1972 VIN tag question

[Owen L.]

Re: 1972 VIN tag question

I have the Corvette Order Copy sheets from my '72 (from behind the dash). It clearly has the VIN in the left bottom of the form in the Serial Number box on the first page with the same box on page two showing the prefix to the VIN. The hand-written number matches the last three digits of the VIN and the crayon pencil markings on the passenger floor also have the same number. You can also see that the form was folded in half when quite a few of the markings were made because they show up in reverse on the second page. Lastly, what was put into the dark-secret code box in the right-hand column below the transmission box? I could reverse the mirror stamp image shown on page 2 but just haven't done it yet.

1972 Tank Sheet p1.jpg1972 Tank Sheet p2.jpg1972 POP Warranty Booklet.jpg

Something I find interesting is that this Order form was printed in March of '66. But they were apparently not used for a few years. My '67 uses a much simpler form which by the way has the hand-written number only one digit off from the VIN...

[Jack C.]

Re: 1972 VIN tag question

My 72 LT-1 was built on the last day of production and the last three digits 496 is also penciled in on the Corvette Order Copy.

[Douglas C.]

Re: 1972 VIN tag question

My 72 LT-1 was built on the last day of production and the last three digits 496 is also penciled in on the Corvette Order Copy.

Ok Jack, so the car's tank sticker I'm looking at makes sense. A job number and a second penciled in number, 397, which is the last three of the VIN.

Doug

[Douglas C.]

Re: 1972 VIN tag question

Not necessarily, Jaime, if you mean by your comment, a reproduction. I have a 1972 with, serial number 6421, that has the same "typo" for lack of a better word. The windshield is original, the tag and its placement are original, and the car has been judged, a number of years ago, at two regionals, one in Atlanta and one at Stone Mountain. Jaime, if you mean dyslexia by an assembly line worker in the 70s then yes, quite possible.

When I saw this car, the VIN bothered me and I posted here about the discrepancy. While I don't have the original post I got back a couple of replies from well respected senior NCRS members one of whom said his VIN was actually missing a character. I bought the car and I am very pleased with its originality. To the best of my "senior faculties" the gist of the response years ago to this question was "imagine sitting in a room at the typewriter type of device used to stamp out these VIN tags and imagine how, being repetitive and boring, easy it would be to swap two adjacent letters.

Douglas, the car is in storage right now but due to come out this weekend and if you want a photo of the VIN I would be happy to take one.
Gary

So, any other cars known to have this above? I'm considering a 72 LT1 where the VIN tag digits five, six, and seven read: LS2 and according to normal it should read L2S. The blue door sticker does include L2S. Doug

[Fred H.]

Re: 1972 VIN tag question

Hi Jack, I was informed the last day of the 1972 corvette production was July 25, is that consistent when you say yours was built the last day of producion? Our 72 LT1 build date July 21 (6756).

[Jaime G.]

Re: 1972 VIN tag question

Not necessarily, Jaime, if you mean by your comment, a reproduction. I have a 1972 with, serial number 6421, that has the same "typo" for lack of a better word. The windshield is original, the tag and its placement are original, and the car has been judged, a number of years ago, at two regionals, one in Atlanta and one at Stone Mountain. Jaime, if you mean dyslexia by an assembly line worker in the 70s then yes, quite possible.

When I saw this car, the VIN bothered me and I posted here about the discrepancy. While I don't have the original post I got back a couple of replies from well respected senior NCRS members one of whom said his VIN was actually missing a character. I bought the car and I am very pleased with its originality. To the best of my "senior faculties" the gist of the response years ago to this question was "imagine sitting in a room at the typewriter type of device used to stamp out these VIN tags and imagine how, being repetitive and boring, easy it would be to swap two adjacent letters.

Douglas, the car is in storage right now but due to come out this weekend and if you want a photo of the VIN I would be happy to take one.
Gary

Gary, my comment was meant for the assembly line worker not implying its a reproduction. It was meant to be a lighthearted comment.

[Bill B.]

Re: 1972 VIN tag question

Regarding the 330 / 275 engine on the tank sticker ... According to John Thawley (How to Hot Rod Big Block Chevys) the 1972 models started to list net HP with the newer SAE definition of a correction factor of 85 deg F in lieu of the 1971 SAE net rating using a 60 deg F correction This is why the SAE net HP ratings of the otherwise identical LT-1 engine for 1972 were lower than the 1971 net ratings. The 1971 LT-1 had listed 275 SAE net HP, while the 1972 LT-1 had listed 255 SAE net hp. (The numbers were obtained by the AMA Spec on each model year).

Back to the tank sticker .. perhaps (speculation on my part) the "275" indication was "left over" from the previous database used to print out the Corvette order copy, especially if it was produced earlier in the 1972 model run.

[Tim G.]

Re: 1972 VIN tag question

Douglas, there are other examples of errors with the VIN tags on Corvettes. The main thing is to be sure the title and the VIN tag match or that could be an issue with the licensing or selling of the car.