Too Slow '90

My '68 roadster is missing the trim tag. I knew it when I bought it and it did not matter to me. I wonder what impact it has on the value of the car to someone else. Just a question....all opinions are welcome.

Nowhere Man

it maters to someone who wants a numbers matching NCRS car. value is hard to say it would depend on the car I would guess

Alan 71

Hi TS,
Just my opinion:
The trim tag and it's information is interesting to everyone because it sheds light on when the car was built and what the interior and exterior colors were when the car left St.Louis..
You can get a pretty good idea of when during the year's production the car was built by it's sequence number. (You can certainly make a pretty good estimate of what week the car was assembled from the sequence number).
There are other clues about the car's original interior and exterior that can be found by examining the car. Yes, the more the car is apart, the more information can be discovered.
Now, having the car judged as to it's originality certainly raises the importance of the Trim Tag.
So unless you're thinking of having the car judged someday don't lose any sleep over the missing tag.
Regards,
Alan

ed427vette

You will see when you go to sell it.
Anybody interested in an original car will care the most.
If your car is not original then don't worry about it. The more its modified the better simply because anyone interested in buying it will not care about originality when you go to sell it.
But if you bought it to restore it to original configuration, then when it comes time to sell, it will be an issue.
Forget NCRS with this car.

tokim

I'm of the opinion as the years pass there will be less importance of the numbers matching hoopla.
Even still most people want to know what the car was, when built.
It can create suspicion as to the why, suspicion is not a sales aid..resale will suffer.
How much of a hit? I would think less then the hit from a rebuilt title car. May be minimal..the potential customer base, will take the bigger hit.

I suspect, as less than honest people have re-stamped engine blocks, they wouldn't be opposed to replacing a trim tag either.

Too Slow '90

I have never been interested in having any of mine judged. When I bought it the seats were from a '79, the door panels were from a later year but still early 70's Corvette and the 3 compartment door was a stair tread. All relatively minor issues since I knew I would be tinkering with it anyway. The block does match the vin and is a 327/350.

I pulled the interior to see if I could find the original color from overspray. All I found was more overspray from later paint work. Nothing on the tank either so I think that ship may have sailed.

For me it will only be a driver (if I ever get it back together) but I always like to get the opinion of others. Thanks for yours.

dugsgms74

I think it really depends on the car. Like Alan said, theres really nothing on the tag that couldn't be proven/disproved using other forms of evidence but certain cars will take a much bigger hit in value if that tag isn't there.

I wouldn't be to concerned about a white 300hp car missing the trim tag but if I was trying to buy a black 435hp car I'd be very concerned about it being missing a trim tag and would pay accordingly.

7T1vette

If you want the car to have a trim tag, and the exterior and interior colors were available during the model year of the car you have, there are outfits that will make up a new tag for you with whatever color codes you want on them. It's really up to you, but expecting any more $$$ when you sell it...because it has a trim tag...is a far stretch.

694speed350

You say an early '70s vette? if so it wouldn't had a 327/350 engine. 327 were replaced by 350 cubic in engines in 1969 model year. sounds like you have a loblolly mixture of things on the car. sure it isn't a '68?

ed427vette

In his first post he stated its a 68. I think his reference to the early 70s related to his door panels.

ed427vette

One place to check for overspray that is usually not repainted over is behind the rear bulkhead located above the rear differential. When the cars were originally painted, they were done so with the frame off. This area would get a good amount of overspray. Unless the car had a frame off paint job since then, it should have visible overspray. During the frame off they may or may not have repainted that area.

When checking a car that you think may have a repro trim tag, check this area. Many times a re-tagged car will have this area painted black to cover overspray, unless a frame off was done then the new overspray could be reshot. Then again they could have some color mixed in an aerosol can and shot some areas to make it look factory. I guess it depends on how knowledgable and to what extent someone wanted to fake a color change.

You will also often find a job number written in wax from the assembly line.

vettebuyer6369

Later you say the car's block matches the VIN. That being the case, most people would agree that the value of the car with no trim tag should objectively be lower than if it was present. How much of a deduct is another issue.

The key to this is not whether it matters to you (or a buyer), but whether you paid a price for a car that had a trim tag.

7T1vette

Google "Trim Tags" and you will find a vendor who can get you what you need. Pretty expensive for a small piece of stamed steel; but you can then be "official".

Or, if you go to eBay, you can buy one exactly the same but with no codes stamed into it for less than 1/2 the price. Whatever works....

Geez.... It's just a trim tag, guys--not the Holy Grail....

cv67

If someone falls in love with your car and they understand the trim tag is not the VIN it wont matter one bit
Like said unless its some uber rare something that tag is just a piece of tin
Mine got stolen in a body shop yrs ago never got another one made
at the end of the day doesnt matter people love it or hate it. Dont lose sleep

Iceaxe

A missing trim tag is worth $235 as that is what it costs to replace.

7T1vette

For anyone who believes that a trim tag is worth $235, I just happen to have a few copies of "How Not To Be Gullible", and I can part with each for only $79.95.

Today only!!!

{Of course, they probably are worth that much to someone building an NCRS quality 'original' C3 Corvette with all new aftermarket parts....and it still needs a trim tag. With that, the car will be "just like it came from the factory". NOT!! But it will get a Top Flight ribbon!}

xpoc454

How do these get removed anyways? Aren't they riveted onto the car?
jim

cv67

yes riveted. You can buy nice replacements
There will always be some doubter if they spot them but if you want to paint a car right its gotta get done

Very few buyers out there are REALLY stuck on never touched...most just say it cause they want a good deal thats all.

Dont worry about the next guy.

Easy Mike

Drill out the rivet heads. Removing the tag isn't particularly difficult.

Too Slow '90

I wouldn't buy a trim tag. If I were to sell I would want the new owner to know and there is no more obvious way than the two holes from the original rivets. I did not know about the bulkhead but I will check it for overspray. I am pretty certain the interior was originally black. A P.O. resprayed it light saddle but on the back of the one year only dash pads you can see they were black. Since they are one year only I feel certain of the interior color. If I can find overspray then I may have an idea of the color combo but it may not matter without the tag.

It was the interior that was replaced with a hodge podge of later parts. The vin and the block match. Although I bought it with an automatic it was supposed to be a 4-speed based on the suffix and the Z bar bracket on the frame. It is now a 4-speed again.