1985 Z28 has 16P in the list. (last row, second over)
What did 16P mean in 1985?
16P RPO list shows White Wheels. This option is not listed in 1985 brochures.
(Wheels in the picture are not the originals)
I know someone on here has the answer

 

I don't know right off the top of my head, and honestly I just sat down so I don't really feel like busting out the library to go find out. However, if you look at a list of RPO codes, most of the time a code with a two digit number, followed by a letter is going to be a color code. The number is the color, the third digit is the item. For example, if you look at a list of RPO definitions you'll probably see 10P, 11P, 12P, etc. If you look at the definitions, all of the ##P codes are wheel color codes.

The next step is to bust out the catalog, because RPO codes are primarily for ordering parts, it's right there in the name... Service Parts Identification. Tricky eh?

So what we do is we look in the book. Unfortunately what we're doing is a bit backwards. Because the way it's supposed to work is we know what part we need, we go to the book and look up the part, then refer to the SPID to find the code that matches the one in the book.

Since we don't really know what the part is, we have to play our best educated guess. I'd start by looking up the wheels for an 85 Z28. Look through the list of replacement wheels for a description that mentions 16P. It might be wheels, or centercaps, or some other trim item, but thats how you would find out.

 

16P is the silver wheel color. Your wheels are the correct wheels for an '85 Z28, and the correct color. 16 is silver.

 

My GM book says 16P is Wheels, Silver. Looks like that RPO code was recycled because in the 90's it indicated White Wheels as you noted.

 

Their Were No White Wheels In 1985,My SPID Also Has The 16P Code.

 

16p was wheel color, bright white, in 91. This, from the 93 edition SPI book of GM.

Doesn't help - but hope it sheds light on part of this.

 

More:

 

Thanks everyone for the information. I'm glad this mystery is solved. My original 1985 brochure does not list white as an option; which was why it was confusing. Can you imagine white wheels on this black car??? yikes!

 

Wait, but the car in your avatar has white wheels...

 

Just remember that GM reused RPO codes from year to year. What they mean in 1985 could be different in 1990, or even 2000. Most RPO decoders that you find online will reference 1991, which, as you can see, isn't correct for 1985.

I just did a quick lookup up of GM RPO code Z06. We all know that code is for the top dawg Corvette today, but I found a definition of "Luxury Interior Package". I also found Z24, which I think of the '80s Cavalier Z24, but the definition I found says "SS 427". We all know the Cavalier's didn't have a 427!!

 

We have more than one Gen 3 Her RPO code is 40P for white wheels.

 

@ scottmoyer....Z24 with a 427 would have been fun when we were kids!!! LOL

 

 

Cool

 

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