JOEA,
In your case yes you would be better to go by the car body style year. By 1969 they had started requiring emissions tests in Calif. and I think now you would have to meet the new low emissions and not the levels that were estabilished for 1969. When this first started they had different levels for different engines and then they went to the so called super low emissions and it didn't matter if you have a foour cylinder or a 550 cubic inch engine, they have to meet the enhanced emissions test. At least this is what the people at the DMV, BAR, and a couple in Sacramento that I have talked to told me. Emissions actually started in this state in 1966 but weren't really extreme at that time. So if you are going to go by block date, then get something before 1966.
Ron
