Old Chevy Documentation

Protect-o-plate

The metal protect-o-plate and owner protection plan booklet where made by the Chevrolet assembly plants and each book was specific to that particular Chevrolet car and no other. They were put into the cars glove box before it left the plant. Each metal protectoplate was custom embossed with a series of numbers and letters that would show the “genetic makeup” of that specific car.

It was to be the cars “birth certificate” and it would show the following: serial number, engine assembly date type and horsepower of the motor, transmission assembly date and type, rear axle assembly date and ratio, interior and exterior color, the month car was built and certain options the car was originally equipped with.

The protectoplate was used for warranty purposes and would be embossed on repair work orders or special parts orders or any document that was used at the dealership for servicing. On the protection plan book, which the protect-o-plate was permanently glued to, the dealer would write the owners name, address, city, state and original selling date of the vehicle.

They would ink stamp the dealership name in the book along with the selling salesman’s signature. With today’s Chevrolet muscle cars bringing more prestige  these protect-o-plate booklets are a necessity to corroborate the pedigree and history of the vehicle and therefore are very sought after by collectors.