1963 Coupe - Number on rear panel???

[Collin MacDonald]

Dropped the gas tank, and notice on the forward wall, that is on the floor board, the white fiberglass that is the rear wall in under the split windows, is a number in green grease pencil...454.... Does anybody know what this number is... handwritten and original.... Its on the wall forward of the gas take that would be the rear wall of the interior...but the number is under the car forward of the gas tank. Is this a build number or the number of the entire fiberglass interior floorboard section?

[Bryan L.]

Re: 1963 Coupe - Number on rear panel???

That's the job number. Mine was 449 and was also visible behind one of the door panels.

BL

[Collin MacDonald]

Re: 1963 Coupe - Number on rear panel???

So that is the job number...man that is GREAT...all the work that was done on that car and for some reason that was protected all these years...so it was number 454....when was your car built mine was Jan 23 1963....

[Collin MacDonald]

Re: 1963 Coupe - Number on rear panel???

Here is a photo of the Job number....this is exciting for me to find this...

[Gordon Peterson #4961]

Re: 1963 Coupe - Number on rear panel???

Hi Collin -

You'll find this number in other places as well. You might find it peaking out from under the firewall blackout paint under the heater. And it is on the lower inner panel of each door. If it isn't obvious, try playing with a light source to try to pick it out.

As I recall, this number went to 999 and then cycled back to the beginning again. For example, my August-built '63 is #150.

Pete

[Rob M.]

Re: 1963 Coupe - Number on rear panel???

I believe it cycles from 0 - 500 instead...

greetings,
Rob.

[Donald T.]

Re: 1963 Coupe - Number on rear panel???

A.O. Smith bodied cars are a little different. My 65 has the letter "Q" in front of the job number. It is located in front of the gas tank as well, and is the only place where I have found the job number. I've seen some speculation, but have never been able to definitively determine what the "Q" represents. I've heard it could identify the series of 1-500 job numbers (i.e. A1-500, B1-500, C1-500, etc.). I've also heard it could represent an option that needed to be accounted for during the body build. For example "A" for antenna in a radio delete car, where there would not be a need for the hole for the antenna. However, I don't know what option "Q" could represent. Just one of those mysteries that may never be known!

Don Terry

[Rob M.]

Re: 1963 Coupe - Number on rear panel???

My personal speculation based on a friends C2 is that the AO Smith bodied car were marked with a prefix indicated the interior color to identify the seats which were taken out the car when they arrive at the factory. This friends car had a W as prefix indicating the white interior of the car...

Your guess is as good as mine,
Rob

[Donald T.]

Re: 1963 Coupe - Number on rear panel???

Rob,

Well, that's a theory I had not heard before. Not sure how interior color could relate to the "Q" though. Mine has standard interior (black vinyl).

[John H.]

Re: 1963 Coupe - Number on rear panel???

Rob -

A.O. Smith bodies were delivered to St. Louis with no seats (or any other interior soft trim below the belt line); all seats and interior soft trim below the belt line were built-up and installed at St. Louis.

[Alan Drake]

Re: 1963 Coupe - Number on rear panel???

Hi Don,
Assume that Q789 is behind the gas tank area. What is redish overspray from. Notice I have some on the number at the heater panel location. Was planning to remove however that may remove what's left of number.
Thanks Alan

[Rick S.]

Re: 1963 Coupe - Number on rear panel???

allan,
I have that reddish overspray around the job number that is on the passengers footwell. Have no idea what it is but I left it there.

[Donald T.]

Re: 1963 Coupe - Number on rear panel???

Alan,

The redish overspray is some of the original paint. It's an original rally red car. The paint overspray came through the fuel filler opening, and partially covered the job number "Q189". Since the overspray and job number are original, I plan to leave it in place.

[Rob M.]

Re: 1963 Coupe - Number on rear panel???

Hi John,

I value your replies very highly but I also have the same with Nolan's. He is stating in his second edition of the restoration guide series that the AO bodies were arriving with chairs and that these were taken out at the start of the assembly line to re-unit with the car in a later state of assembly. Is this not correct?

greetings,
Rob.

[John H.]

Re: 1963 Coupe - Number on rear panel???

Rob -

No, that description in Noland's book is not correct; all midyear seats were built up and installed at St. Louis. A.O. Smith body interiors were bare naked except for headliner, halo panel, interior windshield, side upper, and back window garnish moldings, sunvisors, and rear view mirror.