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:2nd digit is the car make: 4 = Buick
3rd digit is the car series: 0 = Special (1964)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: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