order Received" date and the "Expected Date Of Production" date on the Corvette Order (tank sticker); the parts to build that car had to be ordered and received in the plant before they could actually build the car.

The computer already knew all the part numbers required to build the "base car" (no options); that was the baseline for procurement. Each option added new parts and most also deleted "base car" parts, and the option parts added changed depending on what other options were on the car. A simple example would be air conditioning (C60); the computer needed to know whether it was for a small-block or a big-block, as the compressor brackets and hoses were different, whether it was a coupe or convertible, and whether it was a stick or automatic, so each possible combination was assigned its own ECL, each of which generated their own specific parts lists after adding option parts and deleting "base car" parts. Those ECL's are shown as the 2-letter suffix on each option shown on the price sticker (and on the tank sticker, Car Shipper, and Dealer Invoice). Just "C60" by itself wouldn't order the parts required to build the car; the ECL code suffix let the computer order EXACTLY the part numbers required to build THAT car with air conditioning.

Assembly is a VERY complex business.