Tank Sticker for Canadian Cars

[Mike G #33811]

Last week, you guys helped me decipher the codes on the tank sticker for my '71 BB Roadster. Thanks. I appreciated the help. Unfortunately, this obviously has produced a whole new dilemma.

My car has a Canadian emmissions label and the tank sticker verified the car to have the Canadian equipment option Z49. The evidence points strongly that this car was built for export to Canada.

The previous owner had tried to get the build sheet from GM Canada with no luck. The VIN # was not on record. When I first got the car and saw the emmissions label, I tried GM Canada again with the same result. After dropping the tank and seeing the Z49 option, I phoned again and told him of the evidence, but he still states there is no record of the VIN.

In order to help narrow the search, he asked me if I could give him the order number on the tank sticker. Unfortunately, only the last three numbers we legible. He stated that it should be a six digit number and that it should begin with the number 7. All Canadian cars were supposed to start with this number.

In the Dobbins fact book, there is a tank sticker for a '71 BB Coupe shown where the order number is three letters with three numbers, i.e. BDU316. All other paperwork I have seen also has this format. I think mine is GLB477. Build date sometime early January.

Could any of you who have Canadian cars and that know your order number share it for comparison. I don't think he is right.

[Wayne M.]

Re: Tank Sticker for Canadian Cars

Mike --- I hope your call for other Canadian '71 tank sticker information is fruitful. However, the GM Canada Vintage Vehicles guy may be right about a 6 digit order # on the tank sticker, beginning with "7". The partial microfiche records I have for '69, '70, '72 and '73 show this under the column F.C.O. These order #'s were not sequential year-to-year, and it seems a block of #'s was assigned for a particular model year. In the long '69 production year, the #'s crossed into the low 8xxxxx's. I do have a partial tank sticker for a Canadian '68, but they used the prior system of a 5-digit code.

Your tank sticker sounds like a hybrid Canadian/US-delivered car. The few Canadian del'd tank stickers I have from this period all show zone 21, dealer 000. But a US '69 sticker I have shows the 3 letters + 3 digits, (AWQ350) as Dobbins book shows.

So maybe your car WAS delivered (or picked up) stateside.

[Mike G #33811]

Re: Tank Sticker for Canadian Cars

Wayne - I've seen some of the microfiche records and agree that the FCO # does start with 7XXXXX for Canadian cars. Is this the same as the order number? What does the acronym FCO stand for? I also see COPO and F&SO. What are these?

[Wayne M.]

Re: Tank Sticker for Canadian Cars

Mike --- On the few '67 Canadian-del'd cars for which I have the microfiche AND the tank sticker, the F.C.O. (microfiche) matches EXACTLY with the tank sticker "Order Number". The term F.C.O. (I can only guess "O" = order; the rest ??) began in 1967, on the Canadian microfiches. COPO = Central Office Production Order (I think), and was another # assigned for special non-RPO (Regular Production Option) instructions to St.Louis assembly. For instance, you have probably heard of COPO Camaros (# 9561 = 427/425hp / # 9560 = ZL1 aluminum block +heads). As far as the "F & SO", I have no idea. Maybe others (John # 29xxx ?) can fill us in.

BTW, I'm collecting photocopies of GM Canada microfiches; willing to trade on a one-for-one basis.