1960 block VIN stamping

[G B.]

Could someone please tell me how the block VIN stamping was done in late 1959 or early 1960 when the plant started doing this step? In other words, was the VIN stamping process initially the same as was used on later Corvettes, or did the assembly line start out using funky looking characters, individual hand stamps, or an unusual location on the pad?

Maybe the St. Louis plant used the same gang stamp and characters for block VIN stamping from 1960 until it closed. But it wouldn't surprise me if the first few hundred VIN stamps were done in an odd way until the process evolved into a steady state.

I've never seen a factory VIN stamp on any 1960 Corvette block, so I'm really just guessing here. If someone owns a '60 with its original block, I sure would appreciate hearing from them.

[Dale Pearman]

Re: 1960 block VIN stamping

Vin stamping started around the first of January in 1960 production. Each character was stamped individually until mid March of 1960. The characters were about 3/16th inch in height (same as the Flint stamp) and were quite "funky" in appearance.

I've got some great pictures that I'll try to get to you.

Dale Pearman.

[John M.]

Re: 1960 block VIN stamping

Jerry, I have a first week of Jan car and will send you a pic of the pad as well. As Dale stated it is quite obvious that a gang holder was NOT used on the early cars! Regards, John McGraw

[Joe Maulsby]

Re: 1960 block VIN stamping

My 1960 was built in the first week of December 1959 and the VIN is stamped on the pad in very crooked letters/numbers with the engine code stamped last (neatly), but very lightly. The VIN stamping is very deep. Hope this helps

[G B.]

I'm impressed

I really appreciate such quick and accurate responses.

I certainly learned something. All this time I thought every '60 block VIN stamp looked like the pretty June version shown in Adams' Volume 1. Now I know so much more.