For cars built after approximately Dec 1st 1966 that is true. Prior to that, the first 5 of the VIN was the same as a Custom (either 73517 for a 6 cyl hardtop or 73617 for a V8 hardtop, or 73567 for a 6 cyl convert or 73667 for a V8 convert) and then option A51 Sports Option was added to the Custom to make it a Sport Deluxe.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)
Really in essence it is the same situation Carl explains above with the Chevelle. For 1964/65 the Malibu SS was a trim option with buckets & console (except 3-spd column shift). For 1966 and 67 through the first quarter of production that hierarchy continued in Canada, but it was triggered by selecting buckets, which were sold as a complete Sport Option package. Six or eight cylinder, the 66/67 Malibu SS had a Malibu model # (135 or 136). Then suddenly Oshawa started producing the 138-series SS396 & 738-series Sport Deluxe, cancelling the A51 Sport Option in both lines. They re-used the A51 RPO now for standalone buckets, switching the RPO during the production run. A couple of cars came through for customers that were expected to be Sport Deluxes but were Customs with buckets & no console. Oops!
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67 Chevelle Malibu Sport Coupe, Oshawa-built 250 PG never disturbed.
In garage, 296 cid inline six & TH350...
Cam, Toronto.
I don't judge a man by how far he's fallen, but by how far back he bounces - Patton
