C1 & C2 Corvettes General C1 Corvette & C2 Corvette Discussion, Technical Info, Performance Upgrades, Project Builds, Restorations

1963 Build sheet code

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 04-14-2019, 01:33 PM
  #1  
fsc66
Racer
Thread Starter
 
fsc66's Avatar
 
Member Since: May 2006
Location: Nassau County NY
Posts: 387
Received 89 Likes on 54 Posts

Default 1963 Build sheet code

Wondering if anyone could help with the 60 397 numbers on this build sheet. They are obviously not the dealer zone and code, any ideas are appreciated?

Paul


Last edited by fsc66; 04-14-2019 at 01:33 PM.
Old 04-14-2019, 01:38 PM
  #2  
Frankie the Fink
Team Owner

 
Frankie the Fink's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,062
Received 7,082 Likes on 4,736 Posts
Army

Default

63 cars did not have a "build sheet"...
I think that document is called something else..

Last edited by Frankie the Fink; 04-14-2019 at 01:39 PM.
Old 04-14-2019, 01:43 PM
  #3  
Easy Rhino
Team Owner

 
Easy Rhino's Avatar
 
Member Since: Apr 2008
Location: Coloring within the lines
Posts: 27,333
Received 1,919 Likes on 1,332 Posts

Default

Pretty neat, though.
Old 04-14-2019, 01:56 PM
  #4  
Nowhere Man
Team Owner
 
Nowhere Man's Avatar
 
Member Since: Feb 2003
Location: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
Posts: 49,006
Received 6,943 Likes on 4,782 Posts
2015 C2 of Year Finalist

Default

thats the shipper copy. very rare to have that. I think there was seven copies of that sheet. one was the shipper and the other six was for other areas of production.. if I was to guess the number 397 is the build number that you will find on other areas of the car is grease pencil
Old 04-14-2019, 01:57 PM
  #5  
856666
Drifting
 
856666's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jan 2013
Location: Asheville NC
Posts: 1,772
Received 195 Likes on 162 Posts
Default

Hi Paul

Where did this sheet come from? Was it on the car or from the dealer?

Phil
Old 04-14-2019, 02:19 PM
  #6  
morly1963
Melting Slicks
 
morly1963's Avatar
 
Member Since: Apr 2012
Location: EHT NJ
Posts: 2,724
Received 631 Likes on 419 Posts

Default

Very cool
Old 04-14-2019, 02:34 PM
  #7  
fsc66
Racer
Thread Starter
 
fsc66's Avatar
 
Member Since: May 2006
Location: Nassau County NY
Posts: 387
Received 89 Likes on 54 Posts

Default

No, no, just had this one and others in my own file trying to decode, that’s all. Don’t have originals just pics of the docs

Maybe the 397 number is the job number similar to 67 + tank stickers but that leave the 60?

Paul

Last edited by fsc66; 04-14-2019 at 02:35 PM.
Old 04-14-2019, 02:45 PM
  #8  
fsc66
Racer
Thread Starter
 
fsc66's Avatar
 
Member Since: May 2006
Location: Nassau County NY
Posts: 387
Received 89 Likes on 54 Posts

Default

There is also a handwritten number on all the 63’s I see, wonder if that would be the equivalent of a job number rather than the 397.
Old 04-14-2019, 02:47 PM
  #9  
Nowhere Man
Team Owner
 
Nowhere Man's Avatar
 
Member Since: Feb 2003
Location: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
Posts: 49,006
Received 6,943 Likes on 4,782 Posts
2015 C2 of Year Finalist

Default

Originally Posted by fsc66
There is also a handwritten number on all the 63’s I see, wonder if that would be the equivalent of a job number rather than the 397.
all 63-67 cars had the job number that went from 1 to 499 and started over.
Old 04-14-2019, 03:35 PM
  #10  
68hemi
Race Director
 
68hemi's Avatar
 
Member Since: Nov 2003
Location: Cottonwood AZ
Posts: 10,698
Received 3,048 Likes on 1,934 Posts
C1 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019

Default

Originally Posted by Frankie the Fink
63 cars did not have a "build sheet"...
I think that document is called something else..
Most of us here know that they did not start leaving them in Corvettes until 1967 located on top of the fuel tank but that does not mean prior year cars did not have them. Unusual to still find a copy 50+ years later in a dealers files.

ALL U.S. manufactures used a “build or broadcast” sheet throughout the assembly process with nearly every department receiving a copy. Different manufacturers would or would not leave them in the cars or not. Chrysler Corp was famous for leaving them strewn throughout the cars when they were delivered to dealers in the interior and trunk. Often times they were not from the car they were in. Sometimes you would see hand written notes for a line worker down the assembly line on them. Most of us here know that they did not start leaving them in Corvettes until 1967 located on top of the fuel tank but that does not mean prior year cars did not have them. Unusual to still find a copy 50+ years later in a dealers files.

Last edited by 68hemi; 04-14-2019 at 03:35 PM.
Old 04-14-2019, 03:43 PM
  #11  
Frankie the Fink
Team Owner

 
Frankie the Fink's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,062
Received 7,082 Likes on 4,736 Posts
Army

Default

Originally Posted by 68hemi
Most of us here know that they did not start leaving them in Corvettes until 1967 located on top of the fuel tank but that does not mean prior year cars did not have them. Unusual to still find a copy 50+ years later in a dealers files.

ALL U.S. manufactures used a “build or broadcast” sheet throughout the assembly process with nearly every department receiving a copy. Different manufacturers would or would not leave them in the cars or not. Chrysler Corp was famous for leaving them strewn throughout the cars when they were delivered to dealers in the interior and trunk. Often times they were not from the car they were in. Sometimes you would see hand written notes for a line worker down the assembly line on them. Most of us here know that they did not start leaving them in Corvettes until 1967 located on top of the fuel tank but that does not mean prior year cars did not have them. Unusual to still find a copy 50+ years later in a dealers files.
This is prob correct, I have never seen a pre-67 "build sheet" so I can't say...
Old 04-14-2019, 03:56 PM
  #12  
68hemi
Race Director
 
68hemi's Avatar
 
Member Since: Nov 2003
Location: Cottonwood AZ
Posts: 10,698
Received 3,048 Likes on 1,934 Posts
C1 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019

Default

Originally Posted by Frankie the Fink
This is prob correct, I have never seen a pre-67 "build sheet" so I can't say...
Not GM but here are a couple of pictures of a 1966 Coronets.



Old 04-14-2019, 04:02 PM
  #13  
Nowhere Man
Team Owner
 
Nowhere Man's Avatar
 
Member Since: Feb 2003
Location: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
Posts: 49,006
Received 6,943 Likes on 4,782 Posts
2015 C2 of Year Finalist

Default

Originally Posted by Frankie the Fink
This is prob correct, I have never seen a pre-67 "build sheet" so I can't say...
frank if you bothered to read my post you would see all cars for GM had SEVEN build sheets for different areas of production. One of them was the “shipping” copy which this is. This car was with the freight compeny and was delivered with the car I think this copy is how the dealer printed up the window sticker or how they priced the car And most if not all of them was kept with the dealer for a short time then pitched Most GM plants had a thing about not leaving any “trash” in the car when completed. Some plants where better then others.
The following users liked this post:
dkleather (04-17-2019)
Old 04-14-2019, 04:07 PM
  #14  
Frankie the Fink
Team Owner

 
Frankie the Fink's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,062
Received 7,082 Likes on 4,736 Posts
Army

Default

Originally Posted by Nowhere Man
frank if you bothered to read my post you would see all cars for GM had SEVEN build sheets for different areas of production. One of them was the “shipping” copy which this is. This car was with the freight compeny and was delivered with the car I think this copy is how the dealer printed up the window sticker or how they priced the car And most if not all of them was kept with the dealer for a short time then pitched Most GM plants had a thing about not leaving any “trash” in the car when completed. Some plants where better then others.
I did read it Keith and you echo what JohnZ has stated before - what I said is that I've never seen one...
At any rate, the document is as cool as it gets..
Old 04-14-2019, 04:14 PM
  #15  
Nowhere Man
Team Owner
 
Nowhere Man's Avatar
 
Member Since: Feb 2003
Location: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
Posts: 49,006
Received 6,943 Likes on 4,782 Posts
2015 C2 of Year Finalist

Default

Originally Posted by Frankie the Fink
I did read it Keith and you echo what JohnZ has stated before - what I said is that I've never seen one...
At any rate, the document is as cool as it gets..
i never seen one in person either Frank. Most got pitched as soon as it was delivered. Like most conspiracy theorist out of the seven how or why didn’t any survive for insurance reasons
Old 04-14-2019, 04:24 PM
  #16  
68hemi
Race Director
 
68hemi's Avatar
 
Member Since: Nov 2003
Location: Cottonwood AZ
Posts: 10,698
Received 3,048 Likes on 1,934 Posts
C1 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019

Default

Originally Posted by Nowhere Man
frank if you bothered to read my post you would see all cars for GM had SEVEN build sheets for different areas of production. One of them was the “shipping” copy which this is. This car was with the freight compeny and was delivered with the car I think this copy is how the dealer printed up the window sticker or how they priced the car And most if not all of them was kept with the dealer for a short time then pitched Most GM plants had a thing about not leaving any “trash” in the car when completed. Some plants where better then others.
Window stickers were NOT printed by the dealers but rather were done at the factory and came on the window of the car when delivered to the dealers.
Old 04-15-2019, 08:47 AM
  #17  
63driver
Burning Brakes
 
63driver's Avatar
 
Member Since: Apr 2006
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 0
Received 262 Likes on 191 Posts

Default

The document is on the wall in my home office and the car is in my garage. The 397 is the job number. The number is on the engine-side firewall, rear bulkhead and on the hardtop. The 422818 would have appeared on the window sticker. Still have not determine what the COPO code is as there are no unique features on the car.

The truck driver left the document with the dealer when the car was delivered. Most were trashed by the dealer, some were given to the buyer and some survived in the glovebox. The dealership was Capitol Motors in Hartford, CT. It's been closed for decades.

The car has been restored and scored 98.4 with NCRS

As soon as I get it out of winter storage I will be selling the car..

Last edited by 63driver; 04-15-2019 at 09:50 AM.

Get notified of new replies

To 1963 Build sheet code

Old 04-15-2019, 10:00 AM
  #18  
Frankie the Fink
Team Owner

 
Frankie the Fink's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,062
Received 7,082 Likes on 4,736 Posts
Army

Default

Such documents should add a nice premium to the selling price...
Old 04-15-2019, 02:20 PM
  #19  
SWCDuke
Race Director
 
SWCDuke's Avatar
 
Member Since: May 2000
Location: Redondo Beach USA
Posts: 12,487
Received 1,974 Likes on 1,188 Posts

Default

That's NOT the "shipper" document. The shipper document says "CAR SHIPPER" at the top.

What we have here is a copy of the computer line printer generated production order that was used on both the truck and Corvette side of the St. Louis plant. I have the dealer copy for my SWC that was built about a month before. The dealer copy is the bottom copy of this multisheet form that is made from thick tan paper, like a file folder, but not quite as thick.

I don't know what the "53" is in the COPO box, but it's not a COPO. Mine has "39" written by the same hand in the COPO box, but lacks anything like what looks like an ink-stamped "60-397". It's a rarity for any C2 owner to have this document for their car - EXTREMELY RARE, and having the original bottom copy of this form that was mailed to the dealer is almost certain to be irrefutable evidence of the production configuration. It's so rare and so few know about it that I don't think anyone has tried to counterfeit it, yet.

Since my SWC was a plant delivery, it also has that information including the customer name manually typed into the blank area below the option total. I also have the shipper and several other documents relating to production and the plant delivery, and how I came by those is an interesting story in itself.

Back in 1980 as it was becoming clear that vintage Corvettes were becoming collectible, I asked my dad in a letter if he still had a copy of the cancelled check. Since I didn't have a checking account I transferred funds from my savings account to his check account so he could write the check. I waited about a week and then called to ask if he had found the check. He said no, but found some other things. I asked what, and he said there was a manila envelope in the mail to me. I could tell that he was messin' with me and wanted it to be a surprise.

A couple of days later the envelope arrived, and I was blown away. It included the dealer copy of the production order, shipper, window sticker, Alan Green Chevrolet purchase order... everything including documents to implement the plant delivery, all in pristine condition. Though the cancelled check was not included there was a receipt for the cash price from Alan Green Chevrolet along with a letter from my dad explaining the back story, which is a story in itself.

At age 16 I didn't care about no stinkin' documents. I just wanted to drive the car. But my dad, being a former Pontiac, dealer knew what they were. He stashed them in his old hard leather Hartman suitcase in the back of his closet where he kept important documents like stock certificates, and when I asked about the check he remembered what was in his old Hartman.

That old Hartman that dates back to at least WW II, if not before, is now in my possession and filled with my fifties vintage Lionel train rolling stock other than most of the Santa Fe Super Chief train set that is now mounted on my living room wall above the couch with functioning LED lights that turn on when the sun goes down.

Duke

Last edited by SWCDuke; 04-15-2019 at 03:16 PM.
The following 5 users liked this post by SWCDuke:
427 Sidepipes (04-16-2019), Brian VH McHale (04-18-2019), dkleather (04-17-2019), Mr Fufu (04-18-2019), provette67 (04-15-2019)
Old 04-15-2019, 08:21 PM
  #20  
SJW
Le Mans Master
 
SJW's Avatar
 
Member Since: May 2005
Location: Central Maryland
Posts: 6,375
Received 1,389 Likes on 920 Posts

Default

Fascinating information, and a very cool family story, Duke. Thanks for sharing with us.

Live well,

SJW


Quick Reply: 1963 Build sheet code



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:37 PM.