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Helpt for decoding my VIN and engine date

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Old Dec 12, 2015 | 09:00 AM
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Default Helpt for decoding my VIN and engine date

Hello,

I need help from the experts.

I have a 1965 300 hp Coupe with following

VIN 194375 S 105142

Its a matching car, because I have the original registration papers from Austria. It was imported from General Motors Comp. Canada and was permitted in Austria on the 31th May 1966 as a new car.

Now my question:
The engine number, also documented in the registration papers is
5105142 F 1210 HF

So it must be a very late 1965 Corvette. It has the louvers. Also you can see on the original photo, which is in the registration papers, that it had the typical 1965 cubs and its no badge on the hood.

I don´t understand that the engine number, which is documented by the papers, is only a low 5142, but 1965 over 21000 Corvettes were built.

Also curious is that the car has the big brake options. I have called with the third (possessed the car from 1969 to 1976) and fourth owner and they can remember, that they had probems to get the brake linings in Austria. So this option must be true.

The first and the second owner are died long time ago.

I know, that you are more experts over the "Teich" (German phrase), so I hope, someone could help me.

Best regards from a German Corvette nut

Oliver
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Old Dec 12, 2015 | 09:19 AM
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Originally Posted by Dr. Seltsam
Hello,

I need help from the experts.

I have a 1965 300 hp Coupe with following

VIN 194375 S 105142

Its a matching car, because I have the original registration papers from Austria. It was imported from General Motors Comp. Canada and was permitted in Austria on the 31th May 1966 as a new car.

Now my question:
The engine number, also documented in the registration papers is
5105142 F 1210 HF

So it must be a very late 1965 Corvette. It has the louvers. Also you can see on the original photo, which is in the registration papers, that it had the typical 1965 cubs and its no badge on the hood.

I don´t understand that the engine number, which is documented by the papers, is only a low 5142, but 1965 over 21000 Corvettes were built.

Also curious is that the car has the big brake options. I have called with the third (possessed the car from 1969 to 1976) and fourth owner and they can remember, that they had probems to get the brake linings in Austria. So this option must be true.

The first and the second owner are died long time ago.

I know, that you are more experts over the "Teich" (German phrase), so I hope, someone could help me.

Best regards from a German Corvette nut

Oliver
Your 65 was built mid December 5 months into production. Corvette production started in late August & the model year quit in early August. The VIN & engine pad are correct for your Corvette. Don't think 65'S had a big brake option but early 65'S you could get drum brakes instead of disc brakes. Good luck with your Corvette. Think about joining NCRS as there are many helpful people on the web site. Also if it was a Canadian import you should be able to get the paper work with options from Canada.
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Old Dec 12, 2015 | 09:24 AM
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Originally Posted by kenba
Your 65 was built mid December 5 months into production. Corvette production started in late August & the model year quit in early August. The VIN & engine pad are correct for your Corvette. Don't think 65'S had a big brake option but early 65'S you could get drum brakes instead of disc brakes. Good luck with your Corvette. Think about joining NCRS as there are many helpful people on the web site. Also if it was a Canadian import you should be able to get the paper work with options from Canada.
Thank you for your help. I really nice option of this car is N03
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Old Dec 12, 2015 | 09:32 AM
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Agree with Ken.

To help you a little more, your car is #5142 which matches the stamp on your engine exactly. Your car is not a late build car, actually about a quarter of the way through production. The engine build date is the 1210 stamp which is December 10, slightly before the car was built. The F means the engine was built in Flint Michigan which is correct. And the HF engine code is correct for 300HP with manual transmission.
Sounds like an interesting car, and a tanker no less!!
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Old Dec 12, 2015 | 09:37 AM
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The only problem what I have are the big brakes.
It looks really all original, but it was no option in 1965.
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Old Dec 12, 2015 | 09:43 AM
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I am a little confused when you say no big brakes. the disk brakes became standard in 1965. only in 65 that you could get a drum brake credit, meaning to save money you would get the drum brakes used in 63-64. you could also get power brakes.
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Old Dec 12, 2015 | 10:56 AM
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I know how normal disk brakes look like.
This car has the big brakes with the separate latch and the second bolt.

The drum brakes were a normal option in 1965 but the big brakes were only offered in 1966 models as RPO J56.
Does anybody have pics of the heavy duty brake option?

Perhaps they were installed later but it really looks so original. Does anybody knows whether the big brakes were offered as a aftermarket or a dealer option?

Oliver
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Old Dec 12, 2015 | 11:23 AM
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Doc......help us help you. Your terminology of 'big brakes' needs more 'splaining. Terms like "separate latch and the second bolt" aren't typical automotive terms. A pic of the brakes would help us solve your inquiry.

Resto

Last edited by RestoMike; Dec 12, 2015 at 11:23 AM.
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Old Dec 12, 2015 | 11:25 AM
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Originally Posted by kenba
Your 65 was built mid December (1964) 5 months into production. Corvette production started in late August & the model year quit in early August (1965). The VIN & engine pad are correct for your Corvette. Don't think 65'S had a big brake option but early 65'S you could get drum brakes instead of disc brakes. Good luck with your Corvette. Think about joining NCRS as there are many helpful people on the web site. Also if it was a Canadian import you should be able to get the paper work with options from Canada.
Just happen to have the GM Canada Monthly shipping records in this time period, and this VIN does not show as an import from St.Louis. After 5032, the next is 5263. Also checked 1966 sheet and not there either.

36.5 gal (eh ?) [Canadian expression]. Welcome to the club. Are you saying that your car has big brakes ('63-64 drum style, or disc brakes ('66-up style ?).
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Old Dec 12, 2015 | 11:27 AM
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Sorry,

I am no native, but I will make detailed pics tomorrow

And I am not a doc. Dr. Seltsam is the translation from the Peter Sellers movie Dr. Strangelove, one of my favorite
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Old Dec 12, 2015 | 11:39 AM
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intersting
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Old Dec 12, 2015 | 12:26 PM
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The J-56 calipers can be Id by two pins holding the pads on vs the single pin used on the standard calipers. There is also valve under the master cylinder As stated above it was not available in 65. But very could be added later in life
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Old Dec 12, 2015 | 01:01 PM
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Originally Posted by midstyle
36.5 gal (eh ?) [Canadian expression]. Welcome to the club. Are you saying that your car has big brakes ('63-64 drum style, or disc brakes ('66-up style ?).
Jepp. Real Big Tanker, all mn. Further RPOs are power windows and power antenna. Color is goldwood yellow / black.

The brakes are disc brakes, but they have the bigger brake calipers and a second mounting plate. I will make pics tomorrow.
Not the same like my other corvettes.
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Old Dec 12, 2015 | 02:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Dr. Seltsam
Jepp. Real Big Tanker, all mn. Further RPOs are power windows and power antenna. Color is goldwood yellow / black.

The brakes are disc brakes, but they have the bigger brake calipers and a second mounting plate. I will make pics tomorrow.
Not the same like my other corvettes.
Ahhh ... my favourite colour combination as well If yours are the J56 HD brakes of '66 and up, the front pads should look like this, with 2 large cotter pins.



c

Last edited by midstyle; Dec 12, 2015 at 02:01 PM.
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Old Dec 12, 2015 | 02:21 PM
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Originally Posted by midstyle
Ahhh ... my favourite colour combination as well If yours are the J56 HD brakes of '66 and up, the front pads should look like this, with 2 large cotter pins.



c
Will make pics, but I think thats right.
My favorite color is this one





It´s my 1966 427 factory air. I have painted a second hard top in goodwood green.
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Old Feb 12, 2016 | 09:37 AM
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Long time for making pics

Here some pics of the brake system















Does anybody know this kind of brakes system. The brake booster is placed in the fender.

It looks old. I have not seen this one at any corvette.

Oliver
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Old Feb 12, 2016 | 09:43 AM
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Originally Posted by Dr. Seltsam
Will make pics, but I think thats right.
My favorite color is this one





It´s my 1966 427 factory air. I have painted a second hard top in goodwood green.
I'd never seen that color in person before until a car show last summer in Florida. It literally stopped me in my tracks. Simply stunning (and I haven't liked green since I took off my Army uniform 45 years ago!)

So unusual, so subtle, yet so perfect looking on that body style

Last edited by Frankie the Fink; Feb 12, 2016 at 09:44 AM.
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Old Feb 12, 2016 | 09:47 AM
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Wow, that is one strange settup, the master cylinder appears to be an original 65 but has a modified lid on it, the other device mounted down by the fender appears to be some sort of vacuum assist device if that is a vacuum line going to it.

Your caliper is a standard caliper, not J56 caliper. And your knockoff adapter is a reproduction item.
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Old Feb 12, 2016 | 01:01 PM
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The bracket holding the vacuum booster appears hand made. It's possible that someone added this from another vehicle later in the cars life when it was too difficult to obtain an original power brake assembly.

The design of this "brake booster" seems generic enough that it could almost be added to any single line master cylinder to add power brakes. I'm betting that is how and why it was added.

Good luck... GUSTO
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Old Feb 13, 2016 | 05:10 AM
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Thank you all for information.

I know that the wheels are repros. I have bought code correct steel wheels, because the car was delivered with hub caps.

That´s my opinion, too, that the braking system is homemade. I will rebuild it and build the car to original standard.
Next month we will begin a complete frame off resto to NCRS-Standard.

Here the original picture from the original Austrian title from 1966. Interesting is that in the Austrian title are listed all owner. So I have the complete history of the car. The second owner was a well known professional Austrian bike racer.

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