(Message Deleted by Poster)

[Marcelo Espinosa]

Message Deleted by Poster

[Joe L.]

Re: How to know the model year of this vette!!

Marcello-----

If you're looking at a car with a VIN plate which has been removed, you've got a problem from the get-go. It will be hard to register. Since you've found holes where the plate would be located, we can assume that the car is a 58, 59, or early 60. Later 60s had the VIN plate attached to the steering column and visible under the hood. You might want to check for that just in case.

Anyway, if the car is a 58 or early 59, there will be no VIN derivative stamped on the engine pad. The engine pad is located in front of the right side cylinder head. However, the engine pad will have an engine production code, including a suffix code that may be helpful in identifying the year. Of course, that assumes that the engine is original, which is not too likely in old Corvettes.

The only other place that the VIN will be found is stamped into the top of the left side frame rail at a location just about above the driver's seat. However, it's virtually impossible to see with the body on the car. Some folks even cut a hole in the floorboard in this area in order to view it.

Assuming that the car is stock, there are visual cues that will enable you to tell the year, though. 1958s are unique in that they have imitation "louvers" molded into the hood. Also, 58s have 2 large chrome "ribs" which are found on the trunk lid. If present, these are very hard to miss.

1959 and 1960 are very similar in outward appearance, but different in several ways "under the skin". For a novice, the easiest thing to look for is a small aspect of the dash configuration. You will note that on the passenger side there is a "grab bar" and behind it a semi-circular metal plate with the word "Corvette" prominently displayed. On 1960 models there are two small, rectangular bars seen above and below the Corvette script. As I recall one is blue and the other red or something close to that. On 1959 models there are no bars; just the word "Corvette".

[Larry Allen]

Re: How to know the model year of this vette!!

Do you own this car or are you looking to buy it? The years 58-60 are so close that you could make it any one of these years and it would be very difficult to tell. The engine number is on the front right corner of the engine just below the head. It may be painted over but you can scrape it, the number you want is stamped in the block. There also is a VIN number stamped in the frame on the top of the left rail below the drivers seat. It is harder to see but can be done with mirrors and lifting on the body gently.

If you are looking to buy this car beware of it being stolen. The missing VIN plate could be a real problem.

[Tom Freeman]

Title??

Dumb question, but what does the title say? No title, then you need to do everything in your power to make sure that it is not stolen. If you are buying then you need to knock a ton off for no VIN plate or title, after you confirm it is not stolen.

tom...


The '73 Spot

[Jack H.]

Re: How to know the model year of this vette!!

Car may not be stolen.... May have been put together from various components (making true year of manufacture DIFFICULT to determine). Some of these cars WERE raced, wrecked, and re-claimed from scrap yards in various major components and put back together. If so, it's going to take major investigation from experts to get an 'opinion' as to true original origin year as key components may be 'mixed'....

But, not to worry. Car can always be granted a local/State authorized title and VIN-ID for registration/driving purposes. NCRS does not discriminate in judging. The only criteria is the car must have a valid VIN-ID tag affixed to it and local/State issued ID's are perfectly acceptable.

[Joe Pennington]

Re: How to know the model year of this vette!!

A couple of items to check. On 58's and 59's the front anti-sway bar is offset to the front of the car between the bushings. The 60 thru 62 bar is straight between the bushings. The 59 thru 62 had traction bars located above the rear axle housing to the frame. The 60 thru 62 had a rear anti-sway bar below and behind the rear axle housing. The rear lower shock mounts will have two studs in place if the anti-sway bar has been removed and there will be a welded on bracket on the frame rails behind the axle housing.

[Bill Braun #33186]

From his e-mail address...

Marcello is somewhere "off-shore" and US registration laws probably don't apply...

B