1959 vin number

[Rick Hendel]

I'm trying to determine if a 1959 corvette has matching numbers. The vin number
is J59S107606 it is a 230hp 4-speed. The motor pad number is F506CQ. Also the car is a radio delete but does have the radio speaker grill in the dash. Would it have the radio grill in it from the factory if it was a true radio delete car.

Thanks For THE HELP

[Mike M.]

Re: 1959 vin number

59 vet engines did not have the cars vin # stamped on the pad. It wasn't till early 1960(i believe) that the general started to stamp the vin # on the pad. The stamping on your case, F506CQ , is interprted as such: F= flint mich, 5=May (of 59), 06= sixth day (of may in this case) and the suffix CQ is that of a 230 hp std. shift vet.It wasn't till about Jan of 1960 that Vin #s appeared on the pads. Its interesting to note that the early 60 vets that did get the vin stamped on theri pads that the vin #'s were stamped INDIVIDUALY , hence all the #s that make up the VIN aren't in a straight line.Have fun with your 59, mike

[Dennis C.]

Re: 1959 vin number

Rick - Your car will have the radio speaker grille and the surround (bezel) that holds it place whether or not it came with a radio...

[Dennis C.]

Re: 1959 vin number

Rick - Just for fun. The correct terminology would be a car not ordered with a radio - not a "radio delete car". The "delete" terminology only applies to an "option" that was standard equipment - like disc brakes in 1965 - but the factory let you not buy that option and gave you some $ for doing so.

To my knowledge, there are no "factory delete" options available for any Corvette from 1953 through 1964.

[Tom B.]

Re: 1959 vin number

I can't say for sure if the entire '59 model run was the same but the earlier '59s didn't have the bezel around the radio grille. My '59 non-radio car is #881 and I've owned it since August of 1969. It has the original dash pad.

Tom

[Edward L.]

Re: 1959 vin number

I'm just finishing a last day of production '59. The car had its original dash pad. No bezel.

[Dennis C.]

Re: 1959 vin number

Of course, this would be the first time I've ever been wrong, but I can live with that. I checked my 1958,1960,1961,1962 AIM's today just for yuks. All would tend to convince me a no radio car would have the grille and bezel unless the guys on the asy line didn't read this stuff... But what the heck do I know?

[John M.]

Re: 1959 vin number

Dennis,
I think you misunderstood the response. They were saying that most if not all 59 cars had a 58 style grille that had no bezel! They were not saying that cars without radios had no grille. My 59 had that same miserable speaker grille without the bezel, but when it goes back together it will have a 60-62 grille with bezel! It is just a much better and cleaner looking installation with a little room for installation error.

Regards, John McGraw

[Edward L.]

Re: 1959 vin number

Last day of production car ( 1959 ). Speaker grill, yes. Bezel, no.

[Mike M.]

Re: 1959 vin number

John, forgive the dipstick---didn't take his prozac that day. mike

[Dennis C.]

Re: 1959 vin number

Thanks John - Thought I finally had, in fact, lost my mind (again)...