GM Vehicle Invoices, Build Records and Vintage Vehicle Information Availability
The General Motors Media Archive (GMMA) provides the following GM Vehicle Invoice, Build Record and Vintage Vehicle Information services:
Vehicle Invoices
The vehicle invoice collection is the documentation of the vehicle cost broken out by model and factory options. It contains the original ship to dealer information, MSRP and invoice number that General Motors used to bill the dealer. The collection is archived on microfilm, microfiche, CD and is organized by VIN number. The collection covers almost all cars & trucks produced in the U.S. starting in the mid 1970's.* Vehicle Invoices are printed from microfilm or microfiche then scanned and emailed as an Adobe PDF for $50 USD.
Most requests for copies of dealer vehicle invoices are reproduced from microfilm and microfiche. Copies of these records may vary in quality, depending on the condition of the archived record. GM will give you the highest reproduction quality possible from these media sources and will notify you if the invoices are not legible or unavailable. Vehicle invoices are available for the following years (excluding fleet and exported vehicles):
Buick from 1982 (prior to 1982, contact the Alfred P. Sloan Museum)
Cadillac from 1980
Chevrolet from 1977*
GMC from 1976*
Oldsmobile from 1977*
Pontiac from 1987 (prior to 1987, contact PHS Automotive Services, Inc.)
Saturn from 1994
Saab from 2000
While GM continues to search for original build records and dealer invoices for Chevrolet, GMC, and Oldsmobile vehicles built prior to the 1977 model year, there is currently no resource available from which to obtain this information.
The formats vary by division and year. A sample is available by visiting the GMMA website: Vehicle Invoices section.
Note:
Vehicle invoices will show what dealer purchased the vehicle from General Motors, but there is no vehicle history information available.
Due to potential security issues, effective September 20, 2006, GMMA will no longer be supplying Dealer Invoices or Build Sheets with Key Code information. This information can be obtained by contacting your dealer.
Build Records
The build record is a document that followed the vehicle down the assembly line as the car was being built. Assembly line workers used the option codes on the build record to determine which part they were to install. The build record option codes were specific to different vehicle lines and require decoding to understand individual options.
Cadillac is the only General Motors division that was able to preserve the majority of their factory build records all the way back to 1903. These build records have taken on many forms over the years. Early build records were hand written in oversized leather bound journals. While more recent records are computer generated.
Build records are available for Cadillac only. There are no Cadillac build records available for 1968, 1974-1979 and some 1973 models. Cadillac build records are printed from microfilm or microfiche. This package will include information pertaining to the option code and will be mailed USPS for $50 USD.
Sample build sheets are available by visiting the GMMA website: Vehicle Build section.
Note:
Due to potential security issues, effective September 20, 2006, GMMA will no longer be supplying Dealer Invoices or Build Sheets with Key Code information. This information can be obtained by contacting your dealer.
Vintage Vehicle Information
GMMA can provide model-specific Vintage Vehicle Information Packages. For a fee of $50, GMMA will decode the vehicle identification number (VIN), the body plate/trim tag codes and provide photocopies of product literature including (when available):
Divisional Engineering Specifications
AMA/MVMA Specifications
Product Selling Information/Salesperson's Guides
Options and Accessories Information
Paint and Trim Guides
Sales Literature
Owner's Literature
Production Volumes
Note:
The amount of information varies from model to model. Information relevant to a specific model if available, will be mailed USPS.
Packages are available for the following Makes and Model Years:
Cadillac - All Years
Chevrolet - All Model Years
GMC - All Model Years
Oldsmobile - All Model Years
Pontiac - 1926 to 1958
Saab - All Model Years
Saturn All Model Years
Additional Information
Unfortunately, GMMA does not retain original documentation for every vehicle built. Each GM division and plant was responsible for maintaining production information. Since there were no retention guidelines for this information and plants did not have the necessary space to store it all, most records were destroyed after 10 years.
GMMA can NOT:
- Authenticate vehicles or options.
- Provide window stickers. You can use the information we provide to have a window sticker re-created.
- Provide recall clearance letters. Call 888-467-6853 for more information.
- Provide current model information. Call 800-222-1020 for more information.
Ordering Information is available by visiting the GMMA website: Ordering Instructions section.
If you have any questions, please contact us at:
vehicleinvoice@gmmediaarchive.com
Telephone: 1-734-462-5543, ext. 163
Fax: 1-734-261-5216
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