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Decoding information for '64 Rampside trim and paint codes

Unlike Corvair cars, the forward control vehicles do not have a true "body tag" that includes a body number, build date, etc. FCs do have a data plate though that includes two types of codes:

  1. Trim code: Indicates whether the vehicle was equipped with RPO Z60 (Custom Equipment, a.k.a. "Deluxe" option)
  2. Paint code: Specifies the exterior paint scheme

The plates for '64 FCs built in Flint, MI and St. Louis, MO contain the same basic information. The St. Louis plates contain some extra prefix digits and Exception Control Letters (ECLs) as suffixes. The meaning of specific ECLs for trim and paint codes was largely unknown until Steve Spilatro undertook to understand them in 2015. See his monumental two-part article here and here. The information is also available, in slightly different form, on the Corvanatics web site:

 Thanks to Steve for permission to excerpt some of his research on this page.

Trim code information

Flint, MI vehicles

The trim codes for Flint-built '64 FCs are very straightforward:

St. Louis, MO vehicles

'64 FCs built in St. Louis show a bit more variation due to the inclusion of a prefix digit and two-character Exception Control Letter (ECL) suffixes on the units equipped with RPO Z60:

For vehicles equipped with RPO Z60, the code has three parts:

Concerning ECL suffixes, there were only two possibilities at any one time during the model year for '64 Rampside "deluxe" (RPO Z60) trim codes:

 

August - December 1963

January - July 1964

Fawn interior

AA

GA

Red interior

AB

GB

 

The reason for this mid-year change in ECLs is not completely clear, but may be related to the introduction of the Chevy van.

Paint code information

Flint, MI vehicles

As noted above, only a few Flint-built '64 Rampsides are listed in the registry. The paint codes from their plates are three digits and correspond directly to the paint color numbers found in the dealer ordering information.

St. Louis, MO vehicles

Vehicles built in St. Louis show a bit more variation due to the inclusion of a prefix digit and two-character Exception Control Letter (ECL) suffixes. Each paint code has three parts:

Concerning ECL suffixes, there were only two possibilities for most '64 Rampside paint codes:

 

ECL suffix

Solid color

AA

Two-tone

AC

For Pure White exteriors, RPO 521 (solid color) and RPO 545 (two-tone), there were several more ECL suffix possibilities. The exact reason is not yet known, but might be connected to the outside rear view mirror configuration. In the table below, parentheses indicate codes which have not yet been seen on actual vehicles in the Corvanatics FC registry.

 

ECL suffix

Hypothetical mirror configuration

RPO 521

RPO 545

No outside mirror

BA

CA

RPO D32, left & right sides

BB

(CB)

RPO D32, right side only

CA

CC

RPO D32, left side only

(CB)

CD

RPO D29, left side only

DA

(CE)

RPO D29, left & right sides

(DB)

CF

Prefix digit notes

In the Chevrolet truck price book, every option and paint code is listed with either a "4" prefixed (for all non-Corvair FC options and colors) or a "5" prefixed (for all Corvair FC options and colors). So for example, air brake equipment is 4-J71 while level floor equipment is 5-E82.

The prefix digits clearly show that Corvair FCs were segregated from the other trucks. Dave Newell commented that each prefix digit:

"indicates that the records for that option are kept in the Corvair 95 book, to keep that production record separate from other vehicle lines with the same option. For example, M35 was Powerglide on every Chevy vehicle. For Corvair FCs it was the #5 book."

The reason Flint-built vehicles do not have prefix digits is not known at this time.

 

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