Under-hood markings-'71

[Charlie P.]

Was it a practice for hand-marked numbers to be applied on the underside of the hood on a '71 at the factory? Final QC check or??

[Dave S.]

Re: Under-hood markings-'71

Charlie,

My Bowtie 71 doesn't have any crayon marks inside the hood. It appears that the underhood blackout is original.

[Mike E.]

Re: Under-hood markings-'71

My 30K mile LT-1 has no markings on the bottom of the hood.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Under-hood markings...Yes

Charlie, my late 70 DID HAVE underhood markings, but they were not visible until the blackout and red oxide primer residue was stripped/cleaned off the underside of the hood. After cleaning, only the last residue of the crayon marks or the shadow of the marks was visible, but still very clear. These marks probably served a different purpose from what you are seeing on top of the blackout. I saw no evidence of any marks ever being on top of the blackout.

The marks on underside of my hood consisted of big thick line "X" near the left front edge. Also on the left side of the hood, but about half way back, a date "7-22-70" with the initials "OB". Since the crayon marks were on the bare fiberglass before any of the paint steps, and the date was eight days before the final assembly, I figure the marks were put there by the factory body shop. The date and the initials may have been a body shop sign-off by an inspector or supervisor.

As to your four digit number, it's hard to say. It's not a job sequence number since those were typically no more than three digits. It seems doubtful to me that the General would leave crayon marks in plain view where the customer would wonder "What kind of graffiti is this?"; crayon marks are usually not visible after the car is assembled. Are the last two digits "71", such that it could be a date?

[Chuck S.]

P.S. Another possibility...

Charlie, if "70" (early 71) or "71" are not in these four digits, then another thing you can do is compute the Julian date for this car's build date, then compare that with either the first three or the last three digits. If it matches or is very close (within a day), then either the first or fourth digit could be a shift number if it's between "1" and "3".

Significance if it turns out to be a date?! I haven't a clue, but you may have more confidence it was put there by the factory. Before anyone starts, I will say in advance that I know of no other case where Julian dates were ever used at the assembly plant; only on components supplied by vendors.

[Charlie P.]

Re: P.S. Another possibility...

Chuck- Sounds like this is not likely a factory marking. Number is 8113; build date is 7-12-71. Maybe an inventory number of a dealer in the ownership chain, or maybe an auction lot number.

[Patrick H.]

Re: P.S. Another possibility...

I've also seen a date scrawled on the inside of a hood. Something like 11-3-70 or the like.

Did you ever get pictures of that sticker to send me?

Patrick

[Charlie P.]

Re: P.S. Another possibility...

Patrick- If O.K., can you send me a direct message to cjpetty@goes.com so I can return mail you the pics. Easier for me. Thanks.

[Dick W.]

Re: P.S. Another possibility...

Some new/used car dealers put markings to indicate various things, i.e. winterized, serviced, etc