mike coletta

Hey guys,
How does this look to all of you? This is a 63 coupe. I'm looking to buy the car, and I'm a little concerned about the way that this VIN tag is welded. Looks like it was tacked with the glove box in place(low). I think I can see the "original" spot welds. The low welds don't look factory, and the primer is "rusted", which would indicate that it got hotter than a "pinch" type spot welder. The vin numbers match the title, and I can't get to the frame numbers. This is a pretty rare piece "XH". Factory air, power windows, power brakes and steering. I was going to buy it to "restomod"-----that's my thing you know, but I'd probably go the NCRS restored mode if this weld would pass judging. Thanks.

Mike Coletta

jlavettez06

Mike, it is my understanding that there where not multi welds on the vin tag. I have a 63 coupe and it has been through flight judging. Attached is a pictures I hopes that helps you. I am not saying the tag you had posted it not the original one, but simply questioning the welds. In my opinion it seems that this was re-attached.( Someone grounded the black paint off the back of the tag, I personally I never seen an original one with the paint grinded away. You are doing the right thing in doing your homework. If you decide to go the NCRS route, join the NCRS and get on their discussion board, there are a lot of great information and people. Good luck what ever you decide to do with the car.

ratmotortom

Looks real as real can be to me ! Most original cars will display this grind on the Z bar. Multiple welds not totally unusual. Let some others chime in, but I say this looks undisturbed and original.

provette67

looks good to me.The rust that can be seen would be a concern to me and deserves a good inspection of the bird cage area.Very rare car though.Let us know how it ends up

midyearvette

i know of an original 63 with welds just like that and rust too.....

Pilot Dan

Mike, it was not unusual to see 2 pairs of welds on the 63-64 tag. The original spot welding tool had two ends on it and made the welds on both sides simultaneously and evenly spaced. Sometimes, they made a second pair if the first weld did not hold the tag. As far as the rusted area under the tag on both sides, they did grind the primer to get a good ground. Now with all that being said, it does look to me like it was re attached at some point based on the spacing of the lower welds. Does not mean the car is not legit just because the tag was re attached as long as the vin numbers check out. Try to get a look at the number on the frame rail if you are concerned and see if you have a match. I don't believe there is a point deduction if the original tag is correctly re attached. They went to the rivets in 65 because of the spot weld problems.
Pilot Dan

OldKarz

mike coletta

Thanks for all of the input. I'm going to look at the car with "my eyes" today. Actually, I'm having someone take me to look at the car, as I am still in this frigging back brace from my attempt to fly a couple of months ago. I'm will to take a look at the birdcage myself as the pictures were taken by a friend of mine, and I haven't put MY eyes on the car yet. The price is right, and I have really wanted to do a split window restomod car. I don't think that this will be the right car for that purpose, IF everything checks out. I might buy it to "restore", but I've really lost interest in the "original" stuff in the past few years. We'll see. Thanks for the input though. It was exactly what I was looking for.

Mike Coletta

jlavettez06

Good Luck with the car and your back.

1963GrayGray

The sn. plate looks good. Most 63s were ground before welding the plate.
Multiple welds are not uncommon also. About 228 63 Coupes were optioned with C60 and the trim tag with the X code self documents the C60 option. If the bones of the car are good, it would be nice to save this one.
Dave

gold63

Hi Mike,

As others have said, it is not that unusual to see multiple spot welds on the serial tag and I have seen a few.
The tag looks good to me also.

According to my old Black Book though, the 'XH' trim tag denotes a Daytona Blue vinyl Convertible, not a Coupe. Not sure what this tells you.

Can you post a clearer picture of the trim tag?
What is the cars Body number from the trim tag?
If you can tell me the Body number I will cross reference it for you with a couple of other coupes built close to this car in production and see if it lines up with the others.
If I read your serial number correctly, this car is #19,611??
Also, is the car an automatic and what hp?

Syd

Procrastination Racing

There is nothing wrong with that tag. I seriously doubt it has been removed and rewelded, because a lot of original '63 tags were welded a couple of times to get them to stick.

Mine has three weld spots on the left center, three spots on the right center, and one spot on the right lower. I've had it since '78 and positive it has never been changed, so the first person to tell me it was not original, I'd kick in the butt and tell them to go learn about '63s.

You might have to do that. But you shouldn't have to.


This car is the type that if you do anything, you should either restore or refurbish it mostly stock. If you want to restomod it, you should sell it and get another. I know your restomods and they are great, but this is one of those Vettes that shouldn't be due to the rarity of them.

ratmotortom

I totally missed the OP's note that the car was coded XH. I also show that as a convertible code as well. Interesting. Check that code again or post a better shot of that trim tag.

mike coletta

Thanks again for all of the replies. I passed on the car, as it is too rare to be cutting up for a restomod (see, I'm not COMPLETELY on the dark side). It turned out to be an XC code (red coupe, with C60 and U69). Exterior was white. Automatic 300hp. When I looked at the tag with my own eyes, the welds look factory. I had only seen the pictures to that point. I just have lost interest in "restoring", but this is gonna be one heck of a project for someone. It does have PW, PB, and PS along with the air and radio. So, again thanks for all of the info. It did make my decision a lot easier.



Mike Coletta