[FASTASSBIRD]

Shoot I am getting old i guess, confused my t/a with my raii car t/a was built in nor while the 68 was built in lor, it was the t/a clearly with the d80 code............

[FASTASSBIRD]

Guess i should go out in the backyard and take more pics and write stuff down, all these cars are getting confusing i remember a time when I could spit off vin numbers and such from 10 differant cars, now I play hell remembering when and where they were built. Too many motocross crashes i guess

[The Boss]

If it ever gets to be too overwhelming, give me a call & I'll get them out of the way for you.

[FASTASSBIRD]

lol boss you might have to take a number on a few of em!

[The Boss]

Just trying to be a good neighbor.

[Kurt S]

Another B80 tag was on ebay. This was a cowl that was being sold to rebody another car with. Ebay stopped the auction because all they were selling was really a title and a VIN.
223379U135494 LOR543083

This is highest VIN I've seen with a B80.

[John V.]

Ditto that Kurt. The highest V8 Lordstown VIN I have logged is 9U136096, no "extra" codes on that one. But pretty sure there were few built after that one.

According to what I see, Lordstown produced about 1000 Firebirds each of weeks 03-B and 03-C. So potentially plenty more can be found, I've only recorded 15 VINs from these 2 weeks of production and 7 of them included an "extra" code. This includes 9U135418 that Transamric recorded as having the AEE code. And a couple that I did not record an "extra" code for, I did not get to see the Data Plate, so uncertain if they did or didn't have one. Seems a pretty high percentage will have a code on 03-B & 03-C Lordstown Data Plates.

So plenty more VINs with B80 (if not some other code) still to be uncovered.

99% sure it is connected to the Decor Group option being ordered on these builds during those 2 weeks after the mid-March announcement of the "decontenting".

[The Boss]

Here's another Lordstown B80 Car

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...l%3FMyEbayBeta

[FASTASSBIRD]

Well I just hauled home a 69 gto with b80 on the cowl tag, car was built in fremont, CA I think. Betting some cross research on chevelles will help shed some light on this topic

[John V.]

FASTASSBIRD, there is no shortage of GM cars from the '60s that will show the B80 code on the Data Plate. It is pretty well established that it indicates Roof Drip Rail Molding, corroborated by GM literature. Researching B80 codes from other builds will not solve this mystery.

The mystery being studied here is specific to Lordstown built '69 Firebirds.

In this case, Lordstown did not code any options on the Data Plate in '69 until mid March.

Fremont and many other Plants always coded certain UPC codes on the Data Plate in the '60s, B80 is commonly seen on Fremont Data Plates going back to '64 for example.

Lordstown stopped building '69 Firebirds late in March, the latest Time Built codes are 03-B and 03-C.

In mid March, Pontiac "decontented" the Firebird to reduce the base price. One of the things eliminated from the base content were the Drip Moldings. At that point, you had to order the Decor Group option to get them.

At the same time, Lordstown began coding the 03-B and 03-C Data Plates. The most common code seen has been B80. A couple of odd codes have also been reported which may have been coding errors, misreads, etc.

The codes have been found on coupes and convertibles. Drip moldings are nonsensical on a convertible.

I have yet to see a code on an 03-B or 03-C Lordstown Data Plate for a Firebird that was documented as not having the Decor Group option.

Since convertibles wouldn't have Drip Moldings, a B80 code on a convertible either indicates a coding error or else the code refers to the Decor Group option.

With additional code "sightings", it may eventually be proven that the B80 code was intentional on the convertibles as well as the coupes and always associated with the Decor Group option starting with 03-B builds.

VIN 223379U134710 was especially interesting because the Body Broadcast document exists for it and shows the B80 as one of the Fisher Body Trim options. Even though it is a cordova top car, the only option code on the Data Plate is B80.

Won't ever be able to understand why Lordstown thought it was necessary to regurgitate this particular code on the 03-B and 03-C Data Plates but with enough evidence it should become obvious what option it is connected to.

[Kurt S]

For those keeping track, here's another B80 tag on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=130597950540
Another 03B car.

[RAJ7395]

Thanks Kurt!

My 1969 TA has AEE D80 on he cowl tag. The D80 is for the spoiler and the AEE is for the decor group. BUT.... did any documented TAs actually get the bright window molding above the door windows??

[johnta1]

What does your PHS say?

Here's some info on the cowl tags:

1969 Cowl Tag

[Kurt S]

This is only a LOR tag anomoly that only happened for 2 weeks near the end of production. Unrelated to the NOR D80 tags.

I thought the exterior trim package include the gutter trim? If so, I think any AEE car should have it. Then again, I know Camaro options, Firebird not so well.

[boater bill]

Originally Posted by RAJ7395

BUT.... did any documented TAs actually get the bright window molding above the door windows??

The 2 documented 69 TA's I have seen locally do not have the bright molding above the windows. They do not have the AEE but do have the D80 on the trim tags.

[johnta1]

D80 is for the rear spoiler.

Kurt, do LOR Camaro convertibles have the AEE also?

[John V.]

Kurt, thanks for uncovering another.

Too bad the PHS was not included in the listing.

Almost certainly would show the Decor Group option as eveidenced by the drip rail molding and the wheel well moldings. Everything still pointing to the Lordstown B80 indicating a Decor Group option on a 03-B or 03-C build after the March decontenting announcement.

I also can't answer the question whether TAs would have the bright moldings. RAJ7395, I assume you are referring to the window drip rail moldings?

All I can say for sure, the TA could be ordered with the Firebird Decor Group and by the time the TA was released for production, the Firebird Decor Group included the window drip rail moldings. So I would assume the answer to be yes, the TAs did get them when ordered with the Decor Group. But a TA expert will have to say for sure.

[RAJ7395]

The PHS confirms that my car was ordered with the decor group and the tag has AEE D80 on it.

We've debated here about whether or not a 69 TA with the decor group actually got the stainless wiindow drip rail moulding. Before I put it on, I'd really like to know if it is supposed to have it.

[A Schab]

My car is D80 AEE and it has PHS style trim, it has the drip rail molding also.Any car that came with drip rail molding will not have the coupler piece at the corner that connects the A piller to the rest of the steel drip lip that the stainless snaps on to.

[Kurt S]

Originally Posted by johnta1

Kurt, do LOR Camaro convertibles have the AEE also?

I've never seen AEE on a LOR tag, though one was observed. I'd like to see a pic of one sometime before I'm a believer.

Otherwise, AEE is a NOR-only code that appeared when Firebird production started at NOR.