date on VIN Tag?

[Martyn T.]

A friend recently bought a '65 conv. and the vin tag had a month and 2 digit (65)year stamped on it. He had paid someone supposedly knowledgable to go over the car and was told that although not a common practice, it was done by the dealer in some areas possibly dating when the car came into inventory. Is there anything besides the original vin # that is acceptable on that tag?
Thanks

[Don H.]

Re: date on VIN Tag?

My 65 also has a date stamp on it. I agree it was not common, it was done. Don H.

[Wayne M.]

That's what the "DD" indicates

From '65 Corvette Shop Manual: "The vehicle identification tag provides a space for dealer delivery date" (hence the "DD" letters). I would not think that NCRS judging should deduct for this (as in, say, a dealer-installed ski-rack), as it should be considered part of dealer prep, although not mandatory.

Team leaders should respond to this.

[John H.]

Re: That's what the "DD" indicates

Somewhere I have copies of some old Zone Office letters to the dealers telling them to stamp the delivery date adjacent to the "DD" embossments on the VIN plates on all car lines during dealer prep; most dealers ignored the requirement, and it faded away.

[Daniel W.]

Re: That's what the "DD" indicates

John, all; I too have a tag stamped with what I believe is the delivery date to the original owner. However, the TRIM tag was stamped instead of the VIN tag. Have heard from other chapter members that since the TRIM tag was aluminum and much softer (ie easier to stamp), was stamped in lieu of the stainless steel VIN tag. John, I have wondered if GM presented a format to dealers what to stamp into the tag(s). Mine is 075 stamped into the TRIM tag of a late 1965 car and would appreciate any input regarding this stamping.

[Wayne M.]

Here's more GM VIN plate stamping info

From Aug '64 Chevrolet Service News: "Stamping of Delivery Date on Vehicle Serial Plates -- Many vehicle serial plates are beign broken loose from the body during the 'date of vehicle delivery' stamping operation performed in dealerships. In most cases where the plates have broken loose, it has been caused by striking the die impression with one hammer blow. By employing the stamping technique described below, a very satisfactory plate impression can be obtained with the recommended 1/8" size dies, and without knocking the serial number plate off the body. Hold the die firmly against the serial plate and strike the die a series of light taps with a small hammer. Rocking the die slightly while tapping will assure a full imprint on the plate."

So, to me, this indicates that (for Corvettes, anyway) the stamping was to be done on year(s?)prior to '65, when they went to the riveted VIN plate, probably (mostly) to avoid knocking it off the welds during stamping. I would think that explicit stamping directions, including location on the tag, and month/day format and die size, would have appeared earlier.

I have the Chev Service News Indexes for calendar 1963 and 1964, but the only reference I found was the above. The 1963 Corvette Shop Manual doesn't mention the stamping. I don't have a '64; maybe someone can check. I am waiting for my '63 New Product Features , and the same for '64, to arrive (eBay purchase). If there's anything in there I will post.

[Wayne W.]

Re: Here's more GM VIN plate stamping info

I have seen plenty of them, and they are stamped with all sizes of numbers and many variations of dating.