1975 VIN Certification Label

[Lynn S.]

Here's a head scratcher for you. The current edition TIMJG page 31 states "... has a BLUE background in 1975 and a WHITE one in 1976 & 1977". I have been told that yes thru the end of 1974, GM used a blue background but some time in 1975 changed to a white background. Which would be probably correct for a Feb '75 build date car? I look forward to this discussion. Thanks in advance for everyone's replies and support. Lynn

[Robert R.]

Re: 1975 VIN Certification Label

Lynn, My '74 AIM shows part no. 3975433 for the vehicle certification label, whereas my '75 and '76 AIMs shows part no. 354048. The '77 AIM shows part no. 460242 as the label changed somewhat. Here are the pages from the '75 and '76 AIMs that show the layout for the white label. Note that the '75 page is dated 2-12-75. When the actual change from the blue label to the white label is anyones guess. Bob

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[Jimmy P.]

Re: 1975 VIN Certification Label

Hi again Lynn
If the 75 label changed to white it must have been pretty late. Here is an example of the blue label still present on a May built 75 from our revision team. I've emailed inquiries to a couple other 75-77 Revision Team members who own June built 75's to see what they have. Haven't heard back yet. I will update, once I hear from them.

Here are examples of the May built 75 blue cert label, as well an example of the white 76 & 77 labels for comparison.
Please note that I blacked out the VIN numbers out of courtesy to the owners.

[Lynn S.]

Re: 1975 VIN Certification Label

Thank you very much Robert.

[Lynn S.]

Re: 1975 VIN Certification Label

Thank you also Jimmy. Very helpful and informative.

[Dominic B.]

Re: 1975 VIN Certification Label

Lynn,
My 75 build date is 6-30-75. Blue label. Top Flight car.
Hope this helps.

[Jimmy P.]

Re: 1975 VIN Certification Label

It would certainly be nice to hear from an owner of a very late July 75 built car.

[Lynn S.]

Re: 1975 VIN Certification Label

Thanks Dominic.

[Jimmy P.]

Re: 1975 VIN Certification Label

Lynn,
My 75 build date is 6-30-75. Blue label. Top Flight car.
Hope this helps.

Well now, isn't this interesting? Lynn, I just heard back from an owner of a June 11th built 75 and his car has the white label. Soooo, does that mean the remaining blue labels were mixed in with the white during this period? Seems so!

[Lynn S.]

Re: 1975 VIN Certification Label

Thanks Jimmy. Since my car is an approximately first week of February build date, I think I'll stay with the Blue background version that I have.

[Dominic B.]

Re: 1975 VIN Certification Label

CORRECTION!! Hey guys, a got a little crow to eat here. Jimmy your post (#9) above motivated me to go out to the garage, remove the cover and take a look at that label. My prior post was in error, the label color IS white. I should have looked before I posted. Sorry for that, it was not my intention to be misleading. Lynn, my apologies. Build date 6-30-75.
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[Patrick H.]

Re: 1975 VIN Certification Label

Well now, isn't this interesting? Lynn, I just heard back from an owner of a June 11th built 75 and his car has the white label. Soooo, does that mean the remaining blue labels were mixed in with the white during this period? Seems so!

Given the different format of the labels, I'd be somewhat surprised if they used both for a period of time.
I know, "never say never" but to swap printing formats in the factory and assume the guy printing them would get it right for whatever label he had in hand...?

[Jimmy P.]

Re: 1975 VIN Certification Label

Dominic,
Thanks for reporting back with your correction.Glad you went to check. At least now we can narrow down "somewhat" when the change from a blue to white label started happening. Between vin#s 26,xxx and 30,xxx, May/June 1975.

[Tom R.]

Re: 1975 VIN Certification Label

Given the different format of the labels, I'd be somewhat surprised if they used both for a period of time.
I know, "never say never" but to swap printing formats in the factory and assume the guy printing them would get it right for whatever label he had in hand...?

Certainly is interesting. Do we know when the labels were applied...like final trim?

I ask because I suspect the printing happened in the office by a teletypewriter. Probably had a roll of labels with the perforated edges so the machine scrolled the roll upward as the label was printed. Once the data was in for that day's production, it probably printed 100 labels at a time. This same data is printed on the buildsheet. So we know the VIN serial # had been assigned. Which goes to Patrick's point that in all likelihood, the labels were not mixed. However, because cars were shuttled back and forth for repair, a vehicle with a blue label could have shipped amongst a sea of white labeled cars.