GM Build Sheet by VIN — Decode the RPO & SPID Codes
GM built each car to a list of RPO option codes. Much of that list survives on the SPID label in the glovebox or trunk, with paint and trim on the firewall cowl tag, across Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, GMC, and Cadillac alike. Enter the VIN to anchor the year, division, and plant, then decode the codes. It's free.
Look Up a GM Build Sheet by VIN
Enter the VIN and we'll fix the year, division, and plant so the SPID label and RPO codes decode correctly
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How a GM Build Sheet Lookup Works
GM spread the build record across the SPID label and the cowl tag. The VIN points you to the right reference; the RPO codes do the rest.
Enter the GM VIN
Type the VIN from the dash, door jamb, title, or registration. It fixes the model year, division, plant, and body before you read the codes.
We point you to the SPID
The VIN tells you which GM reference applies so the SPID label's RPO list and the cowl tag's paint and trim codes decode correctly.
Decode the RPO codes
Each three-character RPO code maps to a factory option, color, or component, and together they rebuild exactly how the car was equipped.
What Counts as a GM Build Sheet?
The original paper broadcast sheet is usually long gone. What survives on most GM cars are two durable sources that, read together, rebuild the factory order.
The SPID label, the Service Parts Identification sticker, is the workhorse. GM stuck it in the glovebox or trunk so dealers could order the right parts, and it lists the VIN, paint and trim codes, and the complete RPO option list in one place.
The cowl tag on the firewall adds the assembly plant, build date, and the original paint and trim codes, the source restorers use to prove a car wears its factory colors.
The original broadcast sheet was the paper document that ran the line. When one survives, tucked behind a seat or above the tank, it is gold, but the SPID and cowl tag are what most owners actually have.
On the SPID label
- VIN printed on the label
- Exterior paint code (and two-tone)
- Interior trim code
- Full Regular Production Option (RPO) list
- Build / order reference numbers
- Service parts identification data
Each RPO is a three-character code. Decode it against a GM reference for the division and the exact model year the VIN gives you.
What a GM Build Record Shows
Between the SPID label, the cowl tag, and the drivetrain stampings, a GM build record documents the car at the component level, far more than the window sticker showed the buyer.
RPO option codes
Every Regular Production Option, from engine and axle ratio to packages, audio, and appearance, as a three-character GM code.
SPID label list
The Service Parts Identification sticker that captures the full RPO list, VIN, and paint and trim in one place.
Cowl-tag paint & trim
Firewall cowl-tag codes for the exact original exterior paint and interior trim, year- and division-correct.
Drivetrain stampings
Engine and transmission codes and casting dates to confirm a numbers-matching GM drivetrain.
Plant & build date
The assembly plant and build date from the cowl tag that confirm where and when the car was produced.
Broadcast sheet
Where it survives, the original paper assembly-line sheet listing the same RPO build in factory order.
RPO Codes vs. the SPID Label: How They Fit Together
RPO codes are the language; the SPID label is where GM wrote them down on the car. Knowing which source holds what saves hours.
The option language
- ·Three-character code for one factory option.
- ·Covers engines, axles, paint, packages, audio.
- ·Meaning is division- and year-specific.
- ·The same codes appear on the broadcast sheet.
Where the codes live
- ·Durable sticker in the glovebox or trunk.
- ·Lists the full RPO set the car was built with.
- ·Includes VIN, paint, and trim for cross-check.
- ·Survives when the paper broadcast sheet is gone.
Want a make-agnostic factory record instead? Use the general build sheet by VIN for any manufacturer.
Decode Your GM's RPO Build
Enter the VIN to lock in the year, division, and plant, then read the SPID label and cowl tag and decode every RPO option code. Free, in seconds.
Why GM Collectors Verify the RPO Build
For GM muscle and performance cars, the RPO list is the difference between a documented, numbers-matching car and a clone. A genuine Z/28, SS, GTO, or 442 with the correct performance RPO codes commands a premium over a tribute built to look the same.
Restorers use the RPO and cowl-tag codes to source year-correct parts and the right factory colors. A 1970 Chevelle SS 454 with a specific axle and trim RPO needs different components than a base Malibu, so the SPID label names the right specs for show-quality work.
Pair the build record with a salvage title check and an odometer check to confirm both the factory order and what happened since.
GM verification checklist
- Read the full RPO list from the SPID label
- Confirm paint and trim on the cowl tag
- Verify engine and transmission stampings match
- Cross-check special-performance RPO codes (Z/28, SS, etc.)
- Use PHS for Pontiac billing documentation
- Pair with a VIN history check for the full story
Start the GM build lookup by VIN:
The GM VIN, the Cowl Tag, and the SPID Label
The VIN tells you who, where, and when. The cowl tag adds plant and color. The SPID label carries the full RPO option list.
A modern 17-character GM VIN encodes the World Manufacturer Identifier, the descriptor section, a check digit, the model year, the assembly plant, and the sequential production number. Pre-1981 GM cars use a shorter VIN with division-specific fields. Decode those with our classic car VIN decoder.
What the VIN does not carry is the RPO list. That has always lived on the SPID label and in GM's production records, which is why the glovebox sticker matters so much. Decode the raw VIN first with our VIN decoder.
Where to find GM build data on the car
- SPID label in the glovebox
- SPID label on the trunk / spare cover
- Cowl / trim tag on the firewall
- Engine block stamping pad
- Transmission and axle codes
- Broadcast sheet (where it survives)
Labels can be reproduced and stampings can be altered, so always cross-check the RPO codes against the VIN, the cowl tag, and the drivetrain.
More VIN Tools for GM Owners
The RPO build is the starting point. These checks complete the picture on any Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, GMC, or Cadillac.
Always check the VIN before you buy
Our free report reveals accidents, title brands, odometer rollback, theft records, and open recalls in seconds.
GM Build Sheet: Frequently Asked Questions
The questions GM owners and collectors ask most about RPO codes and the SPID label.
What is a GM build sheet?+
A GM build sheet is the factory production record for a single General Motors vehicle. On the car, much of it survives as the SPID (Service Parts Identification) label, a sticker in the glovebox or trunk listing every RPO option code, and as the cowl-tag paint and trim codes. The original paper version is the broadcast sheet that ran down the assembly line. Together they document the trim, paint, drivetrain, and every factory option for Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, GMC, and Cadillac vehicles.
What is an RPO code?+
RPO stands for Regular Production Option. It is GM's three-character alphanumeric code for a factory-installed option, package, color, or component, such as a specific engine, axle ratio, paint color, or trim package. Every GM build sheet and SPID label is essentially a list of RPO codes. Decoding them against a GM reference for the model year reveals exactly how the car was equipped from the factory, in far more detail than the window sticker showed.
Where is the SPID label on a GM vehicle?+
The SPID (Service Parts Identification) label is usually inside the glovebox, on the inside of the glovebox door, or in the trunk, often on the spare-tire cover or trunk lid. It lists the VIN, the paint and trim codes, and every RPO option code the vehicle left the factory with. It is the single most useful on-the-car source for a GM build sheet, since it captures the full RPO list in one place. Exact placement varies by model and year.
How do I decode a GM cowl tag?+
The cowl tag (also called the trim tag or body tag) is a metal plate on the firewall or cowl. It encodes the assembly plant, build date, body style, and the paint and interior trim codes. It does not list every option the way the SPID label does, but it is the key source for verifying the original paint and trim and the plant and time of build. Decode each field against a GM cowl-tag reference for the specific division and model year.
What is the difference between a GM build sheet and the SPID label?+
The build sheet (broadcast sheet) is the original paper production document that traveled with the car down the assembly line, and it is often missing or was discarded. The SPID label is a durable sticker GM applied so dealers and service could identify the correct parts; it lists the same RPO option codes and survives far more reliably. For most owners the SPID label, combined with the cowl tag, reconstructs the build when the original paper sheet is long gone.
Can I get a build sheet for a Pontiac through PHS?+
Yes. Pontiac Historic Services (PHS) provides documentation packages for many Pontiac vehicles, including a copy of the original billing history and build information tied to the VIN. It is the Pontiac equivalent of a manufacturer build record and is widely used to authenticate GTOs, Firebirds, and Trans Ams. For other GM divisions, the SPID label, cowl tag, and RPO decoding are the primary sources, since GM-wide build records are less centralized than Ford's.
Can I get a build sheet for a Camaro by VIN?+
Yes. Enter the VIN to confirm the year, plant, and body style, then read the SPID label for the full RPO option list and the cowl tag for paint, trim, and build date. For a numbers-matching Camaro, especially a Z/28 or SS, collectors cross-check the RPO codes, the engine and transmission stampings, and the cowl tag to confirm the car matches its documented configuration and isn't a clone.
Look Up a GM Build Sheet by VIN
Enter the VIN to anchor the year, division, and plant, then decode the SPID label's RPO list and the cowl tag's paint and trim codes.
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