1970 L-78 Engine Code & Car Vin # Question

[Steven J]

According to information from another reliable source, it's a 1970 Nova with a full VIN of 114270W274985.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

JoeC;
You are 100% correct, the sequence numbers started at 100001 and then continued into the 2xxxxx series. This is what confused me about Colvin's book. I read it as all Novas had their sequence number starting with 1, but that is not the case after the first 100k are built.

The COPO Novas were all built within 3 weeks, 05D, 06A and 06B. This is an easy way to spot clones!
Marlin

[CamarosRus]

To all who responded to my initial question,
THANK YOU! This site and the general membership continues to impress and entertain me daily. The seller of the CKO engine was giving me a "story" about being from a Chevelle and I was certain that was wrong but the VIN # didnt make sense to me. As good as Colvin's book is his VIN # info for Nova's mislead me......and now I know "The Rest Of The Story". Regards to you all, Chuck Sharin

[JoeC]

Marlin, the way I understand it, the last six digits are the sequence numbers, which increased one digit for each car built. For some reason they do not start the count from one. They start the count from a six-digit number. For the 1970 Nova the sequence begins W100001 and gets bumped up for each unit built. When the count gets up to 100000 units the Nova number becomes W200000. Therefore only an early Nova (less then 100, 000 units built) will have W1xxxxx. The Nova production total shows 307280 units. The VIN for the last Nova built at Willow Run should be W407280. Not all models started with 100001. The 1970 Camaro begins 500001 and 1970 Monte Carlo built in Arlington begins 200001. From your numbers it appears all COPO NovaÃs were built in a short time frame.

[elcamino]

This is a L78 from a 1970 Nova!

T0226CKO
T=Tonawanda Engine Plant
02=Feb
26=Day
CKO=396/375HP with manual transmission. This engine suffix was installed in Chevelle's, Camaro's, and Nova's. So to ID the car you have to use the VIN and the Plant location to determine. During this time the only models that were being assembled at the Willow Run assembly were Nova's, so it was a Nova without a doubt.

10W274985 is the VIN code from the Nova
1=Chevrolet Division
0=Model Year
W=Willon Run Assembly
274985 are the last 6 sequence numbers from the VIN of the Nova. Your reasoning on the digit 2 is incorrect. Its just a sequence number used by the plant and does not indicate any model information.

This information is from the Chevrolet Parts Catalog from the era.









[Edited by elcamino (02-08-2001 at 06:07 PM).]