Notice that the vehicle-data...
Notice that the vehicle-data is debossed directly on the metal strip from the factory. (We reversed this photo so that you could get a better look at the Dymo Tape.)
To accommodate warranty claims within the first 60 days of new-car ownership, Pontiac issued a Temporary Owner Identification as part of its New Vehicle Warranty folder. On July 16, 1968, Pontiac issued a Dealer Service Information Bulletin, informing dealers of delays producing Protect-O-Plates and extending the 60-day Temporary Owner Identification to 120-days.
The '68 Protect-O-Plate was carried over to the '69 models with no changes other than "'69" appearing on the Protect-O-Plate instead of "'68."
1970-1972
For '70, the Protect-O-Plate received further changes. Though it looks similar to the '68/'69 cards, Pontiac commissioned a graphic redesign, for reasons unknown. In addition, Pontiac minimized the amount of data that appeared on '70 Protect-O-Plates, removing the vehicle data codes that pertain to paint, trim, and engine block, leaving only basic information about the vehicle. (More on this in the next issue.)
The next model year, the '71 Protect-O-Plate received very minor style-revisions, and this style of card carried over to the '72 model year.
Conclusion
For reasons unknown, General Motors discontinued all Protect-O-Plate programs at the conclusion of the '72 model year. From '73 forward, original owners received a New Vehicle Warranty pamphlet; on the first page, the dealer wrote or typed the original owner's name, address, VIN, date of new-car delivery, and mileage at the time of purchase.
Next month, join us for Part II of "What's On Your Plate," when HPP shows you how to decode your Ident-O-Plate or Protect-O-Plate, and how decoding can be used to determine the originality of many aspects of your Pontiac.
This is the proper form that...
This is the proper form that was supposed to be completed and sent in to Pontiac when a car changed owners while still under warranty. As you read in the story, however, some dealers simply placed Dymo Tape with the new owner's name and address over the previous owner's information instead of using the form to get a replacement Protect-O-Plate.
An all-new Protect-O-Plate...
An all-new Protect-O-Plate debuted in '68, and was used with various graphic design and coding changes through '72. Instead of attaching the Protect-O-Plate to the Owners Protection Plan, Pontiac owners were told to keep the card safe in their car's glovebox and present it for service at a Pontiac dealer, when needed.
There were no Protect-O-Plates...
There were no Protect-O-Plates after '72. From '73 forward, and for many years, Pontiac supplied a New Vehicle Warranty pamphlet, which the dealer filled in with the owner's and new-car's information.