Has anyone ever seen a “Z” (or another letter, for that matter) used in conjunction with a trim code? Any idea what it means?
Thank you both. I searched for previous threads detailing this information here on the board, but didn't see anything in the results that looked particularly helpful. If the “Z” indicates a specially-ordered interior that may not go well with a particular exterior color, then this example is a head-scratcher. I think Brad is right - the car has a black interior, and that matches the other info we have. The exterior is code 14 (Silver Mist), so black is a “recommended” color for that combo. I have never seen a “Z” in front of any trim code, so that had me curious. It’s still a bit confusing that the basic 128 might have been any kind of a special order. It looks like I may have an example much like David Walker details in his post above. Interesting, for sure.
Not particularly in 1970, but I have seem some SCO stampings on the cowl plates. Sometimes what I see from them is the “SCO” is in the placement where the SCO was generated. By this I mean if the color is the reason for the SCO, then the tag is stamped SCO at that location. Duane
I’ve seen that Z code before…right here in this thread from 2020 Even appears to be the same photo: https://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/trim-tag-70-buick-gs-interior.357199/#post-3062634 There have been a couple of other threads over the years about Z interior codes. Maybe someone can dig them up as well and combine all of the thoughts into one thread.
I have a Flint built '70 GS w/a "Z" & black interior which was a recommended color w/all exterior colors. I figured it was a mistake. If so, could've been many cars before/after before it was realized & surely nobody cared enough to go back & fix 'em all.
Yep! You are correct. A friend of mine is considering this car and I am trying to help him run down the info. We have access to the Sloan documents, but the “Z” had me wanting to know more.
If you have the Sloan documents then you can look at the options and figure out if it is a SCO car or not. There are other numbers on some of the Fisher ID plates that we cannot figure out. Info from Fisher Body is hard to find. Duane
Neat ar,especially if put back to orig. It's been rumored at least that the "Z" could be for other things but never seen any proof. Both that car & mine have the 2-0 designation (no idea what that is) on the report & the "Z" & are both very oddly optioned cars. Maybe just a coincidence?
I don't think anything definitive to the Z prefix has yet appeared. It seems to be peculiar to Flint built cars however, and I have not seen the code used on cars built at GMAD plants. A car with near identical an exterior/interior combination (but no vinyl top) to my 4-speed car, but built at Framgingham GMAD plant, lacks the Z prefix. A friend has a Seamist Green '70 convertible, and the car has a Z185 interior code. White buckets were recommended in combination with Seamist Green (and all exterior colors for that matter), so the Z prefix on his car is difficult to explain. This car however, while having buckets, was originally built without a console, so the auto transmission shift was located on the steering column as would have occurred with a bench seat application. This may be another clue to the Z prefix, but again, not a definitive answer.
I 'Spoke" with Duane about this, as I have had "Hands On" with this car. The "Z" is unknown, But I can definitely say it is a 123 & Not an 8. I have gone through everything I have available to me & Not found a "123" trim on Any GM "A" body. (even searching 69, because this car is an early 70) The Only thing I can think of is that who ever stamped the plate made a mistake on the #, & for some reason the "Z" was going to be a special code. Per the Sloan report, the car Is a GS455, Options: TH400, AM Radio, RWL Tires, & Deluxe wheel covers. The other question was Why it came in as Fleet & Not Demo, for Stock, or Customer ordered? Someone that was w/Duvall Buick-GMC INC. in Leitchfield KY. would have to answer that. JR
I disagree. Compare the fully formed 3 at the top and notice where the upper and lower portions of the three curl stop. The lower number "8" continues upward and downward past the point where the 3 at the top stopped. Besides the car has a black interior and 128 is the correct code for a black interior.
The center of the 9 is also lightly stamped, just to add some weight to the above. I agree that it is a 128 and not a 123.
These are embossed not stamped, and embossing uses different methods and tooling compared to stamping. You really don't get "light characters" the way you do when stamping, Picture are hard to tell, especially when there is paint and crud present. Does look like a 3 with a little paint blocking part of the center. It would be nice to see an "8" in the same scale, however I believe it to be a 8. Get some paint stripper out and you will see the 8 more clearly.
Really interesting…I can add a little to the discussion here as well. I have a ‘70 GS455 (not Flint-built) that came with buckets, a column shifter, and no console. Unlike the car Jim mentions, mine does not have a “Z” in front of the trim code.
The Sloan documentation (page 3) for the car specifically denotes the interior code as 128. So obviously a mistake has been made somewhere along the way. My educated guess would be when the Fisher Body tag was created.
Question really is was the "Z" a mistake? It's obviouslya 128 interior car (changed at some point presumably). "Fleet" could be a mistake at the dealer or, zone office, or Flint or maybe it really was. Also, what is the 2-0 on the reports? My "Z" car (seamist/black so recommended) has that designation. Does yours (which is a non-recommended conbo) &/or your friend's have that?
