1967 VIN /build Date Help

[Mark F.]

Can somebody help me figure out how to understand a vin. I'm looking at a 1967 coupe to purchase and the Vin reads correctly for a coupe up to the "s" and has the correct amount of digits (194377sXXX...). At that point it starts with number 15xxxx. So it looks like this 194377s15xxxx. I was told to drop the last digit to figure build time. However, I thought That was just determined By my trim tag, letter and number. (which correlates to the month and day it was built). My issue is the S15xxxx confuses me because I thought that there was not enough cars built to cover up to that vin. The seller has no idea. I don't know how the build date and the Vin connect with one another? And when I try to read the ncrs manual, the numbers don't seam to jive. So I need some help. Thanks.

[Mike M.]

Re: 1967 VIN /build Date Help

Hi Mark
Your suspicions are correct.
That 9th digit shown as a "5" should be a "0", "1", or a "2".
Only the last 5 digits (positions 10-14, 1-22,940) are the actual VIN production numbers.
What VIN is listed on the POP, Title, Registration, any other paperwork?
HaND

[John C.]

Re: 1967 VIN /build Date Help

Mark

Some thing is amiss with the vin you give. The last 6 numbers give the serial number of the car. For 67 they ran from 100001 to 122940. You can"t have 15xxxx.

The approximate build date can be determined from the trim tag or the serial number.

The trim tag tells you when the body was completed. It would then go on to final assembly. For a St. Louis built body the final assembly would typically be completed 1 to 2 days after that. For a AO Smith built body that had to be shipped from Michigan to St. Louis for final assembly it would be approximately 5-8 days later for the car to roll of the assembly line.

Chevrolet also kept track of the final serial number built for each month, so from this it is possible to determine the approximate build date of any serial number. There are a number of corvette birthday calculators out there that let you input your serial number and return the date. They are not 100% accurate but should get you with in a couple days either way.

It is always good idea to compare the trim tag built date with the calculated serial number birthday to check that they are close. This helps you confirm weather the trim tag or serial number tag may have been changed.

John

[Mark F.]

Re: 1967 VIN /build Date Help

Thanks Mike,
The Vin number on the tittle is matching to the car, with the "5" in place. There is no other paper work. Could this have been a typo from factory, maybe a backwards "2"?

[Roy S.]

Re: 1967 VIN /build Date Help

Mark,

There are a number of things to check, first the engine if it is original to the car will carry the vin sequence, as will the transmission, as will the frame. because those pieces carry the vin sequence may not be proof of the original vin although if any of them match each other it might yield a clue. there are documented cases of VIN discrepencies on the VIN plate.

[Mark F.]

Re: 1967 VIN /build Date Help

The engine and trans are not original, how ever I will have him check the frame. Should I expect that to match the vin. If this is correct with the body, would it be justified? thanks for your help.

[Mark F.]

Re: 1967 VIN /build Date Help

John
Thanks. At least I know I was understanding that correctly. Now I just have to decifer this Vin or let the car go. I have him getting me the vin off of the frame. Maybe there will be some luck there.
Mark

[Jack H.]

Re: 1967 VIN /build Date Help

Expect the frame stamp to be relatively difficult for one without experience to access/read with the body mounted... These stamps are often obscured by years of surface rust/scale and some were rather lightly stamped to begin with along with evidence 'scattering' aspects like 'hopper' marks (stamping die hopped leaving multiple & offset impressions)...

[Mark F.]

Re: 1967 VIN /build Date Help

Roy,
Would you consider the car good if the frame numbers match the VIN? The engine and trans are not orginal. Can I get any other clues from the set of frame numbers either in the rear tire area or on frame rail itself?

[Roy S.]

Re: 1967 VIN /build Date Help

My gut says the frame will not match the VIN plate, I doubt seriously that two different people would make the same mistake. The frame numbers might if you can locate them lend some credence to what happened, and whether a place holder was left out or a number was accidentally inserted. At this point it sounds like your only option, and if the frame is rusty as Jack indicated you may have real trouble reading the number.\

I personally would opt for another car, it's just a headache I don't want.

[Mark F.]

Re: 1967 VIN /build Date Help

Roy,
Thanks for your input. I think I will

[Mark F.]

Re: 1967 VIN /build Date Help

Roy
Had some info that I think sheds some light on the VIN. The seller told the tag syas it K28build date. Which is June 1967 and the stamping on the frame He says is ###122111. So I think the Vin tag is a mistaken punch. He got the number off of the frame /Wheel well opening. Does this sound right to you? I forgot to ask the body duild date. However, should I expect this to be extremely high do to the late final assembly date?
thanks,
Mark

[Joel F.]

Re: 1967 VIN /build Date Help

Roy
Had some info that I think sheds some light on the VIN. The seller told the tag syas it K28build date. Which is June 1967 and the stamping on the frame He says is ###122111. So I think the Vin tag is a mistaken punch. He got the number off of the frame /Wheel well opening. Does this sound right to you? I forgot to ask the body duild date. However, should I expect this to be extremely high do to the late final assembly date?
thanks,
Mark

Mark,

The body build date is the date on the trim tag, K 28. For AO Smith cars it will usually be a week or so prior to the car's build date. St Louis cars tend to be the same day or a day prior.

Joel

[Mark F.]

Re: 1967 VIN /build Date Help

I meant the build number, I have the build date of K28
thanks

[John C.]

Re: 1967 VIN /build Date Help

Mark

According to the NCRS birthday book serial number 22111 would have been completed on about June 29th. If it is a St Louis built body this would match perfectly with the k28 (June 28) trim tag date.

John