C2 AOS Body Number.....

[Jim V.]

How can I interpret this body number as found on the passenger side firewall? THis is an AOS roadster body built in late June. Were these numbers reset montly or rolled over at some specific number? Were the first digits sometimes alphabetic and not numeric? I may have inadvertantly erased the top of the first digit. It may be a zero or....?

thanks!

[John H.]

Re: C2 AOS Body Number.....

Jim -

A.O. Smith had their own internal numbering system for their unique scheduling process, and their markings don't relate to anything at St. Louis; I'm sure they related in some manner to the original dealer order, but whatever paperwork they used went in the dumpster decades ago. As far as I know, no one has ever been able to decode their markings.

[Jim V.]

Sequence letter...

After checking out the archives the first letter may be a code for multiples of 500. Mine appears to start with the letter U followed by 240 in what appears to be black magic marker.

If the sequential theory is true this would compute to the 10,240th 1965 AO Smith body (20 x 500 + 240 = 10240). Given AO Smith made half the bodies and my 216xx vin, I suppose the theory is can be possible. I used 20 x 500, since the A prefix would be bodies 1-500 while the second letter of the alphbet B would be 500 + job number.

Are we having fun yet...

[Donald T.]

Re: C2 AOS Body Number.....

Jim,

I did some research on this topic a while back, so there is some info in the archives. I received body numbers from 6 AOS cars built in the March to June 1965 time frame. The numeric 3 digit code runs 1-500, as is well known. The preceding letter designation is unique to AOS cars. Although my sample size was too small for anything definitive, all of them were consistent with the letter advancing after each run of 1-500. For example, A 1-500 then B 1-500, etc. My mid-May 65 AOS car is job number Q 189. I found another 65 AOS car that was built within days of mine that also had a Q designation. Your first letter is a "U", however, you didn't mention what year C2 you have. If it is also a 65, then the "U" would be consistent with the other late 65 AOS cars I have found.

[Jim V.]

thanks Don...

Thats great. I can see how ya missed it above but mine is a late june 1965. Might you have a pic of that other June car's job number? Also, are you convinced that the numbers were applied via magic markers?

Thanks...

[Donald T.]

Re: thanks Don...

Jim,

All of the 65 AOS job numbers that I have seen have been in magic marker, just like yours. I don't think I have additional pics from others, but I'd have to search. When I was inquiring about this a while back I had several 65 owners send me emails with their job numbers, but I don't think any attached pics along with it.

The pic I posted is from the rear bulkhead behind the gas tank of my car. This is the most likely place for the job number to have survived, but since it is not easily accessible it's difficult to gather info from other owner's.

[Donald T.]

A little more info

I can't find all my notes, but I did find a few of the emails from other late 65 AOS owner's. There was a March 65 car with an "M" designation; two May cars with the "Q" (including mine); an early June car with a "T"; and the one that Jim posted is late June with a "U". I know I had a couple of others that were consistent with the sequential as well, but I don't have my notes handy.

This is too small of a sample to be certain. However, you can see how the letters progress along with the build dates. I don't think it is a coincidence.