Roadking1340

Hi,

The engine in my 62 Corvette was built on February 1st. Is there a way to find out approximately when the car was built by using the VIN number or do I just have to make an educated guess? If so, where do I find the information that I need to do so?

Thanks

62Jeff

Go here http://www.ncrswi.bizland.com/bday/bdaycalc.htm and plug in the last 5 digits of the serial number of your car for an approximate "birthday"

Roadking1340

Thanks Jeff,

I've been trying to find that out since I bought the car last year. The Google searches that I used never helped. By the way, according to the calculator, I was celebrating my 2nd birthday, February 12, 1962, when the car rolled off the line. As far as I can tell, that calculator gives the approximate date the car was built based on production figures and that there is no way to determine the exact date my car was built. I know that the engine is not a restamped or replacement and it was built in Flint on February 1st. Does it sound likely that the car was put together that shortly after the engine was built? I thought that it would have taken longer than that, on average, as I had heard that they kept a longer supply of engines on hand in case there was an interruption at the engine plant or in transportation. I'm new to all of this, but before you linked me to the calculator, I had been told that it would have been approximately one month between the two dates. I'm not trying to argue with NCRS, just wanted to get your opinion on this.

Phil

62Jeff

First a caveat - my information/memory is 20+ years old here.

I just checkec my NCRS Judging manual for my 1962 vette, which is a 1986 edition manual. It simply states that: The casting date of the engine must precede the build date of the car by no more than 6 months. The assembly date of the engine must succeed the engine casting date, and preceed the build date of the car - again by no more than 6 months.

From memory (meaning I didn't drag out my book to double check my memory) - my 25 year old copy of the Noland Adams restoration guide described how engines were put into storage after being built, and used on a LIFO basis (last in, first out).

As for calculating the build date of the car, the Noland Adams book published the VINs of the last car built each month, from that you can extrapolate what day a given VIN was likely built. I wouldn't be surprised if the web-based Birthday calculators use that data.

Jeff

AZDoug

Sign your car up on the C1 registry. I just got an e-mail from them that my 1961 was was born/left the factory/whatever 45 years ago today.

Doug

Roadking1340

Jeff,

You wrote:
"From memory (meaning I didn't drag out my book to double check my memory) - my 25 year old copy of the Noland Adams restoration guide described how engines were put into storage after being built, and used on a LIFO basis (last in, first out)."

That would explain why the dates are so close.

Thanks again,

Phil

redonred

Doug,
Can you provide a link to the C-1 Registry? Or advise where to find it?
Thanks

AZDoug

see the topic on this page C1 registry.

Doug

Jack60

Here you go http://www.c1registry.com/

Mine is there.

JohnZ

That's fine - no problem with a February 1st-stamped engine and a February 12th-assembled car.