What body name is for my 57 Plymouth Belvedere that I'd like to post for sale?

Here is some info: Viewing a thread - VIN Numbers on 1957 Plymouths

The engine number and model number would have "P-30" but not the serial number. 1957 was the last year for a straight sequential number with no decodable references to year, make, model, assembly plant, etc.

The serial number is attached to a plate on the driver's door hinge post.

The 1957 Plymouth serial number sequences, by plant :

P29 - 6 cylinder
Lynch Road : 14280001 to 14410539
LosAngeles, CA : 25215001 to 25222883
Evansville, IN : 20860001 to 20891720
Newark, DE : 28100001 to 28103737

P30 - 8 cylinder
Lynch Road : 16083001 to 16392956
LosAngeles, CA : 26595001 to 26643618
Evansville, IN : 22330001 to 22450693
Newark, DE : 28525001 to 28534683

P29 serial numbers were for all 6-cylinder Plaza, Savoy, and Belvedere models. P30 serial numbers were for all 8-cylinder Plaza, Savoy, Belvedere and Fury models.

For Canadian (Windsor) production :

P29-1 : Plaza 6 : 95545301 to 95552038
P29-2 : Savoy 6 : 96123501 to 96132216
P29-3 : Belvedere 6 : 95999101 to 95999183

P30-1 : Plaza V8 : 95569801 to 95571764
P30-2 : Savoy V8 : 96188701 to 96197924
P30-3 : Belvedere V8 : 969231601 to 96929547

Convertibles and Fury models were not built in Canada.

American serial numbers also include export Dodge Kingsway and DeSoto Diplomat models built at Lynch Road while the Canadian numbers include export DeSoto Diplomat models.
 
As there were no official body series designations, back then, it would be "full-size" or just "Plymouth". The "P" in the model designation would be for "Plymouth" as the "29" and "30" would designate the engine type. 6-cyl or 8-cyl. Only ONE Plymouth "type", with several trim levels/model names.

I suspect that GM and Chrysler DID use letters to designate the body platforms, for internal use only, later on. Valiant/Lancer would be the A-bodies, when they came out. The 1963 "downsized" Plymouths and Dodges became what is the later B-bodies. But the "C-Body" designation was not publicly used until the 1965 model year. Imperials were the D-body/Sales Code "Y" cars, probably from the 1957 models, which can give earlier credibility of the existence of the body series designation I have mentioned, with Chryslers unofficially being "C-bodies" back then, too. I have not looked at the 1956 models, though.

I do know that GM used the letter system as far back as the 1940s, internally.

SEPARATE from this, there were also number designations for the various body styles. A two-digit number for 2-dr sedan, station wagons, and others. Usually, these body style identifiers were somewhat consistent across all model years, into the 1980s and beyond. Trim level designations were in this mix, too.

You might want to look in the "INFO" pages of the appropriate model year of Chrysler Parts Manual, where the various body and trim decodes are listed. Either at www.mymopar.com or www.jholst.net (might have to manually input those addresses).

Hope this might help,
CBODY67
 
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