69 Chalk Markings

[Dwayne Grant]

I have just started on my winter project (although it's almost 70 here in Atlanta today!), which is dropping the gas tank and restoring it and all the rear framing (body on). After removing the spare tire carrier I noticed what appear to be chalk marking (looks like a date) written upside down right behind where the license plate goes. It is on the body, not the exhaust panel - I have factory installed side exhaust if that makes any difference. Anyway, the date, which appears to be white chalk looks like 12-21-68. But, as previous mentioned it is upside down and goes from right to left when you are lying on your back looking up. My car is a Feb 69 build (estimated to be 20 Feb). So, my questions are:
1. Is this a factory build marking of some sort?
2. If so, is it a date?
3. If it is a date, is the date consistent with a Feb 69 build?
4. Finally, if it is an original marking should I try to preserve it, or just reproduce it after I'm done? (I'm afraid all my cleaning and restoration may remove it)
Sorry, for the long explaination, but I am new to all this (this is my first project!), and I want to get it right - or at least not screw it up too bad!
PS - Learning all about my car (thanks to NCRS) has really been quite fascinating and starting to border on any obsession...

[Chuck S.]

Re: 69 Chalk Markings

Probably not a St. Louis assembly plant marking unless your car was built during the start/stop of a work stoppage...December is too early for this to be a factory body shop marking. That, plus the fact that it's upside down, says it's probably from North American Rockwell manufacturing. Crayon marks on body panels that are inconsistent with the body assembly date (days to a week before car build date stamp) are not unusual...some will have the month/day with the shift number; no year.

If you don't scrub it, it probably won't come off. My choice would be to leave it if it survives the clean-up. Take pictures and measure to a starting or reference point...if it disapears, do your best replication. It won't really matter. The tail light panel is virtually impossible to see well once everything is assembled...you'll be the only one that knows it's there.

[Mark #28455]

My Feb 28 car says 12/20/68 *NM*