Is there a book I can purchase to decode 50's Canadian Pontiacs?
DonSSDD said
May 30, 2022
You can get factory GM documents for your 58 from Vintage Services which will detail when and how your car was built and who sold it. Contact details here on the site.
You should also get the factory shop manual for the Canadian Pontiac 58, available on Kijiji frequently, a big help with working on the car and it also has some decoding information in it. Not sure what was available for an assembly manual for the Canadian Pontiac in 1958, there is a Chevy one reproduced that would be helpful for working on the Pontiac.
Canadian Poncho said
May 30, 2022
Cars and Parts published the "Catalog of Canadian Car I.D Numbers" by Bill Watson in 2005. It's good but not perfect. According to this book your VIN decodes as:
Strato Chief 4 door sedan (V8 -283 or 348)
Can't help on Paint or Trim codes as the book only shows 2 digit codes for paint in 1958. Documents from GM Vintage Vehicle Service https://www.vintagevehicleservices.com/
should provide you with that information
bigdreams said
May 30, 2022
i have a copy of the factory shop manual for canadian pontiacs
Terry checking with my large library for 58 Pontiacs I found out the info you are asking about.
Serial Number 8 7649 38054 indicates that your car is a 1958 Pontiac Strato Chief four door sedan with production serial number 38059. The 8 stands for 1958 and 7649 is for a Strato Chief four door sedan with a V8 engine
The paint code 2240 is for a dark blue colour called Starlight Blue Metallic
The trim code 933 is for the interior colour of medium blue cloth and vinyl
The engine number that starts with a V indicates that it was built with a 283 V8.
The body number 737965 was the number that Oshawa Plant issued to it
Not sure was the BSO number 367 stands for.
Hope this is some help. Bob Crocker in South Western Ontario
GTOman said
May 31, 2022
Thanks for the info everyone, I appreciate the quick response!!!
Hi
Need help decoding a 58 Pontiac
VIN 8764938059
Engine V106717
Style 7649
Body No 737965
Paint 2240
Trim 933
BSO 367
Is there a book I can purchase to decode 50's Canadian Pontiacs?
You should also get the factory shop manual for the Canadian Pontiac 58, available on Kijiji frequently, a big help with working on the car and it also has some decoding information in it. Not sure what was available for an assembly manual for the Canadian Pontiac in 1958, there is a Chevy one reproduced that would be helpful for working on the Pontiac.
Cars and Parts published the "Catalog of Canadian Car I.D Numbers" by Bill Watson in 2005. It's good but not perfect. According to this book your VIN decodes as:
Strato Chief 4 door sedan (V8 -283 or 348)
Can't help on Paint or Trim codes as the book only shows 2 digit codes for paint in 1958. Documents from GM Vintage Vehicle Service https://www.vintagevehicleservices.com/
should provide you with that information
i have a copy of the factory shop manual for canadian pontiacs
Here are some samples of the info it provides
Serial Number 8 7649 38054 indicates that your car is a 1958 Pontiac Strato Chief four door sedan with production serial number 38059. The 8 stands for 1958 and 7649 is for a Strato Chief four door sedan with a V8 engine
The paint code 2240 is for a dark blue colour called Starlight Blue Metallic
The trim code 933 is for the interior colour of medium blue cloth and vinyl
The engine number that starts with a V indicates that it was built with a 283 V8.
The body number 737965 was the number that Oshawa Plant issued to it
Not sure was the BSO number 367 stands for.
Hope this is some help. Bob Crocker in South Western Ontario