DATA TAGS

There are two important tags; the VIN tag and the data tag (aka body tag). The VIN tag has only the serial number but the data tag contains information such as model, paint, trim, options, and production date.

The location of the data tag is different year to year. 1955 has it on the firewall. The 56 tag is on the horizontal splash panel in front of the radiator. 57 and 58 are on the radiator support. 59 has two different locations depending on the build date. 60-64 has the tag above the top door hinge on the driver side. Early 65 cars have it on the firewall. Later 65s have it on top of the driver side inner fender. You can find more information here.

Most data tags are rectangles 1-3/4" x 3-1/2" and are stampings from thin steel. The letters and numbers are raised (embossed) with the exception of the inspector mark which is hand stamped and shows as depressed characters. The data tag above has the inspector stamp 28 just left of the right phillips screw.

Data tags are most often installed before the car is painted which means two things: the data tag is the same color as the car, and that the area under the tag is not painted (and likely to rust.) The tags are generally screwed to the body by two phillips head sheet metal screws. On 63 and 64s it can be difficult to access the front screw as it is partially hidden by the fender.

Given the location of the tag and the thin metal from which it is made, many tags have not survived. If you are in need of a new data tag, there are two sources (there had been three but G. Backeast is no longer in business.) The two are

dataplates4u This is Robert de Ruyter from the Netherlands. His email is dataplates4u@gmail.com

and

MMC Detroit, LLC, P.O. Box 745, White Rock, S.C. 29177. Email: info@mmcdetroit.com

I got into this data tag project because I have a 64 with no tag and a 57 with the wrong tag. I purchased one tag from each vendor.
I bought the tag for the 57 from dataplates4u. The price was something like $150. It is an accurate reproduction of the original except that this is not a stamping. It is a chemical etching where the letters and numbers are made by removing material from the top side. Once installed, you would have to look closely to notice the difference.
dataplates4u is Robert de Ruyter from the Netherlands. I was able to do business with him by email without any problem. Robert takes care of customs and international shipping. I will use him again.

I bought the tag for the 64 from MMC Detroit. The price was $460. This is a perfect duplicate of the original. MMC makes tags once a month so delivery time depends on where you catch the production cycle. This is a good outfit and I will use them again.

Neither the MMC tag or the dataplates4u tag comes with the inspector stamp -- you can add that yourself.

But there is more to the story.
If you have your original tag, then you know what letters and numbers you need and where they are supposed to go.
If you don't have your original, figuring out what you need can be an adventure. A lot depends on what year you have. For 55-59, tags were fairly basic and their information can be recreated without too much effort. But life gets complicated when you get into the 60s. More options became available and more information went into the tag. But not every option had a spot on the tag. For instance, you would expect the Ram Engine option for 1964 would be on the tag. It is not. Another complication: the information that made it to the tag changed year to year. Some years the code for power seats is on the tag and some years it is not --- what you know for a 1962 tag may not help you with a 1964. So what is a fella to do?
MMC Detroit may be able to assist. Their website says; "Once all the necessary information is provided, we will layout the codes in the proper order to ensure the most accurate possible Body Code Plate is reproduced."
I was able to make my own for the 57 and the 64. I might be able to help with yours.
You can also get help from Rich Barber. He has extensive research on decoding data tags.