RARE Corvette Serial Number!!!!
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 12
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RARE Corvette Serial Number!!!!
I am looking at selling a 1955 corvette that I have had for 22 years. I started looking at casting and vin numbers on the car. The door sill number was absent so I looked at the frame number and I got a number of VE55S001000. This does not coincide with Adam's book on vin numbers for 1955. Does anyone have any information on how or why this number is on my car?
The V8 casting number matches to a 1955. I am sure the car is a 1955 but I can't explain the 1000 when the first corvette in 1955 is 1001.
The V8 casting number matches to a 1955. I am sure the car is a 1955 but I can't explain the 1000 when the first corvette in 1955 is 1001.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 953
Likes: 70
From: Parkville MO
I am looking at selling a 1955 corvette that I have had for 22 years. I started looking at casting and vin numbers on the car. The door sill number was absent so I looked at the frame number and I got a number of VE55S001000. This does not coincide with Adam's book on vin numbers for 1955. Does anyone have any information on how or why this number is on my car?
The V8 casting number matches to a 1955. I am sure the car is a 1955 but I can't explain the 1000 when the first corvette in 1955 is 1001.
The V8 casting number matches to a 1955. I am sure the car is a 1955 but I can't explain the 1000 when the first corvette in 1955 is 1001.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 12
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Sorry about this pic. My wife and I were under the car using a magnifying glass, light, mirror and camera. The body is still on the frame. I am separating it with shims to get this picture. This was the best we could do at the moment.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 7,182
Likes: 101
From: Pendleton IN
Sounds like the car may have a DMV issued vin number. It would be good when you can get a better pic of the stamping. Sometimes things are not what they appear until you have a better look.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 508
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From: Godfrey Illinois
Visually I am seeing what appears to be possibly 1010.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,536
Likes: 377
From: Philadelphia PA
The frame area where that stamp is looks pretty good/clean for a 60 year old car.
Almost looks like it could have been reground (in looking at the striations) at some point and stamped with that number. Also, looks like something is under that second to last 0.
It might be best (if you're selling it), to hire an independent appraiser or someone from the local NCRS chapter have a look see.
Almost looks like it could have been reground (in looking at the striations) at some point and stamped with that number. Also, looks like something is under that second to last 0.
It might be best (if you're selling it), to hire an independent appraiser or someone from the local NCRS chapter have a look see.
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Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
The frame area where that stamp is looks pretty good/clean for a 60 year old car.
Almost looks like it could have been reground (in looking at the striations) at some point and stamped with that number. Also, looks like something is under that second to last 0.
It might be best (if you're selling it), to hire an independent appraiser or someone from the local NCRS chapter have a look see.
Almost looks like it could have been reground (in looking at the striations) at some point and stamped with that number. Also, looks like something is under that second to last 0.
It might be best (if you're selling it), to hire an independent appraiser or someone from the local NCRS chapter have a look see.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,793
Likes: 108
Because 55s are so rare and special, it would be nice if you could figure out what the original vin was. A lot of the C1s had the VIN double stamped on the left side rail. Maybe look a foot back of this stamp and see if there are faint remnants of another stamp? Also, study up on the subtle differences between C1 frames, to see if you can otherwise confirm it is a 55 frame. I.e. look at the notch area for the fuel pump, look to see if it had 59 - 62 traction bar brackets, look to see if it had 58 bumper stop brackets on the outside of the frame hump, etc. You might have a replacement frame from another year C1.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,142
Likes: 73
From: crown point in
take a mirror to the picture you have and then take a picture of the image in the mirror. post that picture. if you have a very early car you will have a circle on the dash where the choke on a 54 corvette would have been. if you see this circle we can then assume the number after the one is a 0. Date code on the clock, radiator or distributor might help narrow this search. I see a bronze color in the picture. if that is the color of the car, was the car that color when you bought it?
Last edited by scopeli; Jan 23, 2015 at 12:55 PM.
Race Director
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From: Camp Verde AZ
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Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2015
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take a mirror to the picture you have and then take a picture of the image in the mirror. post that picture. if you have a very early car you will have a circle on the dash where the choke on a 54 corvette would have been. if you see this circle we can then assume the number after the one is a 0. Date code on the clock, radiator or distributor might help narrow this search. I see a bronze color in the picture. if that is the color of the car, was the car that color when you bought it?
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Because 55s are so rare and special, it would be nice if you could figure out what the original vin was. A lot of the C1s had the VIN double stamped on the left side rail. Maybe look a foot back of this stamp and see if there are faint remnants of another stamp? Also, study up on the subtle differences between C1 frames, to see if you can otherwise confirm it is a 55 frame. I.e. look at the notch area for the fuel pump, look to see if it had 59 - 62 traction bar brackets, look to see if it had 58 bumper stop brackets on the outside of the frame hump, etc. You might have a replacement frame from another year C1.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,142
Likes: 73
From: crown point in
I DISAGREE, but I think we are getting closer.
vin on a 55 would be VE55S001555. the last number to me looked like a 5. I doubt that it is 555. one of the items I have on 555 is the original vin tag. same owner since 63. was at Flint Michigan 6/25/2011 and later at Carlisle in 2011. body off, 1991. I am waiting for hankbee55 to describe his car to me. post some pictures and let us know what color it is. from the original post I was looking for a early car, but I am now leaning toward car #355. #055 is another. for that car the engine pad number would help. both 055 and 355 are California cars.
vin on a 55 would be VE55S001555. the last number to me looked like a 5. I doubt that it is 555. one of the items I have on 555 is the original vin tag. same owner since 63. was at Flint Michigan 6/25/2011 and later at Carlisle in 2011. body off, 1991. I am waiting for hankbee55 to describe his car to me. post some pictures and let us know what color it is. from the original post I was looking for a early car, but I am now leaning toward car #355. #055 is another. for that car the engine pad number would help. both 055 and 355 are California cars.
Last edited by scopeli; Jan 23, 2015 at 04:48 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,142
Likes: 73
From: crown point in
I'm not too sure about that one. a vin search shows that car to be in the bmv records. I am assuming someone else owns that car. 1055 and 1355 do not appear on the bmv list and are both California cars.
Last edited by scopeli; Jan 23, 2015 at 05:03 PM.