trim tag

**Joe L.** · May 5, 2003, 05:48 PM

Re: trim tag

Bob-----

I think that Bill Clement may now run a radio station somewhere in Texas. However, he may never have had the original trim tag, at all. They could have made one up from a photo-copy or, just the information that the trim was ordered to contain. There's nothing illegal about making and applying a replacement VIN tag to a car, either. Judging organization standards do not have the force of law. If the car is SPECIFICALLY represented to a BUYER as having an original trim tag and paint color, that may be a matter of fraud.

Since the luggage rack was not a factory-installed option, there is no way of telling how many were installed, let alone how many were installed on L-78s. But, there is no reason to believe that proportionally fewer were installed on L-78s. The reason that the one on your car may have been removed includes:

1) A prior owner didn't like it and was willing to pay what it cost to remove, fill the holes and repaint the deck or car;

2) The original rack rusted out and the owner had to remove it for lack of a replacement. These 63-67 racks have been discontinued for years and, as far as I know, are not reproduced. If you need one, they're VERY hard to come by. I looked for one for a friend of mine for years and never even found a used one for sale.

**Bob Grauer** · May 5, 2003, 05:58 PM

Re: trim tag

Thanks Joe. I don't need a rack. I just thought that this was a strange thing to put on this car and might jog some memories. You see so few racks out there and, on an L78, I thought it unusual so I mentioned it. Also, I'm hoping that someone remembers who might have restored the car. I was told that Bill did keep trim tags if he made a copy. As I said, long shot.

**Doug Flaten** · May 5, 2003, 06:08 PM

Re: trim tag

Seems I remember a thread concerning Bill Clements a year or so ago. You might try a serarcg of the archives.

**Don S.** · May 5, 2003, 08:19 PM

Re: trim tag

Bob--I can't help you in your request but in your post you mentioned Charlie Stewarts, survey of 396 cars. I have never heard of this-- do you have any further details on this survey and where i might get a copy of the survey maybe my car is in it.

**Harmon C.** · May 5, 2003, 09:20 PM

Re: trim tag

Just think all those repro trim tag makers can now try to do it perfect this time and sell a new batch of trim tags for big bucks. Only in america!!

**Vinnie P.** · May 5, 2003, 09:45 PM

Re: trim tag

Charlie Steuart passed away a few years ago. Prior to his passing he entrusted me with all the survey results and asked that I forward the documents to the 1965 National Team Leader, which I did. Dale Fiet has the information that Charlie collected.

**Mike M.** · May 6, 2003, 08:28 AM

Re: trim tag

The only way Billy c may have the orig. trim tag is if the swap occured in his shop. If the swapper simply ordered the tag from billy, i doubt the swapper would have sent billy c the orig. tag. I have communicated with roy sinor on this issue and we will attempt to contact billy who ownes radio station KDAV in lubbock texas. he reportedly has NOTHING to do with cars anymore, just into buddy holly music.mikie

**Mike M.** · May 6, 2003, 08:30 AM

Re: trim tag

joe, if your buddy still needs a mid-year dealer installed luggage rack, tell him to get hold of me. I have several I've taken off my midyears and would give it to him nc . mike

**Mike M.** · May 6, 2003, 08:36 AM

Re: trim tag

Lyle: not only the trim tag reproducers, the whole repo parts business has followed a similiar path.one of my 57 vets is on its 3rd generation of repo waffle door panels, not because the first 2 generations wore out but becase the quality improved with each succeding generation. ain't it fun? mike

**John Daly** · May 6, 2003, 09:21 AM

Re: trim tag

While we're on the subject of trim tags, I was told the repro's are easily distinguished from the real McCoy's. I vaguely remember something about certain stamped letters in the upper part are slightly angled on originals and they are straight on the repro's. Any truth to this? What's the best way to tell for sure?
Thanks
JD

**Bob Grauer** · May 6, 2003, 09:58 AM

Re: trim tag

Don,
Dale Fiet has copies of all of Charlie's surveys. You might contact him to see if your car was included.
Good Luck!
Bob

**Bob Grauer** · May 6, 2003, 10:12 AM

Re: trim tag

Roy has compiled an incredible data base on trim tags which NCRS is going to publish this summer. It's not for me to comment on, but if you contact him, he may fill you in. At this point NCRS has every variation nailed down now.
(Hence my dilemma !)
Bob

**Joe L.** · May 6, 2003, 12:45 PM

Re: trim tag

Mike-----

Thanks very much for the offer! I'll get in touch with him and see if he still needs one. This was years ago that he and I talked about this, and I'm not even sure that he still has the car. I don't talk to him very much, but my brother sees him about every day. When I last spoke with him he was the police chief of the City of San Leandro, CA, but now he's assistant sheriff of Alameda County, CA and my brother is part of the sheriff's department "brass".

By the way, if I ever bought a mid-year and it had a luggage rack, I'd probably take it off, too. If it had side exhaust, I'd DEFINITELY take that off, also.

**Mike M.** · May 6, 2003, 05:45 PM

Re: trim tag

Joe: agree the luggage racks are ugly as stink. I bought (and still have) a l9000mile 65 FI roadster in 1969 (would you believe 650 bucks) that still has the ugly piece on its butt. I don't want to fill in the holes as I'm sure they' shrink and show thru in a year or two. Also agree N-14 and U-69 are incompatable but since i kinda like the noise every now and then , i just do without the radio when running one of the mid-years with outside exhaust. MIKE

trim tag

trim tag

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