69 Early or Late?

[Dennis S.]

I've searched the archives to no avail and maybe somebody can just give me a quick answer. My car has an April 7, 1969 trim tag. Is it early or late? I thought early was before the strike in April, and late was after the strike. Other places I've read the change from "early" to "late" was as of December 16, 1968. Might help when ordering parts....

[Steven G.]

Re: 69 Early or Late?

I've searched the archives to no avail and maybe somebody can just give me a quick answer. My car has an April 7, 1969 trim tag. Is it early or late? I thought early was before the strike in April, and late was after the strike. Other places I've read the change from "early" to "late" was as of December 16, 1968. Might help when ordering parts....

April 7,1969 was a monday, at the end of that day there were 21122 corvettes produced out of 38762 produced that year, so your corvette was 1741 above the halfway production point. I would say your corvette is not early or late but midway. I hope this helps. Steve

[Michael W.]

Re: 69 Early or Late?

The build date of the car with respect to it's position within the model year has no relationship to early or late parts, as strange as it may sound. Late(r) parts could have been introduced very early in the M/Y or the earlier design carried through almost to the end of the MY.

Switch over from one type to another part was accomplished throughout the MY, in other words. 1st design and 2nd design would have been much more appropriate terminology, too late now.

What particular part are you looking for?

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 Early or Late?

The build date of the car with respect to it's position within the model year has no relationship to early or late parts, as strange as it may sound. Late(r) parts could have been introduced very early in the M/Y or the earlier design carried through almost to the end of the MY.

Switch over from one type to another part was accomplished throughout the MY, in other words. 1st design and 2nd design would have been much more appropriate terminology, too late now.

What particular part are you looking for?

Mike and Dennis-----


Exactly. The term "early" or "late" is a term in the Corvette restoration VERNACULAR. It was never used by GM to "officially" describe the cars or components thereof. In the vernacular, for the term "early" or "late" to have any meaning, at all, it must be used in conjunction with a particular COMPONENT. Things get even more interesting with respect to description when there are 3 or more revisions for a component during a particular model year.

In a very generic sense, one might also describe a car manufactured in the first month or two of the model year as "very early" or a car manufactured in the last month or two as "very late". However, without reference to a particular component, these terms have little meaning beyond "curiosity".

[Dennis S.]

Re: 69 Early or Late?

Thanks Steven, Mike and Joe. I understand and will be paying close attention to the parts when ordering.

[Reba W.]

Re: 69 Early or Late?

Do you have the latest editon of the 1968-69 Judging and Technical Guide? For many parts, it lists dates or approximate VINs when changes were made if these are known. We are always trying to update with more exact info.