Hello! I go by the handle Galahad144 and thank you for the approval to join from the Niagara region of Ontario Canada.
I recently picked up a 1966 Beaumont Sport Deluxe 2 dr hardtop that is supposedly 1 of 845 2 dr hardtop sport deluxe cars built for 1966.
The supposedly original 396 is gone and replaced with a 454 from 1973 that has been rebuilt into a stout 468 backed by the original TH350 3 speed auto and the supposedly original 12 bolt replaced with a mopar 8 3/4 with 4.11's and suregrip
I'm having some issue finding a way to decode 1966 numbers and was hoping someone here could be of assistance.
V.I.N. 673617012771
Cowl tag numbers
STYLE 73617 2-6-246
BODY NO. 842838
PAINT N
TRIM 385
A51M35
If anyone could help me what the numbers mean and how to go through the decoding process I would very much appreciate it.
Thank you
seventy2plus2 said
Jan 16, 2022
Turbo 350 wasn't invented yet in 1966, and if it were wouldn't have been behind a big block.
cdnpont said
Jan 16, 2022
Welcome to the site Mitchell. Any shots of the car for us?
Prefectca said
Jan 16, 2022
I think that A51 is the code for Sport Deluxe and M35 is a powerglide (two speed) automatic transmission.
Prefectca said
Jan 16, 2022
In the reply window click on advanced editor at the bottom of the window to add pictures or web links.
Paul
-- Edited by Prefectca on Sunday 16th of January 2022 05:12:50 PM
Thats a fair point. Thank you for correcting me. It has TH350 on it now.
4SPEED427 said
Jan 16, 2022
Galahad144 wrote:
V.I.N. 673617012771
Cowl tag numbers
STYLE 73617 2-6-246
BODY NO. 842838
PAINT N
TRIM 385
A51M35
To add to what the others have said, 6 is 1966, 736 is a Beaumont V8, 17 is a 2 door hardtop, O is Oshawa, 12771 is the sequential number for production. The 2-6-246 baffles me. 2 is the second shift at the factory, 6 is the month (June) but the 246 makes no sense. If it was 24 it would mean June 24th but I can't figure out 246. 842838 you know is body number. N paint is Maroon (I don't know the actual name for it) 385 trim is red bucket seat interior, A51 is the Sports Equipment option (Sport Deluxe) and M35 is Powerglide.
A51 in 1966 and in early 1967 (up to about the start of Dec 1966 production) got you a Sport Deluxe. After that A51 became the option code for bucket seats and Sport Deluxe was a model, not an option.
beaumontguru said
Jan 16, 2022
The 2 6 246 is second shift of june 24 or 26th. Must be a typo. Should only be 2 letters designating the day in june.
seventy2plus2 said
Jan 16, 2022
Would a 396 have a powerglide behind it?
4SPEED427 said
Jan 16, 2022
That would have been the only automatic available in a 66 Beaumont SD 396. TH 400 only started in Beaumont in 67.
Pontiacanada said
Jan 16, 2022
Welcome from Canada's east coast!
What colour will you paint it? Original Maroon?
Galahad144 said
Jan 16, 2022
4SPEED427 wrote:
Galahad144 wrote:
V.I.N. 673617012771
Cowl tag numbers
STYLE 73617 2-6-246
BODY NO. 842838
PAINT N
TRIM 385
A51M35
To add to what the others have said, 6 is 1966, 736 is a Beaumont V8, 17 is a 2 door hardtop, O is Oshawa, 12771 is the sequential number for production. The 2-6-246 baffles me. 2 is the second shift at the factory, 6 is the month (June) but the 246 makes no sense. If it was 24 it would mean June 24th but I can't figure out 246. 842838 you know is body number. N paint is Maroon (I don't know the actual name for it) 385 trim is red bucket seat interior, A51 is the Sports Equipment option (Sport Deluxe) and M35 is Powerglide.
A51 in 1966 and in early 1967 (up to about the start of Dec 1966 production) got you a Sport Deluxe. After that A51 became the option code for bucket seats and Sport Deluxe was a model, not an option.
Thank you. This is a huge sigh of relief. Is there anyway to know if it is an original big block car?
Galahad144 said
Jan 16, 2022
Pontiacanada wrote:
Welcome from Canada's east coast!
What colour will you paint it? Original Maroon?
I have been debating on many colours to paint it. I didn't even know it was maroon until I read the comments now. Knowing the original colour has thrown a curveball in the decision making.
4SPEED427 said
Jan 16, 2022
Galahad144 wrote:
Thank you. This is a huge sigh of relief. Is there anyway to know if it is an original big block car?
The only way to know 100% for sure is to contact GM Vintage Vehicle services and get the documentation for it. Any other way would not be secure.
A couple of questions-
Does it have a 3/8" diameter fuel line from the tank to the fuel pump? Only 327/396 had that.
Do your frame mounts look like this? Notice how the curved edge has a "trough" stamped in it? That is unique to big block frame mounts.
As Carl mentioned above your best way to verify the car is to contact Vintage Vehicle Services. For a fee they will pull the GM Docs on your car and provide you with a report on when the car was built,
shipping date, dealer that sold the car new and all the options your car had. They will also provide production numbers. Well worth the price.
Thank you. This is a huge sigh of relief. Is there anyway to know if it is an original big block car?
The only way to know 100% for sure is to contact GM Vintage Vehicle services and get the documentation for it. Any other way would not be secure.
A couple of questions-
Does it have a 3/8" diameter fuel line from the tank to the fuel pump? Only 327/396 had that.
Do your frame mounts look like this? Notice how the curved edge has a "trough" stamped in it? That is unique to big block frame mounts.
The entire fuel system has been redone and the car has a 468BB in it now and the fuel lines have all been replaced so unfortunately that likely won't be accurate. I will look at the frame mounts and look into VVS and see what I find.
unruhjonny said
Jan 17, 2022
VVS is absolutely the way to go!
Please let us know what you find after receiving their packet - and maybe if you might be so kind, you could share a scan of the page.
Galahad144 said
Jan 27, 2022
Hey Guys,
Just heard back from VVS and found out the car was originally a 283 powerglide... bummer. Updates will be coming soon!
Hello! I go by the handle Galahad144 and thank you for the approval to join from the Niagara region of Ontario Canada.
I recently picked up a 1966 Beaumont Sport Deluxe 2 dr hardtop that is supposedly 1 of 845 2 dr hardtop sport deluxe cars built for 1966.
The supposedly original 396 is gone and replaced with a 454 from 1973 that has been rebuilt into a stout 468 backed by the original TH350 3 speed auto and the supposedly original 12 bolt replaced with a mopar 8 3/4 with 4.11's and suregrip
I'm having some issue finding a way to decode 1966 numbers and was hoping someone here could be of assistance.
V.I.N. 673617012771
Cowl tag numbers
STYLE 73617 2-6-246
BODY NO. 842838
PAINT N
TRIM 385
A51M35
If anyone could help me what the numbers mean and how to go through the decoding process I would very much appreciate it.
Thank you
Welcome to the site Mitchell. Any shots of the car for us?
In the reply window click on advanced editor at the bottom of the window to add pictures or web links.
Paul
-- Edited by Prefectca on Sunday 16th of January 2022 05:12:50 PM
Here are some shots of when I picked it up
Thats a fair point. Thank you for correcting me. It has TH350 on it now.
To add to what the others have said, 6 is 1966, 736 is a Beaumont V8, 17 is a 2 door hardtop, O is Oshawa, 12771 is the sequential number for production. The 2-6-246 baffles me. 2 is the second shift at the factory, 6 is the month (June) but the 246 makes no sense. If it was 24 it would mean June 24th but I can't figure out 246. 842838 you know is body number. N paint is Maroon (I don't know the actual name for it) 385 trim is red bucket seat interior, A51 is the Sports Equipment option (Sport Deluxe) and M35 is Powerglide.
A51 in 1966 and in early 1967 (up to about the start of Dec 1966 production) got you a Sport Deluxe. After that A51 became the option code for bucket seats and Sport Deluxe was a model, not an option.
That would have been the only automatic available in a 66 Beaumont SD 396. TH 400 only started in Beaumont in 67.
Welcome from Canada's east coast!
What colour will you paint it? Original Maroon?
Thank you. This is a huge sigh of relief. Is there anyway to know if it is an original big block car?
I have been debating on many colours to paint it. I didn't even know it was maroon until I read the comments now. Knowing the original colour has thrown a curveball in the decision making.
The only way to know 100% for sure is to contact GM Vintage Vehicle services and get the documentation for it. Any other way would not be secure.
A couple of questions-
Does it have a 3/8" diameter fuel line from the tank to the fuel pump? Only 327/396 had that.
Do your frame mounts look like this? Notice how the curved edge has a "trough" stamped in it? That is unique to big block frame mounts.
Welcome aboard.
As Carl mentioned above your best way to verify the car is to contact Vintage Vehicle Services. For a fee they will pull the GM Docs on your car and provide you with a report on when the car was built,
shipping date, dealer that sold the car new and all the options your car had. They will also provide production numbers. Well worth the price.
https://www.vintagevehicleservices.com/
Please let us know what you find after receiving their packet - and maybe if you might be so kind, you could share a scan of the page.
Just heard back from VVS and found out the car was originally a 283 powerglide... bummer. Updates will be coming soon!