This page is applicable only to 1957 and 1958 Imperials
The factory data plate is a rich source of information about the car to which it
is attached. It is imprinted when the car is ordered and corresponds to the factory record
on microfiche. There remains the problem of deciphering the data
stamped on the plate, for codes changed every year, and the idea itself of uniform coding
had not been formed . Codes after 1962 can be easily obtained from the MoPar guru Galen
Govier, but for earlier years its a different question. Thanks to Wayne Graeffen,
the 300C specialist, Ive been able to decode the 1957 and 58 plates, but
dont ask me about other years - theIR plates are different.
The factory plate is riveted on the radiator cross brace on the passenger side.
It may have been removed or attached elsewhere because of work done on the car, such as
painting. Here as an example is the plate on my 57:
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M |
D |
L |
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P |
N |
T |
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T |
R |
I |
M |
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S |
C |
H |
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I |
T |
E |
M |
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2 |
8 |
3 |
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X |
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8 |
2 |
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1 |
1 |
8 |
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2 |
5 |
8 |
1 |
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3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
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3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
5 |
1 |
6 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
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2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
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7 |
4 |
9 |
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4 |
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6 |
5 |
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3 |
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B |
O |
D |
Y |
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S |
O |
/ |
F |
O |
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2 |
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A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
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6 |
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3 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
4 |
4 |
0 |
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5 |
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8 |
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2 |
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Numbers and letters in black are part of the unstamped plate. Those
in red are specific, my cars identity document.
DECIPHERMENT:
First line: MDL = model . PNT = Paint. TRIM = upholstery. SCH =
schedule date (i.e., to leave factory). ITEM = ?
Second line: codes corresponding to the first line.
Third, fourth, fifth lines: Options; to be read in a vertical 3-figure
column. In the example above, the options are 357, 344, 349 etc.
Sixth line: BODY =serial number. SO/FO = Special order/Foreign order.
Following, options as in lines 3, 4 and 5.
CODES:
MODEL (MDL). After some investigations here is the
"key". The code is always a three-digit number.
1957: First figure:
price class / second figure:
series / third figure: body type.
Price class |
|
Series |
|
Body type |
1 |
Low = IM1-1 |
7 |
"base" |
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3 |
2-door
convertible |
2 |
Medium = IM1-2 (Crown) |
8 |
Crown |
|
5 |
4-door
sedan. |
4 |
High = IM1-4 (Le Baron) |
|
9 |
Le
Baron |
|
6 |
2-door
H/T |
5 |
Special = IM1-5 ? (Ghia) |
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9 |
4-door
H/T |
Thus a model 289 is a Crown 4-door
hardtop (Southampton)
1958 :
It seems that '58 have same data plates as '59, at
last about the # body type (MDL). See chart below
LY1-L |
LY1-M
"Crown" |
LY1-H
"le baron" |
Ghia
Crown Imperial |
612: 2 dr HT |
632: 2 dr HT |
653 : 4 dr sedan |
? : 4 dr sedan |
613 : 4 dr sedan |
633 : 4 dr sedan |
654: 4 dr HT |
|
614: 4 dr HT |
634: 4 dr HT |
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635: 2 dr convertible |
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Click
on the thumbnail to see a '58 4drHT Crown data plate with 634 MDL # (courtesy
Ernie Stepney). Note also that '58 have the VIN number stamped below "SRL"
PAINT (PNT): The codes follow.
Letter Z means a custom color. A French 1957 Imperial survives with the code ZZ, a
two-tone job for which both colors were special orders.
1957 |
1958 |
A |
Jet Black |
AAA |
Raven Black |
B |
Horizon Blue |
BBB |
Stardust Blue |
C |
Regatta Blue |
CCC |
Air Force Blue Poly |
D |
Sovereign Blue Metallic |
DDD |
Midnight Blue |
E |
Seafoam Aqua |
EEE |
Spring Green |
F |
Parade Green Metallic |
FFF |
Cypress Green Poly |
G |
Forest Green Metallic |
GGG |
Mandarin Jade Poly |
H |
Mist Gray |
HHH |
Aztec Turquoise |
J |
Gunmetal Gray Metallic |
JJJ |
Spruce Green Poly |
K |
Charcoal Grey Metallic |
KKK |
Satin Gray |
L |
Desert Beige |
LLL |
Winchester Gray Poly |
M |
Shell Pink |
MMM |
Mesa Tan |
N |
Copper Brown Metallic |
NNN |
Sandalwood Poly |
P |
Gauguin Red |
OOO |
Tahitian Coral |
R |
Regimental Red |
PPP |
Matador Red |
S |
Sunset Rose |
RRR |
Shell Pink |
T |
Champagne Gold |
TTT |
Garnet Maroon Poly |
U |
Deep Ruby Metallic |
UUU |
Bamboo Yellow |
V |
Saturn Blue |
WWW |
Ballet Blue |
W |
Indian Turquoise |
XXX |
Ermine |
X |
Cloud White |
ZZZ |
Champagne Gold |
TRIM (upholstery) :
-
1957 Thanks to Hal
who sent me pics and description of his "57 Imperial trim selector" :
IM1-1 sedan
#
33:
med. blue snowflake
brocade & dark.
blue twist fabric
#34 :
med. green snowflake brocade & dark. green twist
fabric
# 35 : med gray snowflake brocade & dark gray twist fabric
# 36 : tan snowflake brocade & brown twist fabric
# 85 * : medium blue leather
# 86: * med. green leather.
# 87 * : med gray leather .
* : extra cost |
IM1-1,
2 and 4 dr HT Southampton
# 49 : light blue
metallic vinyl & med blue basket weave fabric
# 50 : light green metallic vinyl & med green basket weave fabric
# 51 : light gray metallic vinyl & light gray basket weave fabric.
# 52 : beige metallic vinyl & tan basket weave fabric
|
IM1-2
Crown sedan
# 37: dark. blue & medium. blue broadcloth
#38: dark. green & medium. green broadcloth
#
39 : dark gray & medium gray broadcloth
# 40 : brown and tan broadcloth
# 44: green metallic leather & med green silver ripple boucle
# 45 *: light blue metallic leather & med blue silver ripple boucle
# 46 *: light green metallic leather & med green silver ripple boucle
# 47 *: light gray metallic leather and med gray silver ripple boucle
# 48 *: beige metallic leather & tan silver ripple boucle.
# 85 * : medium blue leather
# 86: * med. green leather.
# 87 * : med gray ? leather .* :
extra cost |
IM1-2,
2 and 4 dr HT Southampton
# 45 : light blue metallic leather & med blue silver ripple
boucle
# 46 : light green metallic leather & med green silver ripple boucle
# 47 : light gray metallic leather and med gray silver ripple boucle
# 48 : beige metallic leather & tan silver ripple boucle.
# 81* : dark blue leather and light blue metallic leather.
# 82 * : dark green leather & light green metallic leather.
# 83 *: dark gray leather & light gray metallic leather
# 84 * : brown leather and beige metallic leather.
Crown convertible
Like above except # 48 et # 84 non available.
So all leather was an option ..
* : extra cost |
IM1-4 Le Baron
sedan
#
41 : medium blue monotone broadcloth.
# 42 : medium green monotone broadcloth
# 43 : Medium gray monotone broadcloth
# 44 : Tan monotone broadcloth |
from left to right
: "med. green snowflake brocade" / , " med. blue basket weave fabric " /
"med. blue silver ripple boucle" |
- 1958 Thanks
to Robert Walker,
an IML member, who gave me the following codes.
"Diamond Glow" : Jacquard cloth with metallic
vinyl bolsters used on the Custom Series
"Monaco" : medium tone "crown" pattern cloth with
light tone bolsters, broadcloth for sedans and metallic leather for Southamptons
LY1-1 Sedan
50 "Diamond Glow" Blue
51 "Diamond Glow" Green
52 "Diamond Glow" Tan
53 "Diamond Glow" Silver |
LY1-1 Southampton (Hardtop)
54 "Diamond Glow" Blue
55 "Diamond Glow" Green
56 "Diamond Glow" Tan
57 "Diamond Glow" Silver |
|
Crown Sedan
88 "Monaco" Blue
89 "Monaco" Green
90 "Monaco" Tan
91 "Monaco" Silver |
Crown Southampton
58 "Monaco" Blue
59 "Monaco" Green
60 "Monaco" Tan
61 "Monaco" Silver |
Crown Southampton
83 Leather (OPTION) Blue
84 Leather (OPTION) Green
85 Leather (OPTION) Tan
86 Leather (OPTION) Silver
87 Leather (OPTION) Red |
LeBaron
62 Broadcloth Blue
63 Broadcloth Green
64 Broadcloth Tan
65 Broadcloth Silver |
|
Sedans
(except LeBaron)
66 Leather (OPTION) Blue
67 Leather (OPTION) Green
68 Leather (OPTION) Tan
69 Leather (OPTION) Silver |
ITEM : I havent yet learned what this means.
SCH: within a few days of the actual emergence from the factory. The date
sequence is American month, day, year, so 1214 means Dec. 14. My cars date number is
118 = Jan. 18. The year isnt specified; model years generally run from October
through the following September.
BODY : a body number without particular significance, always close to the serial
number.
SO/FO: Usually a number below this entry means an export model with speedometer
and odometer in km instead of miles.
OPTIONS : the list follows. Prices are available only for the 1958 Chrysler
models..
1957
Options |
1958 Options |
265 |
? |
303 |
6 way power front seat ($ 101.90) |
322 |
rear shelf speaker (N/A conv). |
304 |
Power windows ($ 107.60) |
323 |
Heater - custom conditionaire |
307 |
Electric door locks |
324 |
Defogger (N/A conv) |
327 |
rear shelf speaker (N/A conv).($ 15.10) |
325 |
Power brakes (std) |
334 |
Power antenna ($ 25.80) |
326 |
6 way power front seat |
341 |
A/C, rear unit ($ 540.10) |
327 |
Power steering
(std) |
342 |
A/C, Deluxe, dual ($ 688.60) |
328 |
Power windows |
345 |
Heater - Custom Conditionaire ($ 93.30) |
331 |
Vanity mirror |
347 |
Instant Heat gazoline heater (N/A with AC) $ 158.45 |
332 |
Solex Glass |
359 |
Crankcase ventilation (export) |
334 |
Mirror - tilt type |
365 |
Electric clock (?) |
335 |
Mirror - left outside rear view |
381 |
License plate frame |
338 |
Air-foam seat cushion - rear |
394 |
Defogger (N/A conv) $ 20.85 |
344 |
A/C model 900 ( need 323 ) |
397 |
Auto-Pilot Cruise control ($ 88.10) |
345 |
Highway HI-FI 16-2/3 rpm turntable (need Electro-Touch Radio) |
399 |
Sure Grip Différential ($ 51.70) |
348 |
Rear window - upper portion shaded, 2 dr H/T |
401 |
Mirror - left outside rear view ($ ?) |
349 |
Dual headlights |
402 |
Mirror - left outside rear view (remote control) ($ 13.80) |
351 |
Power antenna |
403 |
Mirror - right outside rear view ($ ?) |
352 |
Instant Heat gazoline heater (N/A with AC) |
405 |
Vanity mirror ($ ?) |
353 |
Stone shields on rear quarter panels |
408 |
"Imperial Eagle" hood ornament |
354 |
License plate frame |
445 |
Electro-Touch Radio w/ pw antenna |
355 |
Heavy Duty Generator 40 A |
467 |
Solex Glass ($ 15.90) |
356 |
Electro-Touch Radio |
481 |
Stone shields on rear quarter panels ($ ?) |
357 |
Flitesweep Decklid
(false wheel on trunk) |
553 |
Rear end ratio 3.31 to 1 (?) |
358 |
"Imperial Eagle" hood ornament |
562 |
Solid color |
541 |
Mirror - right outside rear view |
578 |
30 amp generator (# 1842601) |
|
|
605 |
touch-up paint (?) |
|
|
612 |
export |
Top colors (convertible)
221 |
Black |
222 |
Ivory |
223 |
Blue |
224 |
Green |
Heres another data plate, this one from the car of Boyd Kooïj, who drives it
every day in Holland (its equipped with liquefied petrol gas) See if you can
decode it!
Boyd Kooïj 57 Imperial |
... and his data plate |
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