Fire"Dutch"Bird

iTrader: (1)

On my RPO sticker there's the vin above left,all the RPO codes beneath, but above right there's a number 2FS87.
Anybody knows what that number means?

cg91ta

Isn't that a paint code?

NJITIROC

iTrader: (2)

i dont think its paint code
arent paint codes 3 characters, one of which is U?
ie: my 89 is bright blue metallic, code is 98U
it could be a second representation of the paint code i guess.

GMTech

Thats the "Model Designation"

I beleive that translates to: (2)Pontiac (FS)F-Platform (87)2-door coupe

Starting in 1987, the VIN doesn't show the body style like it used to. Position 6 & 7 of the VIN used to show the body style. But in '87 and later, position 6 is the body style and position 7 is now a restraint code, so they put the body designation next to the VIN on the RPO label.

For example:

A 1986 VIN would look something like this:
1G2FW87....... Thats a Trans Am with the "87" body style (aka 2-door coupe). You could see the "87" body style in the VIN.

A 1987 VIN looks like this:
1G2FW21...... There is no "21" body style. Instead, the "2" represents all the 2-door hatchbacks: 07, 08, 77, and 87 and the "1" represents that it has Manual Seatbelts. So the "model designation" on the RPO label identifies it as an "87" body style.

Another example, my 1992 Trans Am convertible has the VIN of:
1G2FW33....... That means that its a Trans Am Convertible with Inflatable restraints. But my model designation is "2FS67" Wich means my body model is a "67" or two door convertible. If my Convertible would have been a "VIN verifiable" droptop made in '86, my VIN would look like this instead: 1G2FW67......

I hope this made sense....

GMTech

Yes, you are correct. Paint codes end in "U", i.e. 98U. But you also have to look at the WA Number wich is also on the RPO label. For example, two cars of different shade red can both have paint code 74U. However, from 1986-1991, 74U was used to describe "Flame Red Metallic" but from 1992 on, it was used to describe "Victory Red". You will need the WA# to distinguish.

My convertible has the paint code "45U" Dark Green Metallic, but if you look at the bottom of the sticker, it says: BCCC WA9539

That means that its a "Base Coat, Clear Coat" paint job, using Dark Green Metallic (WA 9539) paint. If you go to a paint store, they can mix you paint based on the 9539 code.

Fire"Dutch"Bird

iTrader: (1)

Thanks all!
Even after owning this car for 9 years now,you are never to old to learn something new!!

Greetings from The Netherlands!

kizz

iTrader: (1)

98U just means that a car's primary exterior body color was #98. That's all it means, nothing more nothing less. Paint codes are not limited to having a U on the end.

Other parts will have their own codes. 55P, 64R, 47D, 19Q, 18E, 15P, 604, 60P, 75L, 21U, 13D, 82M, are all examples of thirdgen paint codes of various parts.

Pretty much any RPO starting with two numbers is a paint code.

GMTech

Kizz, your right, there are other codes out there for other things, but usually when one says "paint code" I usually assume they mean primary exterior paint color. After all, like in some of your examples, I would hope we were not after a paint code for 47D Dark Red Cloth Trim combination. Not sure paint would work to well on that cloth

But to back you up, U is the "upper" or primary color, L is the "lower" or secondary color. P is usually the wheel color.

kizz

iTrader: (1)

Point well taken

-

unrelated: just to prove what I've said before about RPO generalization, etc. .. I wanted to mention that 47D is nothing to do with red; at least not in 1982 and the car I got it from, which is a 1982 Firebird S/E in Light Jadestone with Light Jadestone interior in Parella cloth, which is what 47D refers to. The color is an extremely pale shade of green/blue, closer to green though. Similar to the background color on the FbodyCD.com pic on the top of this page. Can see the car here.

gt

GMTech

Kizz, sometimes I think GM just does what they want to with RPO codes. My RPO book from GM only lists that code as being a red interior from 1976 to 1999. The book also says that the infamous "LG4" was a 5.0L 4bbl engine and a 7.8L Turbo Isuzu inline 6 diesel. Are these typos in the book or something that happened at the factory? We may never know...

kizz

iTrader: (1)

Every RPO and documentation book I have ever read has dozens of omissions and errors. Simply put, I don't trust books, unless I can verify their claims with real cars. See attachment for 47D Light Jadestone cowl plate. I would bet that Light Jadestone Firebird is one of THE worst documented thirdgens out there. Regardless, it did exist 1982 and 1982 only. A friend and I estimate that they made just a couple of hundred. The color is documented in every piece of 1982 literature like brochures, dealer books, etc. Not that I trust those any more, but at least they are from the horse's mouth, written at the time the cars existed, not decades after.

More importantly, see the URL I posted above.. for tons of pics of the car, inside and out.

MDv6man

Kizz --

That is the second Jade colored F-body I have seen. There is another one in a junkyard that I frequent. The first time I saw it, I was like "Green interior?!?!"

After a few more trips, I always stop and look at it -- just for the novelty that it is.