VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1949-1954 Bel Air Body Numbers vs. Serial Numbers

I viewed a fairly large collection of 1951 Chevrolets on a hillside today and there were many different models of 1951 Chevrolets scattered around the hillside, including two and four door sedans, Bel Airs, a Sedan Delivery and a Station Wagon.

In checking out the Body Numbers and Serial numbers on the two and four door sedans I found that the factory prefix letter on the Body Number matched the factory prefix number on the car serial number. For example, if the prefix letter on the Body Number was "O", which is for Oakland, the prefix number on the car serial number was "6", which also designated Oakland. However, on the two Bel Air cars that I viewed (one Bel Air was totally original) the prefix letter on the Body Number did not match the prefix number on the car serial number. Both Bel Air cars had a prefix letter of "S" (which I assume is St. Louis) on the Body Number but both Bel Air vehicles had a prefix number of "6" (which is Oakland) on the car serial number plate.

What gives? Does this mean that the Bel Air bodies were made in St. Louis but assembled in Oakland?

I would guess your only thought is correct.Just like converttible bodies were made at the plant in Lansing and shipped to all the other assembly plants.
I have this info. someplace will try to find it.

There was a 1951 convertible on site as well and, according to the Body Number, it was made in Lansing as you stated.

Hopefully you can find the documentation concerning the Bel Air because I told the owner of the cars that I would get back to him with a confirmation.

I also think the the Sedan Delivery and Station Wagon bodies were not made in each Fisher Body plant. Did you note the body and assembly plant codes on them as well?

Yes, their bodies were made at the Cleveland (CL) plant.

No, I didn't unfortuantely. I ran out of time and had to leave for another appointment. I was mainly interested in looking at the November 1951 Bel Air with the 1952 rear fender mouldings that was on site.

By the way, my old 1951 Chevrolet parts car "Clunker" is there too!

JYD, are you of the belief, after all your visual inspections, that the late model '51, in fact, came to life, off the assembly line, with the '52 rear trim ?

My Bel Air also has a body number beginning with "S".

The holes that I viewed in the 1951 Bel Air that had the 1952 rear fender trim and the "DeLuxe" emblem were factory drilled holes leading me to believe that the trim was installed at the factory. However, I am not really sure yet if the late models did, in fact, come with the 1952 rear fender trim. I am still waiting to learn what Gene hears back from Bill the 1951-52 TA before I make a final decision.

Gene......have you heard anything from Bill yet regarding this issue? Since he is a TA he should be answering you one way or the other!

Yess, and Bill agreed with me. Chevrolet just didn't do things that way. New models were a big secret until anouncement day and before announcement came covered. There would have been no reason for Chevrolet to add mouldings. Cars were somewhat scarce in 1951 and 1952 and dealers had few cars lfet over at the end of the year.
Bill suggested that the cars be checked for the motor mounts....1952 had the side motor mounts and the big frame brackets.
This is somewhat of a mystery I agree but I am sure the mouldings were not factory installed on 1951 cars.