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 Sedan | 12,533 |
| Model 4AE35-Station Wagon | 9,586 |
| Model 4AE87-Two-Door Coupe | 10,818 |
| CENTURY CUSTOM SERIES | |
| Model 4AH29-Four-Door Sedan | 18,361 |
| Model 4AH35-Station Wagon | 24,014 |
| Model 4AH87-Two-Door Coupe | 12,434 |
| REGAL SERIES | |
| Model 4HS07-Two-Door Coupe | 236,652 |
| SKYHAWK | |
| Model T07-Two-Door ‘S’ Hatch-4P | —— |
| Model S07-Two-Door Hatch-4P | —— |
| Total figure only | 24,589 |
| SKYLARK SERIES | |
| Model 4XB17-Two-Door Hatchback | 2,642 |
| Model 4XB27-Two-Door Coupe | 42,087 |
| Model 4XB69-Four-Door Sedan | 40,951 |
| Model 4XC17-Two-Door Custom Hatchback | 1,227 |
| Model 4XC27-Two-Door Custom Coupe | 12,740 |
| Model 4XC69-Four-Door Custom Sedan | 14,523 |
| LESABRE SERIES | |
| Model 4BN37-Two-Door Coupe | 8,265 |
| Model 4BN69-Four-Door Sedan | 23,354 |
| Model 4BN37-Two-Door Custom Coupe | 53,675 |
| Model 4BP69-Four-Door Custom Sedan | 86,638 |
| ESTATE WAGON | |
| Model 4BR35-Wagon | 25,964 |
| ELECTRA 225 SERIES | |
| Model 4CV37-Two-Door Coupe | 8,259 |
| Model 4CV69-Four-Door Sedan | 14,590 |
| Model 4CX37-Two-Door Limited Coupe | 33,365 |
| Model 4CX69-Four-Door Limited Sedan | 65,335 |
| RIVIERA | |
| Model 4EZ37-Two-Door Coupe | 20,535 |
1978 Buick Engine Tune Up Specifications
YEAR | MODEL | SPARK PLUGS | DISTRIBUTOR | IGN. TIMING | comp., crank | VALVES | FUEL PUMP PRESS. | IDLE SPEED | ||||
Type | Gap | Dwell | Gap | Tappet Clearance, hot | intake opens, (deg) | |||||||
| intake | exhaust | |||||||||||
1978 | 6-196 cu.(90hp) | R46TSX | 0.06 | electronic | 15BTD | – | – | – | 18B | 4 1/2- 6 1/2 | 600 | |
| V6-231 cu.(105hp) | R46TSX | 0.06 | electronic | 15BTD | – | – | – | 17B | 4 1/2- 5 1/2 | 600 | ||
| V6-231 cu.(turbo) | R44TSX | 0.06 | electronic | 15BTD | – | – | – | 17B | 4 1/2- 5 1/2 | 650 | ||
| V8-350 cu. (155hp) | R46TSX | 0.045 | electronic | 15BTD | – | – | – | 16B | 7 1/2-9 | 550 | ||
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
