Decode 1965 thru 1980 Cadillac V.I.N. Numbers
1965
YEAR
STYLE
LETTER
DIGITS
BODY
65
68069
M
5100001 up
SDN - 60S (60 Special)
65
68239
N
"
CAS - H.T. Sdn (Calais Hard Top Sedan)
65
68257
G
"
CAC (Calais Coupe)
65
68269
K
"
CAS (Calais Sedan)
65
68339
B
"
SDV H.T (Sedan De Ville Hard Top)
65
68357
J
"
CDV (Coupe De Ville)
65
68367
F
"
DVC (De Ville Convertible)
65
68369
L
"
SDV (Sedan De Ville)
65
68467
E
"
ELC (Eldorado)
65
69723
R
"
SDN-75 (Series 75 Sedan)
65
69733
S
"
LMO-75 (Series 75 Limo)
65
69890
Z
"
CHS (Commercial Chassis)
1966
same as '65 +
66
68169
P
6100001 up
BRG (Brougham)
66
68467
E
"
ELC
(Last Year)
1967
same as '66 +
67
69347
H
7100001 up
EDP (FWD Eldorado)
1968
same as '67
except No 68269
8100001 up
1969
same as '68 9100001 up
1970
same as '69 0100001 up
1971
Division
Style
Year
Plant
Sequence
BODY
6
8169
1
Q
100001
SDN 60S (60 Special)
6
8249
1
Q
100001
CAS H.T. (Calais Hard Top Sedan)
6
8247
1
Q
100001
CAC CPE (Calais Coupe)
6
8349
1
E
350001
SDV H.T. (Sedan De Ville Hard Top)
6
8347
1
E
350001
CDV (Coupe De Ville)
6
9347
1
Q
400001
ECP (Eldorado Cpe)
6
9367
1
Q
400001
ELC (Eldorado Convertible)
6
9723
1
Q
100001
SDN 75 (Series 75 Sedan)
6
9733
1
Q
100001
LMO 75 (Series 75 Limo)
6
9890
1
Q
100001
CHS (Commercial Chassis)
Division: 6 = Cadillac
Plant: Q = Detroit
E = Linden
Detroit "C" Bodies 100001 up
Linden De Ville only 350001 up
Engines: R=472
Detroit "E" Bodies 400001 up
S=500
1972
VIN number system revised. First two digits of series and models changed to one letter.
Engine designation added. Build sequence numbers and plants are the same.
Division Line/series Body Type
Engine
Year
Plant
Sequence
BODY
6
C
47
R
2
Q
100001
CAC
6
C
49
R
2
Q
100001
CAS
6
D
47
R
2
E
350001
CDV
6
D
49
R
2
E
350001
SDV
6
B
69
R
2
Q
100001
60S
6
L
47
S
2
Q
400001
ECP
6
L
67
S
2
Q
400001
ELC
6
F
23
S
2
Q
100001
SDN-75
6
F
33
S
2
Q
100001
LMO-75
6
Z
90
S
2
Q
100001
CHS
Year 1973 same as '72 except the year is a "3"
Year 1974 almost same as '72 except the year is a "4"
and the engine numbers change as follows:
100001 up - Detroit built on "C" series and Eldo's built on "C" line.
400001 up - Eldo's not built on "C" line.
500001 up - Linden built De Villes.
Year 1975 same as '74 except the year is a "5"
and 472 Engine is dropped.
Year 1976 same as '75 except the year is a "6"
Seville is introduced (mid '75 as '76 model with 350)
"S" Series, "69" Body Style, "R" Engine Code
Page 3
Body Type
Engine
Year
Plant
Sequence
69
R
6
Q
450001-466355 in 1975
466356-510127 in 1976
Year 1977 same as '76 except the year is a "7"
Calais coupe and sedan are dropped, as is the Eldordao Convertible.
Also the engine size and numbers change;
"R" 350
"S" 425 Carb
"T" 425 Fuel Inj.
600001 up Linden built "C"
450001 up Detroit built "K" (Sev)
Year 1978 same as '77 except the year is a "8"
except engine codes change, and the Diesel is added
"S" 425 Carb
"T" 425 EFI
"B" 350 EFI
"N" 350 Diesel
Year 1979 same as '78 except the year is a "9"
Engine sequence numbers 250001 up added for Southgate CA built De Villes.
Plant designations now:
9- Detroit
E- Linden
C- Southgate
Year 1980 similar to '79 except the year is "A"
(Year changed to a Letter system).
425 Engine dropped, 368 added
"6"=368 Carb
"9"=368 EFI
"8"=350 EFI
"N"=350 Diesel
Example 6 D 47 6 A 9 100001 is a CDV Built in Det. 368 Carb Eng.
Seq# 100001 up C&D Detroit
350001 up C Southgate
600001 up E Linden
670001 up K Linden