1963 & 1964 Cadillac Body Styles and VIN #'s

[Jason Edge]

1963/1964 Body Styles

In 1963/1964 Cadillacs were broken in to 3 main body style series.

They were the entry level 62 series cars (least expensive and renamed Calais in 1965), mid series DeVilles (mid priced) and the high-end Fleetwoods.

For 1963/1964 the "62 Series" included
-

62 series Coupe with body type 6257.
-62 series 4 window Sedan with body type 6239.
-62 series 6 window Sedan with body type 6229.
- 1963 Only -> 62 series convertible (moved up to DeVille line in 64)

 
Stepping up to the DeVilles for 1963/64 this would have included
- Coupe DeVille with body type 6357
- 4 Window Sedan DeVille with body type 6339
- 6 Window Sedan DeVille with body type 6329
- 1963 only -> DeVille Park Avenue with body type 6389
- 1964 only ->DeVille Convertible with body type 6267 (was a 62 series in 1963)

At the high end of the spectrum you would have found the Fleetwoods which 1963/1964 included:
- Eldorado Convertible with body type 6367 - called Eldorado Biarritz with its on Body Series in 1963  
- Fleetwood 60 Special - its name from the body type 6039. Without getting into the 75 series 9 passengers Fleetwoods below, this would have been your highend 4 door car. 
- Fleetwood 75 Series 9 Passenger Sedan with body type 6723
- Fleetwood 75 Series 9 Passenger Limo with body type 6733

- In addition you would have had a Commercial Chassis with body type 6890

Identifying your Car by VIN #  
  Your car can be identified by it's VIN Number (called Engine Serial Number
in the shop manual).

1963 VIN Numbers (Engine Serial Number or Engine Number)

VIN Numbers for 63 Cadillacs are made up as follows:

63 X nnnnnn

where: 63 is the year,
X is the Body Code which designates which series and style of car (see below)
nnnnnn is the production number for that year.

VIN LETTER (Body Code), (Body Style #) & STYLE_____________

G- 6257 - 62 SERIES COUPE
N- 6239 - 62 SERIES SEDAN (4 window)
K- 6229 - 62 SERIES SEDAN (6 window)
F- 6267 - 62 SERIES CONVERTIBLE
J- 6357 - COUPE DEVILLE
B- 6339 - SEDAN DEVILLE (4 window)
L- 6329 - SEDAN DEVILLE (6 window)
D- 6389 - SEDAN DEVILLE PARK AVENUE
E- 6367 - ELDORADO CONVERTIBLE
M- 6039 - FLEETWOOD 60 SPECIAL
R- 6723 - FLEETWOOD 75 SEDAN
S- 6733 - FLEETWOOD 75 LIMO
Z- 6890 - COMMERCIAL CHASSIS

1964 VIN Numbers (Engine Serial Number or Engine Number)

VIN Numbers for 64 Cadillacs are made up as follows:

64 X nnnnnn

where: 64 is the year,
X is the Body Code which designates which series and style of car (see below)
nnnnnn is the production number for that year.

VIN LETTER (Body Code), (Body Style #) & STYLE_____________

G- 6257 - 62 SERIES COUPE
N- 6239 - 62 SERIES SEDAN (4 window)
K- 6229 - 62 SERIES SEDAN (6 window)
F- 6267 - DEVILLE CONVERTIBLE
J- 6357 - COUPE DEVILLE
B- 6339 - SEDAN DEVILLE (4 window)
L- 6329 - SEDAN DEVILLE (6 window)
E- 6367 - ELDORADO CONVERTIBLE
M- 6039 - FLEETWOOD 60 SPECIAL
R- 6723 - FLEETWOOD 75 SEDAN
S- 6733 - FLEETWOOD 75 LIMO
Z- 6890 - COMMERCIAL CHASSIS

VIN NUMBER LOCATION

NOTE: For an in depth look at history of the VIN and locatinging it check out this article taken from the February 2021 Newsletter: Where's the VIN?

Typically the vin # is in 3 places on your car.

1st) It is on the frame on the first cross-member lip just in front of the radiator.  To find, raise the hood and look down and to the right just below the area the horns mount to the radiator support. The VIN is stamped into the lip of the frame that extends diagonally up just in front of the bottom of radiator support. You will probably need some sandpaper or steel wool to bring it out. Sometimes wetting it makes it easier to read also.

See Pictures below:

 

 

2nd)

The VIN is stamped on the engine on the left (driver) side below the exhaust manifold just above the oil pan so you will need to get under the car with a good light and will probably need some sandpaper. This one is really hard to see with the engine still in the car but is useful in verifying that your engine is the original.....this is what they mean by matching numbers.   See Pictures below:

 

 

3rd

) Sometimes there is a Service Notice Plate (service label) l mounted to the inside of the door jamb on the left/driver side. This is just held on by two tiny phillips screws and is easily removed and/or sometimes they get painted over.I would not put too much stock in this service plate. They are easy to switch around.  See Example Picture below:

 

4th) Your vin should be on the title or insurance documentation for your car. Look for the number that starts out as 63x or 64x...... That is your vin number.

** In addition - The VIN is also apparently located on top of the frame at the rear crossmember, however, you would have to have the body off of the car to see the VIN in this location.  The VIN may be in other locations however Locations #1 and #2 are the most apparent.

VIN # vs Engine Serial Number
Thru the 1964 Model year Cadillac used the term Engine Serial Number or Engine Number to ID the vehicle. With the 1965 Model Year the term VIN or Vehicle Identification Number was adopted.  So today we use the term VIN # and not Engine Serial Number. This is important to understand when you are looking at the original 1963/64 Cadillac literature such as the Owners Manual and Shop Manual. 

See September and October 1964 Serviceman Bulletins below for the details.

[Jason Edge]

I have added the following to to the VIN & Body Styles Help Page under VIN LOCATION:
 
NOTE: For an in depth look at history of the VIN and locatinging it check out this article taken from the February 2021 Newsletter: Where's the VIN?

[Jason Edge]

Set up a quick link to this page... www.vin.6364cadillac.com