Trim Tag v. Build Sheet: So when was my car built?

[Tory S.]

My Trim Tag reads G05 = April 5th in 1975, a Saturday. Box 10 Sched. No. Date on my Build Sheet, or tank sticker reads 18-1015 and 04-08 = April 8th, a Tuesday. Was the car scheduled for the 8th and build early on the 5th? Or was the body built on the 5th with its Trim Tag on a Saturday and not joined to the car for final assembly until Tuesday, the 8th? If the latter, why the delay?

I'm the original owner so I can verify the documents are original to the car. I custom ordered my car on February 10th, the car was built on April 5th or 8th, and delivered to me on April 16th, 1975.

Thanks for helping,
Tory

[Terry M.]

Re: Trim Tag v. Build Sheet: So when was my car built?

My Trim Tag reads G05 = April 5th in 1975, a Saturday. Box 10 Sched. No. Date on my Build Sheet, or tank sticker reads 18-1015 and 04-08 = April 8th, a Tuesday. Was the car scheduled for the 8th and build early on the 5th? Or was the body built on the 5th with its Trim Tag on a Saturday and not joined to the car for final assembly until Tuesday, the 8th? If the latter, why the delay?

I'm the original owner so I can verify the documents are original to the car. I custom ordered my car on February 10th, the car was built on April 5th or 8th, and delivered to me on April 16th, 1975.

Thanks for helping,
Tory

Troy,

In the early C3 years it took more than one day to build a Corvette. Even in 2008 when they were building Corvettes at Bowling Green lickity split, it took more than one day. I suspect even in 1975 it took more than one day. If your trim tag is painted it went on the body in the paint shop -- if unpainted it went on the body right after the paint shop. In either case the trim tag went on your Corvette long before it was regarded, or even resembled, a completed car. Considering the date on the trim tag is a Saturday, and they didn't work on Sunday --Tuesday doesn't sound out of the ordinary -- unless you can pinpoint certain times of the day for those dates.

[Tory S.]

Re: Trim Tag v. Build Sheet: So when was my car built?

Hey Terry,

Yeah my tag is unpainted. So if my body was build on Saturday the 5th per the trim tag, then the build sheet with Tuesday the 8th was the day of completion. I wonder if any others out there with build sheets have ever compared the time between body build date and Box 10 schedule date on there build sheets?

Tory

[Tom R.]

Re: Trim Tag v. Build Sheet: So when was my car built?

My Trim Tag reads G05 = April 5th in 1975, a Saturday. Box 10 Sched. No. Date on my Build Sheet, or tank sticker reads 18-1015 and 04-08 = April 8th, a Tuesday. Was the car scheduled for the 8th and build early on the 5th? Or was the body built on the 5th with its Trim Tag on a Saturday and not joined to the car for final assembly until Tuesday, the 8th? If the latter, why the delay?

The body assemby was completed on the April 5th date and the trim tag riveted in place at the end of the paint booth, as Terry writes. The box 10 was production scheduling information that was an estimation prior to the onset of body assembly. April 8th was the "expected date of production" that would have been communicated to the dealer once the order and options were confirmed. It was a "preliminary" date.

the 18-1015 is a schedule number with what I believe the week of the schedule accompanied by four digits, the last three would become the job number. If you look underneath at the passenger side underbody panel, it is likely you'll see the number "015" or "15" hand written in white (maybe yellow), grease pencil. It may be found on other body panels as well.

Hey Terry,

Yeah my tag is unpainted. So if my body was build on Saturday the 5th per the trim tag, then the build sheet with Tuesday the 8th was the day of completion. I wonder if any others out there with build sheets have ever compared the time between body build date and Box 10 schedule date on there build sheets?

The factory was probably ahead of schedule, working Saturdays due to the increasing volume of Corvettes being purchased. It was in the 75-76 period when the trim tag station was moved from the end of the paint line to the a location between the two paint booths and accounts for later C3s with paint on the trim tag but with no primer. Apparently in April, the trim tag station was still at the end of the paint booth.

An article on the topic is in the editor's que that documents the job number use among late model C3s from 1973 thru 1982. In fact, I learned recently that in 1982, four digits were used on body panels whereas all others I've seen have been three digit. This practice is consistent with "job numbers" used in the 1960's documented by John Hinckley. With the use of the GMAD manifest (landscape style buildsheet) we see the job numbers preassigned by the computer.

[Tory S.]

Re: Trim Tag v. Build Sheet: So when was my car built?

Hi Tom,

You're the build sheet expert, so here are three questions i'd love to understand:

1. So if my car rolls past the trim tag station some time on Saturday, April 5th, is there any documentation of when the cars were actually completed and rolled out the door? Or do we simply estimate a day or two to complete?

2. As for the job number being the last three digits of the Schedule Number in Box 10, how is this different to Box 1: Job Sequence Number and how was it used?

3. Box 8: Body Number is a 6-digit number. Did they typically write the last 2 or 3 digits? Where did the body number typically appear in contrast to the written job number locations?

Thanks,
Tory

[Terry M.]

Re: Trim Tag v. Build Sheet: So when was my car built?

The body assemby was completed on the April 5th date and the trim tag riveted in place at the end of the paint booth, as Terry writes. The box 10 was production scheduling information that was an estimation prior to the onset of body assembly. April 8th was the "expected date of production" that would have been communicated to the dealer once the order and options were confirmed. It was a "preliminary" date.

the 18-1015 is a schedule number with what I believe the week of the schedule accompanied by four digits, the last three would become the job number. If you look underneath at the passenger side underbody panel, it is likely you'll see the number "015" or "15" hand written in white (maybe yellow), grease pencil. It may be found on other body panels as well.



The factory was probably ahead of schedule, working Saturdays due to the increasing volume of Corvettes being purchased. It was in the 75-76 period when the trim tag station was moved from the end of the paint line to the a location between the two paint booths and accounts for later C3s with paint on the trim tag but with no primer. Apparently in April, the trim tag station was still at the end of the paint booth.

An article on the topic is in the editor's que that documents the job number use among late model C3s from 1973 thru 1982. In fact, I learned recently that in 1982, four digits were used on body panels whereas all others I've seen have been three digit. This practice is consistent with "job numbers" used in the 1960's documented by John Hinckley. With the use of the GMAD manifest (landscape style buildsheet) we see the job numbers preassigned by the computer.

Tom,

Could those four character build numbers coincide with the move to Bowling Green?

[Ralph S.]

Re: Trim Tag v. Build Sheet: So when was my car built?

My 1973 that i bought new VIN # 19375 Built I02 (on trim tag) build sheet says 04-03 sched no date in box 10 hand written in pen and circled on build sheet is 375

[Terry M.]

Re: Trim Tag v. Build Sheet: So when was my car built?

Guys (and Gals) -- remember you have to define what constitutes a "completed car." Different people will have different views of that subject, and indeed Chevrolet changed the point at which the car was considered complete. They didn't change that often, but they did. So like the term "matching numbers" you will have to define the term "complete car."

[Tory S.]

Re: Trim Tag v. Build Sheet: So when was my car built?

Terry,

Interesting. How did Chevrolet define complete?

For our purposes it's defined per NCRS JG preface: Cars are to be judged to the standard of vehicle appearance, and as equipped, at the time and point of final assembly by the Chevrolet Motor Division of General Motors. I interpret this to mean at the point the car drives out of the factory and into the lot awaiting shipment to the dealer. What are there other definitions?

Tory

[Tom R.]

Re: Trim Tag v. Build Sheet: So when was my car built?

Geez...I step away to enjoy our 60+ temps and the thread is peppered with stuff. Tory...see below

:
1. So if my car rolls past the trim tag station some time on Saturday, April 5th, is there any documentation of when the cars were actually completed and rolled out the door? Or do we simply estimate a day or two to complete?

.

Terry gave a response below (now above) but if there were delays, repair work, tests that failed than it could have taken longer. A day or two for assembly to be completed, test is an estimate most live with.

2. As for the job number being the last three digits of the Schedule Number in Box 10, how is this different to Box 1: Job Sequence Number and how was it used?

Well I'm not sure I have some ideas but haven't collected enough buildsheets in close proximity to say with any degree of certainity. If you read John Hinckley's work, he refers to a sequence number that was assigned as jobs came in to the factory which would not have been assigned by production and scheduling (my theory). So, I suspect it relates to this but remember, the GMAD was adopted in the early 70's from the Chevelle and so its applications may have varied from early Corvette production. My thoughts are they are not related...two different departments.

3. Box 8: Body Number is a 6-digit number. Did they typically write the last 2 or 3 digits? Where did the body number typically appear in contrast to the written job number locations?

I've concluded that Body Number (box 8) is not the same as job number...I think you're confusing the two. I'm not quite sure what factory workers typically did in terms of written job numbers hand-written on the body. I've seen three digits and a couple of four digits...to me that's typical. But remember, I also reconcile a job number on a build sheet with the underbody panel number.

Also that box 8 Body Number, well is a derivative of Box 1 Job Sequence number with a digit or two missing...not sure what that's all about. What I write about and record is what I can claim after exhaustive research and the contributions of so many owners with build sheets. I'm not sure if that qualifies as an expert but appreciate the compliment. You guys that ask the questions are the curious that inspire others, like myself, to find or patch together what transpired some 30-40 years ago.

[Tom R.]

Re: Trim Tag v. Build Sheet: So when was my car built?

Terry

I'm assuming you're referring to the four digits in the schedule information box. They were used in all GMAD manifests I've seen from 1973-82. My view would be that this was a method of scheduling in which they could track body panels but probably gave way to bar codes as some point to track a particular vehicles components. So, I'm saying that my view is that it began in St Louis as the factory adopted the GMAD manifest and carried over to Bowling Green production.

An interesting point that I've been able to document, however, is that with the onset of Bowling Green production, the VIN was pre-assigned and printed by the teletypriter on the manifest. In contrast, 1981 St Louis built Corvettes continued to have their VIN typed at the trim tag station and appears in Times Roman font...typestyle of the day.

[Tom R.]

Re: Trim Tag v. Build Sheet: So when was my car built?

My 1973 that i bought new VIN # 19375 Built I02 (on trim tag) build sheet says 04-03 sched no date in box 10 hand written in pen and circled on build sheet is 375

Ah...yes. I've seen a few like yours. Factory workers do thing repetively until supervisors instruct them to change...or they do things simultanesouly when a new procedure is introduced until they are assured the new procedure has taken hold.

So, the hand written and circled 375 was the practice of writing the job number on the build sheet that dates back to the 1960's and the C2 as written by Grenning. Model year 1973 was the transition to the "new" GMAD manifest and the factory continued to write the job number on the sheet because that's what they were accustomed to previous model years. I have yet to see a 1974 build or later with the job number written on it...well maybe on or two. But than I've also seen 1973 manifests with no number written and circled on the manifest. Which leads to another theory to be saved for another day or book!

[Terry M.]

Re: Trim Tag v. Build Sheet: So when was my car built?

Yes Tom I was referring to the four numbers in the schedule information box.

Very nice research on your part. Thanks.

[John H.]

Re: Trim Tag v. Build Sheet: So when was my car built?

Terry,

Interesting. How did Chevrolet define complete?

For our purposes it's defined per NCRS JG preface: Cars are to be judged to the standard of vehicle appearance, and as equipped, at the time and point of final assembly by the Chevrolet Motor Division of General Motors. I interpret this to mean at the point the car drives out of the factory and into the lot awaiting shipment to the dealer. What are there other definitions?

Tory

Tory -

The car was "produced" twice, but only the second time counted.

The first instance is when it was driven off the end of the Final Line under its own power for the first time, into the Roll Test and Toe-In machines (with no seats or interior trim in it, using a temporary drop-in seat).

After that, it went to Water Test, Mechanical Repair, and Final Paint Repair, and finally went to the Final Trim Line, where it got all of the interior soft trim components, Final Inspection, and was driven out the door and delivered to the contract shipper (Complete Auto). At that point, the car was considered "produced", was reported to Central Office as "produced and shipped", and the plant got paid for building it. That's the date NCRS reports as the production date on the "Shipping Data Report".

[Terry M.]

Re: Trim Tag v. Build Sheet: So when was my car built?

Terry,

Interesting. How did Chevrolet define complete?

For our purposes it's defined per NCRS JG preface: Cars are to be judged to the standard of vehicle appearance, and as equipped, at the time and point of final assembly by the Chevrolet Motor Division of General Motors. I interpret this to mean at the point the car drives out of the factory and into the lot awaiting shipment to the dealer. What are there other definitions?

Tory

,

Your statement of the NCRS judging standards is a little short. There is another sentence in the NCRS Judging Reference Manual that states "As delivered to the initial owner including normal dealer new car preparation." If you add that statement to your delivery time you get a lot different time. My point is that using the NCRS judging standard as justification for when the car is complete is not the intent of the NCRS standard. NCRS has no position on when the car was complete, so you are back to your own opinion which may be different than mine.

If you go with Chevrolet's take on it -- as John Hinckley has offered --you will be right in line with the Shipping Data Report.