Midyear Birdcage Crayon Number

[Wayne M.]

While R & R'ing the instrument cluster in my '65, I noticed the number 40 written in grease pencil or crayon on the top of the brace/bracket between the hinge pillars, just above the steering column. It was obviously applied before the body paint, as the overspray did not adhere to the number, rendering it visible. The car has no options like N40 or F40; it's St.Louis coupe body S280 with Job #236 (under the door panels).

What would have been the purpose of numbering the birdcages, if it doesn't refer to an option ?

[Tom B.]

Re: Midyear Birdcage Crayon Number

Wayne,

If I'm not mistaken it should be the job number of your car/body. The one I found in my former 66 matched the same crayon numbers on the interior of the doors. Tom #24014

[Tom B.]

Re: Midyear Birdcage Crayon Number

Wayne,

If I'm not mistaken it should be the job number of your car/body. The one I found in my former 66 matched the same crayon numbers on the interior of the doors. Tom #24014

[Tom B.]

PS: crayon

Wayne,

I'm going to try to look up some more info (or sit tight for some greater knowledge). As far as I could tell the interior of my 66 dash was more or less untouched before I got into it. Then again someone at the factory could have gotten carried away with the crayon. Tom #24014

[Tom B.]

PS: crayon

Wayne,

I'm going to try to look up some more info (or sit tight for some greater knowledge). As far as I could tell the interior of my 66 dash was more or less untouched before I got into it. Then again someone at the factory could have gotten carried away with the crayon. Tom #24014

[Tom B.]

Re: Midyear Birdcage Crayon Number

Wayne,

I can only further refer you to read pages 24 and 25 of the Nolan Adams book (1963 through 1967). I can't draw any conclusions for you. Best wishes. Tom #24014

[Tom B.]

Re: Midyear Birdcage Crayon Number

Wayne,

I can only further refer you to read pages 24 and 25 of the Nolan Adams book (1963 through 1967). I can't draw any conclusions for you. Best wishes. Tom #24014

[Wayne M.]

Re: Midyear Birdcage Crayon Number

Tom --- I looked at Noland's Vol 2, pages 24, 25 where he says the job # was occasionally written on the horizontal support behind the instrument cluster. But also look at page 40, on the A-body '65 production line, showing a convertible with a 4-digit "8702" on the VERTICAL surface (not the top) of the bar (and not a 3-digit #). Here, Noland refers to it as "some sort of internal numbering system".

In my specific case, there are potentially a few other uncommon circumstances. My VIN # indicates the car reached final assembly on the first day of production in November, after the 2-month strike in the fall of '64, so many of the components were dated mid-September (driveline & door panels, for instance) The trim tag date is D6. Another roadster body I saw in a Spokane WA boneyard (with the same trim date) and 10 VIN #'s AFTER mine, had a job # that was 46 HIGHER than mine, perhaps indicating my coupe was pulled out of sequence on the body line to complete the complex and extensive mods required for N03 and C60 options without slowing production.

Anyway, I'd still be interested in hearing from others about any numbers in this area, whether and A or S body, and if it matches the job #. ---- Wayne

[Wayne M.]

Re: Midyear Birdcage Crayon Number

Tom --- I looked at Noland's Vol 2, pages 24, 25 where he says the job # was occasionally written on the horizontal support behind the instrument cluster. But also look at page 40, on the A-body '65 production line, showing a convertible with a 4-digit "8702" on the VERTICAL surface (not the top) of the bar (and not a 3-digit #). Here, Noland refers to it as "some sort of internal numbering system".

In my specific case, there are potentially a few other uncommon circumstances. My VIN # indicates the car reached final assembly on the first day of production in November, after the 2-month strike in the fall of '64, so many of the components were dated mid-September (driveline & door panels, for instance) The trim tag date is D6. Another roadster body I saw in a Spokane WA boneyard (with the same trim date) and 10 VIN #'s AFTER mine, had a job # that was 46 HIGHER than mine, perhaps indicating my coupe was pulled out of sequence on the body line to complete the complex and extensive mods required for N03 and C60 options without slowing production.

Anyway, I'd still be interested in hearing from others about any numbers in this area, whether and A or S body, and if it matches the job #. ---- Wayne

[Tom B.]

The Search for More Info

Wayne,

I think that one piece of information and the caption comment help bring to light the inconsistant aspect of your number. It's a great piece of information, and easy for me to go "un-remembered". Nolan Adams does make reference to the internal numbering system at both places (pages 24-5 as well as 40) but as you said the four digit number shown doesn't fit the "1-500 system". Certainly greater knowledge and information is needed than the small amount I originally knew. Thank you too, Wayne, and Best wishes. Tom #24014

[Tom B.]

The Search for More Info

Wayne,

I think that one piece of information and the caption comment help bring to light the inconsistant aspect of your number. It's a great piece of information, and easy for me to go "un-remembered". Nolan Adams does make reference to the internal numbering system at both places (pages 24-5 as well as 40) but as you said the four digit number shown doesn't fit the "1-500 system". Certainly greater knowledge and information is needed than the small amount I originally knew. Thank you too, Wayne, and Best wishes. Tom #24014

[Jack H.]

Re: PS: crayon

The 'carried' away notion is NOT without merit. Look closely at items like aluminum tranny case parts and you'll often find evidence of workers 'playing' in the sand casts with 'off the wall' spurious graphics. Some speculate it was assy line boredom, others say certain shift supervisors had various schemes to ID specific works and/or track output back to their shift/work group....

[Jack H.]

Re: PS: crayon

The 'carried' away notion is NOT without merit. Look closely at items like aluminum tranny case parts and you'll often find evidence of workers 'playing' in the sand casts with 'off the wall' spurious graphics. Some speculate it was assy line boredom, others say certain shift supervisors had various schemes to ID specific works and/or track output back to their shift/work group....

[Tom B.]

Lending Credibility

Wayne,

Your situation prompted me to go back and dig out what I had filed away on my former 66, since I too remembered something unusual about the crayon numbers. It's kind of a long story, but now I remember and will try to stick to the "Reader's Digest".

I had the 66 for several years and did quite a lot of work, especially wiring/dash, etc. I took photos when I found numbers, etc. and found my dash and driver's door to be "408". The passenger door was "422E". I thought the same thing as you about something at assembly being pulled off / replaced / etc, since the numbers were so close and "higher".

Anyhow, I traded cars, "even-up" for the BG 68 L89 coupe that I have now. I'm no showman and the new owner of my 66 finished off some details and Top-Flighted the 66 within 30 days of our trade at his NCRS Chapter meet. (No regrets and I'm glad he got his money's worth, and so did I.) He called me with the judging info and they had found the passenger door ready to be fitted for power windows, which the 66 didn't have. He knew the history at trade-time, but it was just another piece of the mystery. Just more info. Tom #24014

[Tom B.]

Lending Credibility

Wayne,

Your situation prompted me to go back and dig out what I had filed away on my former 66, since I too remembered something unusual about the crayon numbers. It's kind of a long story, but now I remember and will try to stick to the "Reader's Digest".

I had the 66 for several years and did quite a lot of work, especially wiring/dash, etc. I took photos when I found numbers, etc. and found my dash and driver's door to be "408". The passenger door was "422E". I thought the same thing as you about something at assembly being pulled off / replaced / etc, since the numbers were so close and "higher".

Anyhow, I traded cars, "even-up" for the BG 68 L89 coupe that I have now. I'm no showman and the new owner of my 66 finished off some details and Top-Flighted the 66 within 30 days of our trade at his NCRS Chapter meet. (No regrets and I'm glad he got his money's worth, and so did I.) He called me with the judging info and they had found the passenger door ready to be fitted for power windows, which the 66 didn't have. He knew the history at trade-time, but it was just another piece of the mystery. Just more info. Tom #24014