C3 - '78 Inner Fender Markings

[Robert S.]

While doing some cleaning of the wheel-wells on my '78 I came upon some grease pen markings on the right front inner wheel-well that I hope someone can help decoding, if possible.

It looks like these markings were on this fiberglass piece before the fender/front assembly was actually put together. I say this because if you look closely at the top of the photo the dark area is the bonding material and appears to actually be on top of the markings.

I've owned this car since new and there has been no after production bodywork done, so could this be a part identification marking for the assembly workers?

The link will take you to a larger view of this area, if this will help someone identify the marks.

TIA for your comments or ideas

[Chuck S.]

Re: C3 - '78 Inner Fender Markings

That location typically has the last two digits of the build number...in this case, it looks like yours ends with 42. The other markings are not typical of earlier cars, but they are clearly orignal. I don't know what the S means; the RBS could be the inspector or supervisor's initials, but that's only a guess.

[Robert S.]

Re: C3 - '78 Inner Fender Markings

Thanks for the response Chuck. I haven't dropped the tank to check for the build number, so that's interesting information to know.

By earlier cars, presume you are referring to early C3's not early 78's? I ordered this car and picked it up July 78 and I think the build date is 6/13/78 based on the marking I found on the under side of the rear deck.

[Chuck S.]

Re: C3 - '78 Inner Fender Markings

Yes, I meant earlier C3s. I have a 70, and in exactly the same location adjacent to that reinforcing plate is 26; my body build number is 426. There are no other markings at that location on my car.

On early C3s, you will find the body build number at other locations: low on the right firewall under the splash shield, on the front of the bulkhead behind the seats (under the carpet), and on the right side of the rear compartment bulkhead facing the gas tank. Since your car is the fastback body, it no longer has the rear bulkhead, so they must have moved that marking to the deck.

GM didn't do everything completely different from one year to the next...assembly processes eloved slowly, so you will often find something done the same or nearly the same way years later.

[Chuck S.]

Re: C3 - '78 Inner Fender Markings

Actually, since I can see the fuel tank in the top part of the picture, that date marking may be on a removeable valance. I'm unfamiliar with late C3s, but I figure there must be a removeable valance to facilitate the body installation on the chassis. If that IS a removeable valance, then it's possible that is the date of the panel fabrication, rather than the car assembly date.

On my 70 the exhaust panel is dated, just as that picture shows, except there is no year...only 6-3-2. Since my trim plate is stamped G30 (July 30, 1970), I interpret that date to mean the exhaust panel was made June, 3, 1970, second shift.

[Eric J.]

my 78 Pace Car marks

The panel in front of the gas tank reads in read marker: 3/11 F 2 J.T. N.O. the trim tag is dated 3/20. Eric #3,182

[Tom R.]

Re: C3 - '78 Inner Fender Markings

Bob:

It would be most unusual for a 78 to have a build date marking. There would be no reason for a worker to do that. Your most accurate reference for a build date is the trim tag. That is the generally accepted build date for C3 models.

A build sheet (tank sticker) would reference an estimated date of production set by the zone office but that is only an estimate prior to actual assembly. This is a date set by the zone office and sent back to the dealer so they can share with the customer when the expected date of produciton would begin. too often we read more into this than there is.

[Robert S.]

Re: C3 - '78 Inner Fender Markings

Hi Tom,

Thanks for the info. I have a J30 on the trim tag. I'm find these other markings interesting finds just the same.

Bob