65GS.com - Buick Gran Sport Enthusiasts!
General Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Loren At 65GS on April 22, 2021, 08:51:47 AM
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I'm interested in trying to decode the cowl tag from Fremont built cars. To be able to do this, I will need a great deal of input from members here.
It would be necessary to have a picture of the cowl tag and a list of the known original options on each vehicle. By original options, I mean options only installed at time of factory build. If there are options that you or the previous owner has added , it would be important to know that.
If you can not post pictures, or wish to not have them posted, you can email to : lealex1@yahoo.com
Loren
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Dear Loren and mid-60s Buick historians,
I'm interested in trying to decode the cowl tag from Fremont built cars. To be able to do this, I will need a great deal of input from members here.
It would be necessary to have a picture of the cowl tag and a list of the known original options on each vehicle.
Okay, I'll give this a try. Here is the cowl tag for my trusty 1965 Buick Deluxe Special wagon:
(http://www.canebas.org/Automotive/Misc.%20Biquette%20photos/Biquette%20builder%20plates/Engine%20compartment%20plate%20(thumb).jpg) (http://www.canebas.org/Automotive/Misc.%20Biquette%20photos/Biquette%20builder%20plates/Engine%20compartment%20plate.jpg)
OPGI claimed to have a list of available factory accessories from 1965 Buick. This is what is displayed on Biquette's website:
(http://www.canebas.org/Biquette/Images/accessories%20retail%20price.jpg)
As far as I know, those are the only factory accessories Biquette had: V-8 with 4 barrel carburetor, automatic transmission, power steering, and an AM radio. She was a "plain Jane" wagon with a more modest price-tag. Is there a more definitive list of factory accessories? I'll definitely be happy to check on any other factory accessories that Biquette might have been equipped with.
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Thanks Edouard,
Add to your options, the deluxe trim that Biquette has. I imagine she had manual brakes?
Loren
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Here is my 65 GS Fremont built tag. Car is two-tone, auto, PS, PB, Molding group, 2 dr HT. White with black painted top. Not sure if it had the road wheels or hubcaps, I got both with the car.
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Loren, here is the cowl tag from my 65G.S. Hardtop. Artic White, blue interior, power steering, AM radio, rear speaker, sport wheels, add remote driver side mirror.
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Here is a shot of my 65 VIN tag, Hardtop, red, with white painted top and red interior, automatic, remote mirror no AC but PS and PB. AM radio, no rear speaker, no wheel well trim. Deluxe seat belts.
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Dear Loren and mid-60s Buick historians,
Add to your options, the deluxe trim that Biquette has.
Correct!
I imagine she had manual brakes?
Yes indeed she had power steering but manual brakes. Considering that wagons could be expected to do more hauling, towing, etc. - it was a curious case of penny-wise and pound-foolish. We upgraded her to power brakes in 1979.
Cheers, Edouard
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Loren, mine has the remote mirror too and radio.
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Thanks for the input, it will take a lot more though to determine commonalties.
Loren
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Can’t post pictures so emailed for the hardtop.
Dan
Options : ps, pb, pw, ac, tilt, remote mirror, power seat, radio
Here are your pictures Dan, thank you for sending them to me.
Loren
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After doing some more research , I have come to the realization that the numbers on the Fremont built cars has no reference to options.
I located information on the 442BRO forum that indicates the number on the accessory line refers to what was called a Broadcast Sheet.
The Broadcast Sheet contained the option codes.
So, there is no way, I see, to determine if a Fremont built car is a Gran Sport.
Thank you all for the posts,
Loren
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I had a pic of the 65 I sold that was Fremont,but I could not get it to send with my terrible internet service.
I think it was discussed earlier about the Magic Mirror finish that is specifically written in cursive lettering. To my knowledge that is a Fremont specific trim tag and no other cars have them. I do not recall anything unique about the car I had being a GS from the tag. Fortunately it still had the original engine which removed all doubt, but I saw no other distinctions.
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Hi Loren,
Here's an article that might be helpful. Maybe Duane has some info he could share? Since 65's were not a model but an option, maybe very different.
https://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/fremont-batch-codes-soft-trim-broadcast-s.139696/ (https://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/fremont-batch-codes-soft-trim-broadcast-s.139696/)
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Hi ,here's our car.jim
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Well, now we know what to call the string of numbers in the ACC space on the Fremont cars,
'Manifest Sequence number'.
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Well, now we know what to call the string of numbers in the ACC space on the Fremont cars,
'Manifest Sequence number'.
Well, we are making a little headway. Now we know the correct term for the number. If only that paperwork had been saved.
Loren
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Hi ,here's our car.jim
Jim,
These are the best condition pieces I have seen. Many thanks to you for posting pictures.
Does your car have a vinyl roof ?
Loren
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Loren,
Here's mine. PS, PB, PW, ST300, AC, Remote Mirror, Tilt Steering, Hazards, AM, Saddle Interior, Window Reveal Molding, Deluxe Trim.
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Hi ,yes originally white with white interior black vinyl top .jim
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Hi ,yes originally white with white interior black vinyl top .jim
Thank you Jim.
Your Manifest sheet is very helpful. I've always suspected that there may be some codes on a Fremont tag and the "C27" that is on both the cowl tag on the Manifest sheet confirm that. Sadly though there is no code on a Fremont tag to confirm the car a GS and also seems to be no consistency to the tags.
A49 = Custom seat belts- front
B70 = I.P. Pad [ not sure what it is ]
Loren
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I.P Pad I bet is: Instrument Panel Pad.
So C-27 is for the vinyl roof. I wonder if all Fremont builds put that on the cowl data plate.
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I.P Pad I bet is: Instrument Panel Pad.
So C-27 is for the vinyl roof. I wonder if all Fremont builds put that on the cowl data plate.
Hey Walt,
Seems like a safe bet on I.P.Pad, Yes C27 would be for a vinyl roof as confirmed by Jim's cowl tag, Manifest sheet and his response in reply 18.
Loren
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Interesting read - nice work!
So to summarize Fremont cowl tags:
String of #'s = manifest sequence number
A49 = custom front seat belts (retractable seat belts?)
B70 = Instrument panel pad (dash pad?)
C27 = vinyl top
Did I miss anything? Is there any other codes?
My Fremont car ONLY has the manifest numbers, despite having seat belts and a dash pad (?)
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I'd say the mystery so far is why some Fremont cars do have some options codes, while most do not.
The two reported so far have fairly early build dates of 2D and 3E.
Let's see if that pattern holds true for future finds.