1965, 1966, & 1967 U.S. RPO Decoding

1965-67 U.S. Corvair Regular Production Option (RPO) Decoding

Team members: Larry Claypool, Mark Corbin, Stan East, Bill Hubbell, Dave Newell, Dave Trull

(updated May, 2021) This article was published in the May, 2005 CORSA Communique.

Introduction

This article is the second of two regarding Regular Production Options (RPOs) for 1965-67 Corvairs built in the U.S. The first part, which detailed production statistics for these options, was published in the March, 2005 CORSA Communique. This article documents the system of codes that Fisher Body used to represent RPOs on the engine compartment body-tag. Note: 1965 Greenbriers, like all Corvair forward control models, do not have this tag and are therefore not addressed in this article.

Fisher Body divided the tag into several sections indicating paint, trim, production data, body style and optional equipment. The RPOs were coded on the bottom left section of the tag. Unlike the other areas on the body tag, this area does not have a caption or label.

The lower portion of the body tag has letters stamped in the tag for each option installed on the body. (Options that have no impact on the body, such as hubcap selections, are not coded on the body tag.) The option-code letters are stamped on the tag in five separate groups. The first letters are in Group "1" and this group doesn't have a "group" label. Groups "2" through "5" follow in sequence and each of these groups is labeled: 2,3,4, and 5. For example: L2D5ZY indicates: Group 1 = L, Group 2 = D, Group 3 = none, Group 4 = none, Group 5 = Z and Y. If there were no options that impacted the construction of the body, this area of the body tag was left completely blank.

A single letter, printed in one of the five groups, represents each option. The options do not appear in alphabetical order within a group but they always appear in the same order (if present).

The codes on bodies built at Willow Run were printed on one line with no spaces. The codes on bodies built at Van Nuys (Los Angeles) were printed on two lines (groups 4 and 5 on the second line) with spaces between the groups. Table 1 provides an example from each factory.

Table 1: Los Angeles and Willow Run RPO Code Examples

Body Tag Codes	From
ED 2LP 3C 4FUO 5W	1965 car, Los Angeles plant
L2D5ZY	1967 car, Willow Run plant

As a side note, there appears to be an inconsistency in representing how one option that required another option was handled. For example, both the deluxe center rear seat belt (AL5) and the deluxe front shoulder belt (A85) required deluxe front and rear seat belts (A39). The examples to date show that, in the case of the deluxe center rear seat belt, only its code appears; while in the case of the deluxe front shoulder belt, both codes appear.

Understanding the Fisher Body Codes

Unlike production statistics, which are fairly readily available for each Chevrolet line, information about how Fisher Body coded options on the "cowl tag" (a term used for this tag in all Chevy lines except Corvair, which does not have a cowl) is sparse. The decoding project done for 1967 Camaros by the Camaro Research Group stands out as a superb example.

As with production statistics, Canadian Corvair owners are in a better situation. There was no Fisher Body in Canada and GM Canada chose to use the standard RPO codes (A02, M20, etc.) on the body tag. Decoding is as simple as looking up the RPO codes in the assembly manual or dealer ordering information. The Canadian system applies to other Chevrolet lines built in Canada too and also pre-production U.S. pilot cars. Note: There are a few RPOs present on Canadian tags that were not coded in the U.S. and vice versa.

Beginning in 1968, Fisher Body stopped using this coding system and, in fact, did not code RPOs in any way on the body tag. From the few build sheets that survive from 1968 and 69 Corvairs, we know that Fisher Body did list the RPO codes (A02, M20, etc.) there. Build sheets prior to 1968 used the same 5-group coding system as the body tags.

Note that the RPOs coded on the Fisher Body tag are only those which required Fisher Body to take an action. These actions ranged from modifying the body to accept a part from Chevrolet during final assembly to actually installing a part. In other words, the body tag options are not at all a complete record of the RPOs installed on a given car. Canadian owners again have an advantage because the complete list of RPOs for a given car is available from GM Canada's Vintage Vehicle Services for a nominal fee.

Also, as discussed in the first article, remember that some items were also available as dealer-installed accessories, so the lack of a Fisher Body code does not necessarily mean that it was added to the car after it was sold—just that it was added after it left the factory. The dealer-installed accessory brochures for each year provide the list of such items.

Table 2 lists every known Fisher Body code for 1965-67 Corvairs and includes three options for which we expect there to be a code but have not found an actual example. To create the table, we combined data from many sources:

Larry Claypool's 1965 and 1966 owner's surveys

Dave Trull's 1965 owner poll (Virtual Vairs)

Kent Sullivan's 1967 owner poll (Virtual Vairs, CORSA classified ads)

Multi-person examination of Corvairs at events, local and national

Extensive discussions with full-sized Chevy, Chevy II, and Camaro folks doing the same work

Table 2: 1965-1967 Fisher Body Tag Codes, Grouped by Category

Code	Year			Option Description
Code	1965	1966	1967	Option Description

Group 1
D	C06			Power Convertible Top
E	A01			Tinted Glass—Windshield and Side Windows
L	A67			Folding Rear Seat (500s only—standard on Monzas and Corsas)
O	950			Two-Tone Paint (sedans only)
W	A02			Tinted Glass—Windshield Only

Group 2
D	not used		C64	Air Conditioning
E	C64		not used	Air Conditioning
H	C48			Heater Delete
L	M20	not used		4 Speed Manual Transmission
M	M35			PowerGlide Automatic Transmission
P	Z01 or Z13	not used		Comfort and Convenience Group (Type A or B)
R	U80			Rear Speaker
S	U73			Rear Antenna
T	not used	U75	not used	Power Rear Antenna
U	not used		U57	Stereo Tape System

Group 3
A	D10		not used	Rear Door Armrests (500 sedans only—standard on Monza sedans)
C	B70	not used		Padded Dash

Group 4
F	Z13	Z19	D33	1965: Comfort and Convenience Group Type "B" 1966: Convenience Equipment 1967: Outside Remote Control Rear View Mirror
O	L87		not used	180 HP turbocharged engine (Corsas only)
P	Z01	not used		Comfort and Convenience Group Type "A"
U	P19	not used		Spare Tire Lock

Group 5
C	not used		AS1	Custom Front Shoulder Belts
G	A64	not used		Custom Rear Seat Belts
J	not used		AL5	Custom Deluxe Center Rear Seat Belt (sedans only until 10/66; requires A39)
M	not used		A68	Custom Center Rear Seat Belt (sedans only until 10/66)
O	A62	A48		Seat Belt Delete
W	A49	not used		Custom Deluxe Front Seat Belts with Retractors
Y	A47 + A49	A39		Custom Deluxe Front & Rear Seat Belts with Front Retractors
Z	not used	A85		Custom Deluxe Front Shoulder Belts (requires A39)

With very few exceptions, the meaning of each code was quite consistent across these three years. The same codes were also used in both plants, again with very few exceptions. These exceptions are discussed below in the "Notes on Table 2" section.

For many of the codes, you might wonder what action Fisher Body had to take. Table 3 provides some examples.

Table 3: Reasons for selected codes

Code	RPO & Description	Action
1W	A02—Tinted Windshield	Install "tinted" windshield glass
2M	M35—PowerGlide Automatic Transmission	Don't cut hole in carpet where floor shifter would normally pass through
2S	U73—Rear Antenna	Install wiring harness
2U	U57—Stereo Tape System	Cut holes for speakers in front doors; install wiring harness
4F	Z13—Comfort and Convenience Group Type "B"	Cut holes for remote outside rear view mirror control in driver's door inside panel
4O	L87—180 HP engine (turbocharged)	Use rear body panel with cutout for turbo exhaust pipe
5Y	A39—Custom Deluxe Front & Rear Seat Belts with Front Retractors	Install deluxe seat belts instead of standard seat belts

Notes on Table 2

Group 1

O: This code did double-duty at the Los Angeles plant during the first few months of 1965 production (through December of 1964):
- The primary use was to indicate two-tone paint on sedans (RPO 950). Technically speaking, this code indicates the molding that accompanies two-tone paint and not the paint itself. This explains the code's apparent redundancy with the paint code found elsewhere on the tag, since one can tell from the paint code whether a car has two-tone paint. Fisher Body employees looked at different parts of the tag depending on their tasks. In Canada only this molding was assigned RPO D99.
- This code also appeared on all convertibles unless they were equipped with RPO C06 (power top). This is a head-scratcher because there is no reason why Fisher would have needed to code this since it essentially is coding a non-option. And indeed, they did not code C05 at any other time or plant. The data are clear on this use of the code, however. Perhaps there was miscommunication that was later caught, causing the code to be dropped from use. Even stranger is that early-production 1965 full-sized Chevys built in the Los Angeles plant also share this odd coding practice. They all have power tops as standard equipment.

Group 2

D & E: For no apparent reason, the code for C64 (air conditioning) changed in 1967 from 2E to 2D. We surmise that this was book-keeping clarification: The RPO for other Chevys was C60 while the Corvair used C64. Perhaps someone decided that two different RPOs should not share a Fisher Body code. Other Chevys continued to use 2E in 1967.
(updated August 2006) H: This code is confirmed on 1965 and 1966 Corvairs but has yet to be seen on 1967 Corvairs. Its use is confirmed on 1967 Camaros so we presume this represents C48 (heater delete) in all three years. C48 was installed on very few cars so it's not surprising that we haven't seen it often.
L: This code for M20 (4-speed transmission) was not used after 1965, which coincides, and may be related to, the change in manual transmission design for 1966. The pre-1966 manual transmissions used different backup light harnesses depending on whether a 3-speed or 4-speed unit was installed. The 3-speed backup light switch was mounted near the floor shifter while the 4-speed switch was mounted on the transmission. This may be the reason for the code. Of note is that this same code was used on 1965-67 Chevy IIs and on 1967 Camaros; meaning that the reason for it disappearing on the Corvair was not shared with other Chevys.
P: This code appears on 1965 Corvairs only and only those built in Los Angeles. Its meaning was very difficult to decode. The breakthrough came after seeing code descriptions of 1965 full-sized Chevys, which offered two-speed wiper with washer separate from the Z01/Z13 comfort and convenience groups, as RPO C14. Full-sized Chevys equipped with C14 always have code 2P, regardless of assembly location. One of the full-sized Chevy plants was Los Angeles. For some reason, Fisher decided to code this for Corvairs built there too even though it was redundant with 4F and 4P. A check of the data from many '65 Los Angeles cars verifies that it only appears on those with either 4F or 4P. The code disappeared in 1966, at least partly because two-speed wipers with washer became standard equipment.
(updated January 2006) R: U80 (rear speaker) provided a single speaker in the rear—centered in 1965 and on the passenger side after that. The only way to get two rear speakers was via the AM/FM multiplex, which was a dealer-installed accessory only or, beginning in 1967, with the stereo tape system (RPO U57).
T: U75 (power rear antenna) was only available in 1966. This is a rare example of Chevrolet removing a factory option without making it standard equipment or offering it as a dealer-installed accessory.
U: U57 (stereo tape system) was only available in 1967.

Group 3

(updated August 2006) A: This code for D10 (rear door armrests) has now been seen on both 1965 and 1966 Corvairs. D10 was not available in 1967. This is another rare example of Chevrolet removing a factory option without making it standard equipment or offering it as a dealer-installed accessory.
C: B70 (padded dash) became standard equipment in 1966.

Group 4

F: Z13 (comfort and convenience group type "B" included a remote-control outside rear view mirror, two-speed wipers with washer, day/night inside mirror, backup lights (500s only), and glove box light (500s only). Z19 (Convenience group) included a remote-control outside rear view mirror, day/night inside mirror, under hood light, luggage compartment light, door edge guards, and glove box light (500s only).
O: L87 (180 HP turbocharged engine) was not available in 1967.
P: Z01 (comfort and convenience group type "A" included an outside rear view mirror, two-speed wipers with washer, day/night inside mirror, backup lights (500s only), and glove box light (500s only). This package was discontinued after 1965.
U: P19 (spare tire lock) was perhaps the most difficult option to decode of all for 1965-67. We knew the code existed, but we couldn't locate the option it represented. Finally, we recognized that this code never appeared with the code for air conditioning (2E, C64) yet appeared on more than 40% of other Corvairs surveyed. A check of the dealer ordering info showed that the spare tire lock was not available with air conditioning, since the spare tire was moved to the trunk, which already had a lock. As for what action Fisher Body took, they apparently coded the lock to match the trunk and glove box key. This code did not appear in 1966 or 1967.

Group 5

C: This code for AS1 (custom front shoulder belts) has yet to be been seen on a Corvair, which is no surprise given its very low production numbers and its availability in 1967 only. This code is confirmed on 1967 Camaros, however, so is likely to be the code used for Custom Front Shoulder Belts on Corvairs.
(updated December 2009) G: This code for A64 (custom rear seat belts) in 1965 has been seen on only two Corvairs. This is not surprising given its very low production numbers, due to its introduction late in the model year (March, 1965) and it becoming standard equipment in 1966. Fortunately, the meaning of "G" is also confirmed by an original Fisher Body Buyout Sheet found by Dennis Dorogi under the back seat of his 1965 sedan. Of interest is that one of the two cars has the nuts welded to the underside of the floor pan while the other does not.
J: AL5 (custom deluxe center rear seat belt) was available only in 1967.
(updated May 2008) M: A68 (custom center rear seat belt) was available only in 1967. This code has now been documented on a 1967 Chevy II wagon. The documentation includes the typed dealer invoice. The code has yet to be seen on a Corvair, which is not surprising given its very low production numbers and its use only in 1967.
O: This code for A48 (seat belt deletion) is confirmed on 1965 Corvairs but has yet to be seen on 1966 or 1967 Corvairs. It is confirmed on 1967 Camaros. This is not surprising because seat belt deletion was available only on exported cars after 1965. (Note also the RPO change from A62 to A48.)
(updated August 2007) Y: This code has now been documented on two 1965 Corvairs (built in April and June). The April car has its original typed invoice. Both cars do not have 5W on their body tags so we now know that 5Y indicates front and rear deluxe belts in 1965 as well as 1966-67. In 1965, this translates to A49 (custom deluxe front belts with retractors) plus A47 (custom deluxe rear seat belts) while it indicates A39 (custom deluxe front and rear seat belts with retractors) in 1966 and 1967. Also, the use of "Y" for this option is illustrated on an original Fisher Body Buyout Sheet found by Dennis Dorogi under the back seat of his 1965 sedan. Both of the known cars have the nuts welded to the underside of the floor pan.
Z: This code is confirmed on 1967 Corvairs and Camaros. This code has yet to be seen on a 1966 Corvair, which is no surprise given the extremely low production numbers for A85 (custom deluxe front shoulder belts), partially due to its introduction late in the model year (March, 1966).

Mystery Code

Code L in group 5 appears on every Fisher Body build sheet for 1965 Corvairs that we have seen yet the code does not appear on the body tags of those cars. Build sheets are quite rare—we have only seen five. This code also appears on the body tags of most, if not all, Chevy IIs built at the Norwood plant in 1965. It could be that this code indicates standard front seat belts even though the code was technically not necessary since these belts were standard equipment. And, the code is seen along with W if deluxe belts were ordered.

Headrests

Although not encoded with the other options, the Fisher Body tag does indicate whether a Corvair has headrest front seats (RPOs A82 and AS2). The information is indicated by a single-letter suffix following the three-digit trim code. These letters were known as "exceptions" to the trim code, to indicate special equipment related to the upholstery section of assembly. Table 4 summarizes the data.

Table 4: Headrest trim code exceptions

Year	Model Name	Seat Type	No headrests	With headrests	No headrests	With headrests
			Willow Run		Los Angeles
1966	500	Bench	(blank)	E	A	?
1966	Monza & Corsa	Bucket	(blank)	E	Z	Y
1967	500	Bench	(blank)	E	n/a
1967	Monza	Bucket	(blank)	Y	n/a

Note: The information in Table 4 for 1966 was first published in the February, 2002 CORSA Communique and can also be found here on my website.

The different letters helped the workers at the Los Angeles plant to remember to install a different type of upholstery in 500s (bench) vs. Monzas and Corsas (buckets). As to why Willow Run didn't use this system, we can only speculate that it had something to do with the internal plant operations.

We haven't been able to locate a '66 500 with headrest seats built in Los Angeles so the code for that combination is unknown at this time. If you own a '66 500 whose body tag has a trim code suffix of something other than A or E, please contact me!

Although based on limited data collected to date, the trim code exceptions used for 1967 Corvairs appear to be a hybrid of the codes used at Los Angeles and Willow Run in 1966. Remember that Corvairs were built only at Willow Run in 1967. This indicates that cars equipped with RPO AS2 would have trim code suffix E and RPO A82 would have a Y.

Next Steps—Decoding Other Years

When looking at Corvairs produced before 1965, the Fisher Body codes for 1964 are reasonably similar to 1965 and later. 1960-63, however, are often quite different, especially at some of the plants; Oakland being a prime example. In the future, our team hopes to publish more articles documenting and comparing those years.

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