1978 Buick Parts and Restoration Information

1978 Buick VINs, Production Numbers, Facts and Figures

1978 Buicks marked the 75th anniversary of Buick automobiles. The 1978 year offered a wide variety of models from the compact Century series to the Electra and Riviera series. In total, 803,187 Buicks were sold and produced in 1978. Read on to see how to decode yours! 

1978 Buick VIN Breakdown

Vehicle Identification Number – VIN

The Buick VIN number for 1978 had 13 Characters.

1st = What division of GM, “4” is for Buick.
2nd = Tell what TYPE of car it is (Skylark, Century, Riviera, ect..)
B – Skylark
C – Skylark Limited
E – Century Wagon
H – Century
J – Regal
K – Regal Sports Coupe
L – Century
G – Century Sports Coupe
M – Regal
P – LeSabre Limited
S – Skyhawk
T – Skyhawk S
X – Electra Limited
W – Electra Park Ave
F – LeSabre Sports Coupe
N – LeSabre
Z – Riviera
3rd and 4th = Tells Body Style
07 – Skyhawk Hatchback
09 – Aero 4dr
17 – Skylark 2dr hatchback
35 – Wagon
37 – LeSabre 2dr coupe
47 – Regal 2dr
57 – Riviera 2dr coupe
69 – 4dr coupe
87 – 2dr coupe
5th = Engine Code
C – 196ci v6
A – 231ci v6 2bl Carb
G – 231ci v6 2bl
3 – 231ci V6
Y – 301 V8 4bl
W – 301 V8 4bl
U – 305 V8
H – 305 V8
L – 350ci V8
R – 350ci V8
X – 350ci V8
K – 403ci v8
6th = tell what year it is “8” = 1978
7th = What Plant the car was Produced
H – Flint MI
U – Lordstown OH
W – Willow Run MI
T – Tarry town NY
G – Framingham MA
Z – Fremont CA
C – Southgate CA
X – Fairfax KS
E – Linden NJ
9th – 13th = Production Sequence numbers

1978 Buick Production Figures

Production Figures From TeamBuick.com

CENTURY SPECIAL SERIES
Model 4AE09-Four-Door Sedan12,533
Model 4AE35-Station Wagon9,586
Model 4AE87-Two-Door Coupe10,818

 

CENTURY CUSTOM SERIES
Model 4AH29-Four-Door Sedan18,361
Model 4AH35-Station Wagon24,014
Model 4AH87-Two-Door Coupe12,434

REGAL SERIES
Model 4HS07-Two-Door Coupe236,652

SKYHAWK
Model T07-Two-Door ‘S’ Hatch-4P——
Model S07-Two-Door Hatch-4P——
Total figure only24,589

SKYLARK SERIES
Model 4XB17-Two-Door Hatchback2,642
Model 4XB27-Two-Door Coupe42,087
Model 4XB69-Four-Door Sedan40,951
Model 4XC17-Two-Door Custom Hatchback1,227
Model 4XC27-Two-Door Custom Coupe12,740
Model 4XC69-Four-Door Custom Sedan14,523

LESABRE SERIES
Model 4BN37-Two-Door Coupe8,265
Model 4BN69-Four-Door Sedan23,354
Model 4BN37-Two-Door Custom Coupe53,675
Model 4BP69-Four-Door Custom Sedan86,638

 

ESTATE WAGON
Model 4BR35-Wagon25,964

ELECTRA 225 SERIES
Model 4CV37-Two-Door Coupe8,259
Model 4CV69-Four-Door Sedan14,590
Model 4CX37-Two-Door Limited Coupe33,365
Model 4CX69-Four-Door Limited Sedan65,335

RIVIERA
Model 4EZ37-Two-Door Coupe20,535
Total Production………………………….803,187

1978 Buick Engine Tune Up Specifications

YEAR
MODEL
SPARK PLUGSDISTRIBUTOR
IGN.
TIMING
comp.,
crank
VALVES
FUEL
PUMP
PRESS.
IDLE
SPEED
Type
Gap
Dwell
Gap
Tappet
Clearance, hot
intake
opens,
(deg)
intakeexhaust
1978
6-196 cu.(90hp)R46TSX0.06electronic15BTD18B4 1/2-
6 1/2
600
V6-231 cu.(105hp)R46TSX0.06electronic15BTD17B4 1/2-
5 1/2
600
V6-231 cu.(turbo)R44TSX0.06electronic15BTD17B4 1/2-
5 1/2
650
V8-350 cu. (155hp)R46TSX0.045electronic15BTD16B7 1/2-9550

1978 Buick Exterior Colors

Available On All Models

Special Skyhawk, Skylark Colors

Special Century, Regal, LeSabre, Estate Wagon, Electra, Riviera Colors

Special Riviera Colors

Additional Designers’ Accent Colors

1978 Buick Vinyl Top Colors

1978 Buick Promotional Pamphlet

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