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Canadian Buick Car Serial Numbers 1935-1964

In cases where U.S.-built cars were imported into Canada, they used the U.S.-style numbering formats shown above. Canadian built cars used the following serial number format, which was common to all General Motors of Canada divisions for 1935-1966 with only minor changes over the years. For 1935-1957, the car and engine serial numbers are stamped on a plate under the hood. For 1958-1964, the car serial number is stamped on a plate attached to the driver’s side door post. For 1935-1942 cars were built or assembled at Oshawa, ON and Regina, SK and engines were built at Walkerville, ON. For calendar years 1951-971, cars and engines were built at Oshawa, ON only. For 1951-1964, only the Custom and Custom Deluxe (same as U.S. Special and Special Deluxe models on exterior, but with some Oldsmobile trim on the interior), Special, Special Deluxe, Skylark, LeSabre, Century, Invicta, and Wildcat models (cars and engines) were built in Canada. The car serial number consists of nine to eleven digits depending on the year. Information on decoding Canadian Buick car serial numbers and paint codes is available from the “Catalog of Canadian Car I.D. Numbers” by Bill Watson (ref. 10) and from the Canadian Maintenance Manuals (ref. 2). Note that all references contain errors and omissions. table 2.2 shows the starting car and engine serial numbers for 1951-1966 for the U.S. and Canada. 1935-1964 Canadian built cars used the following serial number format:

1st digit is the last digit of the model year:
1 = 1941, 1951 or 1961
2 = 1942, 1952 or 1962
3 = 1953 or 1963
4 = 1954 or 1964
5 = 1935, 1955 or 1965
6 = 1936, 1956, or 1966
7 = 1937 or 1957
8 = 1938 or 1958
9 = 1939 or 1959
0 = 1940 or 1960

2nd digit is the car make: 4 = Buick

3rd digit is the car series: 0 = Special (1964)
1 = Special Deluxe (1964)
2 = Special (1941)
3 = Custom (same as U.S. built Special, 1951-1953), or Skylark (1964)
4 = Series 40 (1935), Special (1936-1942, 1954-1958) or LeSabre (1959-1964)
5 = Series 50 (1935), Super (1940-1942)
6 = Series 60 (1935), Century (1936-1942, 1954-1958), Invicta (1959-1962), Wildcat (1963-1964)
7 = Roadmaster (1940-1941)
8 = Roadmaster (1936-1939)
9 = Series 90 (1935), Limited (1936-1940)
4th and 5th digits are the model number:

See table 2.3 for the Canadian model number list (based on digits 2-5) and their U.S. equivalents for 1951-1966. Canadian and U.S. model numbers are the same starting in 1959, except in cases where no corresponding U.S. model exists. Bill Watson’s book states the use of the letter D for 1951-1955 in the car serial number for G.M. of Canada deluxe models, but the examples below show that this is not the case for Buick. Thus, for 1951-1953 Buick’s it is not possible to distinguish between standard and deluxe models based upon the car serial number alone. In 1954 Buick had separate model numbers for deluxe models and Buick did not use the deluxe designation in 1955.

6th digit is the number of cylinders (1955-1957 only):

if year = 1955-1957 then 6th digit = 8 = V8 (all Buicks were V8’s during these years)

Last four to six digits are the sequential production number unique to that particular car:
  • four digits for 1935-1938, starting at 0001 for Oshawa ON, 8001 for Regina SK (except for 1937-1938 Oshawa ON built cars where starting number varies by car model)
  • five digits for 1939-1942, starting at 00001 for Oshawa ON, 80001 for Regina SK
  • five digits for 1951-1963, starting at 00001 for Oshawa ON
  • six digits for 1964, starting at 000001 for Oshawa ON built Special/Skylark
  • six digits for 1964, starting at 050001 for Oshawa ON built full size cars
  • Note: for 1935-1942 the leading zero of the sequential part of the serial number is omitted on some cars. table 2.2 Starting U.S. and Canadian Built Car and Engine Serial Numbers 1935-1966
Year Series Displacement and
Carburetor Type
U.S. Built Serial
Numbers Start At
Canadian Built Serial
Numbers Start At
Car Engine Car Engine
1935 40 I8 233, 2V 2777650 42937408 544070001 2864420
50 I8 235, 2V 2777650 52922072 545070001 2940001
60 I8 278, 2V 2777650 62922072 546090001 2862263
90 I8 345, 2V 2777650 92922072 549030001 2862361
1936 40 I8 233, 2V 2830899 42995239 644070001 2941439
60 I8 320, 2V 2830899 63001000 646160001 2941439
80 I8 320, 2V 2830899 83001000 648160001 2941439
90 I8 320, 2V 2830899 93001000 649160001 2941439
1937 40 I8 248, 2V 2999497 43166225 744110001 3077751
60 I8 320, 2V 2999497 63176225 746110001 3077751
80 I8 320, 2V 2999497 83176225 748160001 3077751
90 I8 320, 2V 2999497 93176225 749160001 3077751
1938 40 I8 248, 2V 13219848 43396937 844110001 3190611
60 I8 320, 2V 13219848 63396937 846110001 3190611
80 I8 320, 2V 13219848 83396937 848160001 3190611
90 I8 320, 2V 13219848 93396937 849160001 3190611
1939 40 I8 248, 2V 13388547 43572652 9441100001 3420385
60 I8 320, 2V 13388547 63572652 9461600001 3420385
80 I8 320, 2V 13388547 83572652 9481600001 3420385
90 I8 320, 2V 13388547 93572652 9491600001 3420385
1940 40 I8 248, 2V 13596807 43786214 0441100001 3693079
50 I8 248, 2V 13596807 53786214 0451600001 3693079
60 I8 320, 2V 13596807 63812000 N/A N/A
70 I8 320, 2V 13596807 73812000 0471600001 3693079
80 I8 320, 2V 13596807 83812000 N/A N/A
90 I8 320, 2V 13596807 93812000 N/A N/A
1941 40A I8 248, 2V or 2x2V 14034052 A4074859 1422700001 3942619
40 I8 248, 2V or 2x2V 13880012 44074859 1440900001 3942619
50 I8 248, 2x2V 13880012 54074859 1451600001 3942619
60 I8 320, 2x2V 13880012 64085000 1460900001 3942619
70 I8 320, 2x2V 13880012 74085000 1471600001 3942619
90 I8 320, 2x2V 13880012 94085000 N/A N/A
1942 40A I8 248, 2V or 2x2V 14257442 4457941A N/A N/A
40 I8 248, 2V or 2x2V 14257442 44579414 2440700001 3946838
50 I8 248, 2x2V 14257442 44579415 N/A N/A
60 I8 320, 2x2V 14257442 44579416 2460700001 3946838
70 I8 320, 2x2V 14257442 44579417 N/A N/A
90 I8 320, 2x2V 14257442 44579419 N/A N/A
1946 40 I8 248, 2V 14364445 45580374 N/A N/A
50 I8 248, 2V 14364445 45580375 N/A N/A
70 I8 320, 2V 14364445 45582977 N/A N/A
1947 40 I8 248, 2V 14524131 Continued from
1946 numbers
N/A N/A
50 I8 248, 2V 14524131 N/A N/A
70 I8 320, 2V 14524131 N/A N/A
1948 40 I8 248, 2V 14801266 49998814 N/A N/A
50 I8 248, 2V 14801266 49998815 N/A N/A
70 I8 320, 2V 14801266 49998817 N/A N/A
1949 40 I8 248, 2V 15020984 52209724 N/A N/A
50 I8 248, 2V 15020984 52209725 N/A N/A
70 I8 320, 2V 15020984 52209727 N/A N/A
1950 40 I8 248, 2V 15360001 55680004 N/A N/A
50 I8 263, 2V 15360001 55680005 N/A N/A
70 I8 320, 2V 15360001 55680007 N/A N/A
1951 4300 I8 263, 2V N/A N/A 1431100001 B100001**
40 I8 263, 2V 16031301 62401004 N/A N/A
50 I8 263, 2V 16031301 62401005 N/A N/A
70 I8 320, 2V 16031301 62401007 N/A N/A
1952 4300 I8 263, 2V N/A N/A 2431100001 B111500
40 I8 263, 2V 16436001 66462304 N/A N/A
50 I8 263, 2V 16436001 66462305 N/A N/A
70 I8 320, 4V 16436001 66462307 N/A N/A
1953 4300 I8 263, 2V N/A N/A 3431100001 B119001
40 I8 263, 2V 16740001 69506204 N/A N/A
50 V8 322, 2V 16740001 V24155 N/A N/A
70 V8 322, 4V 16740001 V20017 N/A N/A
1954 40 V8 264, 2V 4A1001001 V2739564 4441100001 B128827
50 V8 322, 2V 5A1001001 V2739565 N/A N/A
60 V8 322, 4V 6A1001001 V2739566 4463700001 C128827
70 V8 322, 4V 7A1001001 V2739567 N/A N/A
100 V8 322, 4V 7A1001001 V2739567 N/A N/A
1955* 40 V8 264, 2V 4B1001001 V7200804 54411800001 B142004
50 V8 322, 4V 5B1001001 V7200805 N/A N/A
60 V8 322, 4V 6B1001001 V7200806 54637800001 C142115
70 V8 322, 4V 7B1001001 V7200807 N/A N/A
1956 40 V8 322, 2V 4C1001001 14600234 64411800001 B167001
50 V8 322, 4V 5C1001001 14600235 N/A N/A
60 V8 322, 4V 6C1001001 14600236 64637800001 C167001
70 V8 322, 4V 7C1001001 14600237 N/A N/A
1957 40 V8 364, 2V 4D1001001 same as car 74411800001 B182001
50 V8 364, 4V 5D1001001 same as car N/A N/A
60 V8 364, 4V 6D1001001 same as car 74637800001 C9182001
70/75 V8 364, 4V 7D1001001 same as car N/A N/A
1958 40 V8 364, 2V 4E1001001 same as car 8441100001 B198301
50 V8 364, 4V 5E1001001 same as car N/A N/A
60 V8 364, 4V 6E1001001 same as car 8463700001 C9198301
75 V8 364, 4V 7E1001001 same as car N/A N/A
700 V8 364, 4V 8E1001001 same as car N/A N/A
1959 4400 V8 364, 2V or 4V 4F1001001 same as car 9441100001 B211004
Year Series Displacement and
Carburetor Type
U.S. Built Serial
Numbers Start At
Canadian Built Serial
Numbers Start At
Car Engine Car Engine
4600 V8 401, 4V 6F1001001 same as car 9461900001 C9211004
4700 V8 401, 4V 7F1001001 same as car N/A N/A
4800 V8 401, 4V 8F1001001 same as car N/A N/A
1960 4400 V8 364, 2V or 4V 4G1001001 same as car 0441900001 B222906**
4600 V8 401, 4V 6G1001001 same as car 0461900001 C9222906**
4700 V8 401, 4V 7G1001001 same as car N/A N/A
4800 V8 401, 4V 8G1001001 same as car N/A N/A
1961 4000 V8 215, 2V or 4V 0H1501001 same as car N/A N/A
4100 V8 215, 2V or 4V 1H1501001 same as car N/A N/A
4300 V8 215, 4V 3H1501001 same as car N/A N/A
4400 V8 364, 2V or 4V 4H1001001 same as car 1443700001 B9232243**
4600 V8 401, 4V 6H1001001 same as car 1463700001 C9232243**
4700 V8 401, 4V 7H1001001 same as car N/A N/A
4800 V8 401, 4V 8H1001001 same as car N/A N/A
1962 4000 V6 198, 2V AI1501001 same as car N/A N/A
V8 215, 2V or 4V 0I1501001 same as car N/A N/A
4100 V8 215, 2V or 4V 1I1501001 same as car N/A N/A
4300 V8 215, 4V 3I1501001 same as car N/A N/A
4400 V8 401, 2V or 4V 4I1001001 same as car 2443900001 B9239724**
4600 V8 401, 4V 6I1001001 same as car 2463900001 C9239724**
4800 V8 401, 4V 8I1001001 same as car N/A N/A
1963 4000 V6 198, 2V AJ1501001 same as car N/A N/A
V8 215, 2V or 4V 0J1501001 same as car N/A N/A
4100 V6 198, 2V BJ1501001 same as car N/A N/A
V8 215, 2V or 4V 1J1501001 same as car N/A N/A
4300 V8 215, 4V 3J1501001 same as car N/A N/A
4400 V8 401, 2V or 4V 4J1001001 same as car 3443900001 B248977**
4600 V8 401, 4V 6J1001001 same as car 3463900001 C248977**
V8 425, 4V N/A
4700 V8 401 or 425, 4V 7J1001001 same as car N/A N/A
4800 V8 401 or 425, 4V 8J1001001 same as car N/A N/A
1964 4000 V6 225, 1V AK1001001 same as car 44027000001 184700001
V8 300, 2V or 4V 0K1001001 174600001
4100 V6 225, 1V BK1001001 same as car 44127000001 184700001
V8 300, 2V or 4V 1K1001001 174600001
4200 V8 300, 2V or 4V 2K1001001 same as car N/A N/A
4300 V6 225, 1V CK1001001 same as car 44337000001 184700001
V8 300, 2V or 4V 3K1001001 174600001
4400 V8 300, 2V or 4V 4K1001001 same as car 44439050001 174600001
4600 V8 401, 4V 6K1001001 same as car 44639050001 154690001
V8 425, 4V or 2x4V N/A
4700 V8 425, 4V or 2x4V 7K1001001 same as car N/A N/A
4800 V8 401 4V, 425 4V or 2x4V 8K1001001 same as car N/A N/A
1965 43300 V6 225, 1V 433275B100001 last 8 of car 543327000001 295070001
43400 V8 300, 2V or 4V 434275B100001 last 8 of car 543427000001 325600001
43500 V6 225, 1V 435355B100001 last 8 of car 543569000001 295070001
43600 V8 300, 2V or 4V 436355B100001 last 8 of car 543669000001 325600001
44200 V8 300, 2V or 4V 442555B100001 last 8 of car N/A N/A
44300 V6 225, 1V 443275B100001 last 8 of car 544327000001 295070001
44400 V8 300, 2V or 4V 444275B100001 last 8 of car 544427000001 325600001
45200 V8 300, 2V or 4V 452375B100001 last 8 of car N/A N/A
45400 V8 300, 2V or 4V 454375B100001 last 8 of car 545437050001 325600001
46200 V8 401 4V, 425 4V or 2x4V 462375B100001 last 8 of car N/A N/A
46400 V8 401 4V, 425 4V or 2x4V 464375B100001 last 8 of car N/A N/A
46600 V8 401, 4V 466375B100001 last 8 of car 546637050001 385690001
V8 425 4V or 2x4V N/A
48200 V8 401 4V, 425 4V or 2x4V 482375B100001 last 8 of car N/A N/A
48400 V8 401 4V, 425 4V or 2x4V 484375B100001 last 8 of car N/A N/A
49400 V8 401 4V, 425 4V or 2x4V 494475H900001 last 8 of car N/A N/A
1966 43300 V6 225, 2V 433076B100001 last 8 of car N/A N/A
43400 V8 300 2V, 340 4V 434076B100001 last 8 of car N/A N/A
43500 V6 225, 2V 435076B100001 last 8 of car 643507000001 246090001
43600 V8 300, 2V 436076B100001 last 8 of car 643607000001 266600001
V8 340, 4V 326660001
44200 V8 340, 2V or 4V 442556B100001 last 8 of car N/A N/A
44300 V6 225, 2V 443076B100001 last 8 of car 644327000001 246090001
44400 V8 300, 2V 444176B100001 last 8 of car 644417000001 266600001
V8 340, 4V 326660001
V8 340, 2V (Sportwagon) N/A N/A
44600 V8 401 4V 446076B100001 last 8 of car N/A N/A
45200 V8 340, 2V or 4V 452376B100001 last 8 of car N/A N/A
45400 V8 340, 2V or 4V 454376B100001 last 8 of car 645437000001 326660001
46400 V8 401 4V, 425 4V or 2x4V 464376B100001 last 8 of car N/A N/A
46600 V8 401 4V 466376B100001 last 8 of car 646637000001 346670001
V8 425 4V or 2x4V N/A
48200 V8 401 4V, 425 4V or 2x4V 482376B100001 last 8 of car N/A N/A
48400 V8 401 4V, 425 4V or 2x4V 484376B100001 last 8 of car N/A N/A
49400 V8 425 4V or 2x4V 494876H900001 last 8 of car N/A N/A

* The prefix V is not used after engine serial number 1,000,000 for U.S. built engines.

** Estimate only.

Compiled with information contributed by Buford26