USA vs. Canada-built Trucks

[thefraze_1020]

My 1984 C-20 was built at the Oshawa, Ontario plant, and thus has a "2" as the first digit in the VIN.

So my question is, is there really any difference between my truck and a comparable 1984 built in USA?

[1981Stepside]

Canadian built ones are more polite- lol

[thefraze_1020]

I should also mention that this was a USA-sold truck. With the speedo in MPH.

[imjeff]

The 69 Chevelle I just sold was built in Oshawa, Ontario and was exactly the same as US built...not a Beaumont. I sold it to a guy in Ottawa!

[notallthere]

The only difference is that through GM Canada you can get your truck build information from GM. My truck and my Chevelle both were born in Oshawa and I have the package from both.

[thefraze_1020]

One thing I've noticed so far when working on it, is that bolts seem to be in metric.

[meatwagon83]

the only difference is instead of decades old molson bottles and doughnuts in the doors of the canadian ones there are old mcdonalds bags and busch cans in the american ones. mine was built in kansas city

[notallthere]

Run on 5% maple syrup

[lap15]

I have owned two trucks built in Oshawa (an '86 C10 & '82 C20) and both have had significantly less rust than others I have seen. Better quality sheet metal? Better paint or primer? I don't know, but I think the bodies hold up better.

[Keith Seymore]

No difference.

Trucks built in Oshawa would be designated for either Canadian or US consumption and would be equipped appropriately.

K

[CHROMAHOLIC]

The only difference is instead of someone saying y'all have a nice truck is they need to say, You sure have a nice truck eh!

[special-K]

USA-built gets MPG vs Canada-built gets LPK

[Wellgeo03]

Originally Posted by CHROMAHOLIC

The only difference is instead of someone saying y'all have a nice truck is they need to say, You sure have a nice truck eh!

Now that's funny!

[special-K]

Canadian Trucks were available in 12 colours but USA trucks were only available in 12 colors.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by special-K

Canadian Trucks were available in 12 colours but USA trucks were only available in 12 colors.

HA! I see what you did there.

So - Canadian trucks were purchased with "doe-lars" whereas US trucks were purchased with "dahlars".

BTW - I have to drive "south" to go to Cahnada - eh.

K

[special-K]

Yep,my US-built truck cost a cuppa thousin dahlars used. "Seeya. I'm headin' down to Canada now"

[nekkidhillbilly]

it says budday and abut in the owners manual

[kelsfine69]

Now here's a question...Were Canadian dealers allowed different options & packages, colours etc.. than their US counterparts?(Wrangler as an example). Up until 72 there were different colours for example only offered in Canada...

[E.D.75GMC]

My truck was built at the Oshawa, Ontario plant and it has an RPO for "Mandatory Canadian Ba-something" but I don't see anything that really stands out as different on the truck.

[cory d]

american doors are longer than my canadian doors. a whole 3/16 of an inch. thats like 4-5mm

[mongoose]

4.76mm tyvm.

[BigBlocksRule]

Built here are known as Chevy.
Built in the great white north known as Chevrol-eh-eh!

[special-K]

Originally Posted by kelsfine69

Now here's a question...Were Canadian dealers allowed different options & packages, colours etc.. than their US counterparts?(Wrangler as an example). Up until 72 there were different colours for example only offered in Canada...

I'm curious when the US & Canadian models became homogenized. I know the differences were there in GMC during the 67-72 run,such as they were 910/920/930 series vs 10/20/30 and there were the colours. There were Acadians and Beaumont cars. Back even earlier were Maple Leaf trucks.I know they existed as a way around duties,tariffs,and taxes on US products going to British holdings. That all changed when those places became independent and/or the laws were changed. t one point the GM trucks built in Oshawa became split between US and Canada markets and I assumed that was when they blended as one

[Already Gone]

I believe the year was 1965 and something called the Auto-Pact between Canada and the USA. What that meant was that any vehicle built in Canada could be shipped and sold in the USA market without any duties or tariffs and vice versa and that is still in effect today. As far as Base Canadian Equipment on an 84 C20 I dont know what it would have been back then but a big difference in vehicles today is in Canada since the 1990 model year Daytime Running Lights are mandatory on every vehicle, but they are still not in the USA.

[Already Gone]

Originally Posted by thefraze_1020

My 1984 C-20 was built at the Oshawa, Ontario plant, and thus has a "2" as the first digit in the VIN.

So my question is, is there really any difference between my truck and a comparable 1984 built in USA?

Since the 1981 model year all serial numbers have had 17 digits.

If the first digit is a 1 it was built in the USA.. If it is a 2 it was built in Canada.. If it is a 3 it was built in Mexico and I think 4 is for Japan.