RPO Numbers

[EffCee]

Is there an explanation of RPO numbers anywhere. I am aware that certain options had an RPO number, I have seqarched the forum and have come up with the following:

for example

RPO 333 was glazed upper tailgate in a panel van,
RPO 311 was 6 ply tyres instead of 4
RPO 325 was Fram oil Filter
RPO 288 was fire extinguisher and bracket (Civil viation Authority)

but what was RPO 292 RPO 297 and RPO 415

The numbers were located on a ex PMG tag (FC 2104S10)

Keith

[dnb]

Don Lofler wrote several books on early Holdens, you may get some imformation from this link. Looks like the RPO numbers below came from his Book on FJ Holdens.

http://books.google.com.au/books?id=gwbJvgFxHpcC&pg=PA140&lpg=PA140&dq=early+gmh+rpo+codes&source=bl&ots=Svh-u1x9E6&sig=iC5xk1Qpti1pOfWeG1rSJzx3R8c&hl=en&ei=VoE3StblDYfU7AO_kYTRCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6#PPP10,M1


by Don Loffler - 2004 - Transportation - 276 pages
Door pull-to handles fitted to both doors (RPO 292). • 'Ryco' oil filter equipment (RPO 293). • Chain on petrol tank filler cap (RPO 297). ...
books.google.com.au/books?isbn=1862545839...

[RET]

415 was "Anti-theft Spring in Filler Neck" It's also been covered as an AOTW.

cheers
RET

[EffCee]

So:

RPO 288 was fire extinguisher and bracket (Civil Aviation Authority)
RPO 292  Door Pull to Handles fitted to both doors
RPO 293 Ryco Oil Filter
RPO 297 Chain on Petrol Filler cap
RPO 311  6 ply tyres instead of 4
RPO 325  Fram oil Filter
RPO 333 Glazed upper tailgate in a panel van,
RPO 415 Anti Theft Spring in Filler neck

It would seem that there are some (at least) 415 RPO options. Is this correct? Is there any literature produced by Holden or GM that describes the RPO options. If not, where then did Don Loeffler get his information, or is was Don like mcl1959, avidly hunting down as many ID plates as possible in an attempt to gain further knowledge on a subject that has little written information?

If this is the case, then good on mcl1959.

Keith

[RET]

I'm not sure you can assume there were 400+, but these were definitely documented. They had to be, so factory workers knew what to fit to the cars on the line.

Like the paint codes and trim numbers, they went beyond FE/FC, even beyond 48/FJ. They could pertain to any vehicle assembled at a Holden plant: Vauxhall, Chev etc. For all I know the codes may have originated at GM.

I believe a lot of Holden's archive material is at the SA State Library. Adelaide is also where Don lives.

Here are a couple of other ones:
287: External Mirror
349: Internal Mirror

cheers
RET

[mcl1959]

There was an option number for every accessory - some I have still never seen.
The kilometers speedo (sic) was option number 352
White tyre side wall was option number 386.

I have documents full of them.

I think it is a safe bet that they were sequentially numbered.

Ken

[black57]

Well, I'm a little lost....

On my other sedan the R.P.O. is 253-7478
I can't find a reference for that anywhere and I have no idea what it's for....

Can anyone help?

Also I have records of 3 vehicles to pass on to whoever is collecting them.
What's the process?

Pinky.

[RET]

Pinky,

That's the paint-code for the secondary colour. FEs and early FCs used the same ID plate that had been used since the 48 was released, and the position of the info was a bit haphazard - particularly cars assembled in Sydney. That code is technically meant to be the "TOP" (or roof colour).

If you compare the first 3 digits of the TRIM code with this and the other PAINT code, they should agree. I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that the other codes are either:

* TRIM: 204, PAINT: 253-7481 (Teal Blue over Elk Blue) -or-
* TRIM: 238, PAINT: 253-7447 (Teal over Breton Blue)

Hope that helps,
RET

[black57]

Thanks Ret.

very close on the second code.

Body id # FE/225-13175M
Trim # 238-704
Paint # 253-7447
RPO 253-7478

Thanks for explaining the RPO. I thought it may have been some obscure option.

Pinky

[mcl1959]

Pinky, the reason why the FE's have the roof colour stamped as RPO is because two tone paint was available as an option at no extra cost, hence the colour is stamped next to the RPO

By the way RPO stands for "Regular Production Option" in case you didn't know this.

Later on, 2 tone paint became almost standard so the ID plates were revised to say TOP rather than RPO.
Even later when the secondary colour was not actually on the top of the car, GMH revised the plate once again to say PAINT INSERT TOP just so every one was clear.

I collect the vehicle details - you can either post the details on the forum in a separate thread or you can send me a private message if you prefer.

Ken