VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1971-1979 Car Data-1979 Camero

Is there a way to find out more production data on a car with the VIN number? All of the sites are looking for 17 characters instead of 13 for a 1979. Looking at what is supposed to be a 1979 Z 28 and I want to confirm it is a Z and not a sport coupe or ralley sport model. VIN is 1Q87L9N583240. Thanks

I believe the GM Heritage center offers a replacement window sticker or information but I can't find the years they cover...Joe

Unlike other vehicles, you would either need to give the Heritage Center a call, or find a build sheet with the RPO codes listed to prove it was a true Z28. The one you're looking for is 1FQ87, which designates the car as a Z28 optioned Camaro. The VIN would not give you this information. I have not used the Heritage Center resources so I can't say if they could tell you more, but that's a start.


From Nasty Z28.com , your vin breakdown of the car is as follows.

1Q87L9N583240

1= US …built car
Q= Camaro
87= Sport coupe
L= 350, 175 hp engine
9= 79
N= Norwood, Ohio production plant
583240= plant production sequence number


Hope this helps some.

The Camaro site that Daryl refers to will have the block code on the engine. The Z28 350 was specific to the Z28. Check that site. I would say that if your block number and prefix matches NAsTY's Z28 data it is quite likey that it was an original. I have not seen anybody "clone" a '79 Camaro. The build sheet would be your best bet.

GM Heritage Center can provide the orig dealer order invoice back through 1977 model years.They also include an info packet on your car.Cost is $50. I've used this service 4 times.
Jim

Guys,
Were traditional build sheets still in use by '79?
I haven't seen any that I can remember.Nothing was found in my 76 either.
Jim

Jim- good info on the Heritage Center. Have to try that out with some of our cars and see how they look. Would be great info to have.

I'm not sure on all car lines and build sheets, but I would assume some form of broadcast sheet is still in use today. Probably just a big bar code nowadays.

This F-body website says Camaro build sheets were used until 1983, and this site references finding 78-80 sheets behind the rear seat.

A few photos of '79 build sheets from Norwood seem to exist, but not Van Nuys. Here's one for an export car, which is pretty neat.



I can't speak with too much experience though, I've only found 1 build sheet in my life in a GM car and that was an '86 Cutlass. It was so brown and ratty you could only make out a few boxes and the perforated edges. I'll see if my coworker with a 78 Trans Am has one. He's the original owner and may have come across one at some point.

Off-Topic: I found the remains of one for my Mustang behind the bumper cover. It was taped up there and rotted away :(