Build date estimate

[Edward McComas]

Can someone give me an estimate on what day E56S001764 was built. I am thinking sometime in late April, 1956?

[Rick A.]

Re: Build date estimate

ran the VIN in a "birthday" estimator and says VIN invalid and not found! sure of the VIN?

[Edward McComas]

Re: Build date estimate

Yes, VIN is definitely E56S001764. If it is the birthday estimator I am thinking of, it doesn't seem to work with 1956 Corvettes. Not enough actual info available, I guess.

[Clem Z.]

Re: Build date estimate

maybe a stupid question but would not the glass code tell what month the car was made?

[Edward McComas]

Re: Build date estimate

The date codes on glass can vary significantly from the actual build date of the car. I once judged an original 68 convertible, and the date code on one of the side windows was almost a year prior to the car. I do not believe that the glass had ever been changed.

I think we allow a one year prior range on the glass dates. I need something more specific.

[Rick A.]

Re: Build date estimate

Ed, It is the NCRS "birthday" estimator and I haven't had any problems with other VINs

[John T.]

Re: Build date estimate

S/N 1764 was built June 4, 1956 per the "Birthday Book"

Best regards

John

[Jack H.]

Final Monthly Production Numbers....

are given in the NCRS Judging Guide book. For 1956, the numbers are approximated via 'spot' observations from known original cars. Data listed surrounding your '1764 VIN is:

4/12/56 VIN 1759
4/16/56 VIN 1794

That ought to get you as close as possible for interpolation purposes....

[James F.]

Re: Build date estimate-Ed

Ed,
April 3, 1956. As I'm sure you know, '56 vin's began with 1000 so the second '56 built would carry the vin # 1002. Regards,

[John H.]

Re: Build date estimate-Ed

Jim nailed it - you have to subtract 1,000 from the VIN on 56's to get the actual build sequence number; #764 was built on April 3rd or 4th.

[Edward McComas]

Re: Final Monthly Production Numbers....

This sounds consistant with some of the other components on the car. The intake manifold is dated D136 (April 13th, 1956). I don't have the block casting date yet, hopefully soon.

[Edward McComas]

Re: Build date estimate

Yeah, and I am thinking that we have to take the info in The Birthday book with a grain of salt. As I understand it, The Birthday Book is a "calculated" date based on the number of work days in the model year and the total number of cars built. Other factors come into play, like known ending monthly serial numbers, and known specific build information for certain VINs.

The problem with this calculation for 1956 is that there is very little known information. No specific ending monthly numbers and only one specific build date for a certain VIN, if I recall correctly.

Our best source of info seems to be evaluation of known original cars. Not many of those around unfortunately.

[Edward McComas]

Re: Build date estimate-Ed

Jim;

How did you come up with April 3rd?

[James F.]

Re: Build date estimate-Ed

Ed,
April 3rd was sourced from "the Birthday Book." Realize your feelings about that, however, for '56 Corvettes build dates there is a another source of build dates (I was too lazy to go to the bookcase and locate this article). This information is contained in "The Corvette Restorer" vol 22 #4. Until someone comes up with something better, the Birthday Book is the best we currently have IMO. Regards,

[Edward McComas]

Re: Build date estimate-Ed

Thanks Jim.