1962 - Numbers Inside top of gauge cluster

[Anthony P.]

I am restoring my gauge cluster an written with green grease pen under the top (dome shaped area) was the number 386. See attached picture.

What is the significance of this?

Thanks,
Tony

[Las K.]

Re: 1962 - Numbers Inside top of gauge cluster

Anthony,

I believe that it was a build sheet number. My '61 had #286 on the instrument cluster and both doors.

[Bob H.]

Re: 1962 - Numbers Inside top of gauge cluster

Anthony:

That is the build number. Mine is 23 which also appears on my build sheet. I found the 23 in big numbers on the driver side firewall as well.

I have not removed the 62 original door panels but my 61 had the marks on the doors.

I thought it was the sequence number for that day. Mine was built on 01/17/62. Was this number reset weekly? January 17th was a Wednesday.

[Edward L.]

Re: 1962 - Numbers Inside top of gauge cluster

Anthony:

That is the build number. Mine is 23 which also appears on my build sheet. I found the 23 in big numbers on the driver side firewall as well.

I have not removed the 62 original door panels but my 61 had the marks on the doors.

I thought it was the sequence number for that day. Mine was built on 01/17/62. Was this number reset weekly? January 17th was a Wednesday.

The cars received a job number from 1 to 500 then they started over again.

[John M.]

Re: 1962 - Numbers Inside top of gauge cluster

on the car from the start and will identify the car on the assembly line until the point where the legal VIN is attached to the car. Copy pages of the Build Sheet were Broadcast (sent) to sub-assembly stations that assembled component parts for the car which were marked with the J/B number in green crayon before sending them to meet the same J/B numbered body on the assembly line. If things went as planned this pretty much assured that the correct parts and options would end up on the proper car as called for on the Build Sheet. The J/B number in the speedometer dome made sure the correct color instrument cluster with the correct red-line tachometer for the engine option got sent to the right car. The J/B number written in green crayon on the inside fiberglass surface of the doors (maybe only one) under the trim panel was to make sure the car got the correct doors with or without the power window option. The J/B numbers were used consecutively(?) from 1 to 500 on the assembly line until 500 was reached, and then they started over again at 1 and then continued to repeat 1 -500 over and over until the end of production. You cannot however determine a J/B number from a VIN or a VIN from a J/B number. I know this because this is a pet project of mine. Work the numbers on your own car and see if they come out right or how far off they are.

Save the Wave ------------ JGM