Newbie VIN Question
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Newbie VIN Question
Hi,
My wife just bought a 1972 convertable Stingray from the second owner. The car is 100% stock, and has been sitting in a garage since 1978. As far as we can tell this thing is fully original, even has an old owners manual in the map pocket. The title is from 1978.
Here is the question.
Looking at the VIN on the engine, and the VIN on the car pillar, the engine is 1 number behind the car VIN. (ie the car is 4000, the engine is 3999). Is this right? All other digits in the VIN match the engine. It seems improbable that the engine was replaced, based on the cars history, low miles, and the statistical probabilityof finding the original 1972 engine from the car that preceeded this one on the assembly line.
Not that is matters if the numbers do not match
as my wife is in love with the car and we will never get rid of it, but just for curiosity sakes we'd like to know.
Any help is very much appreciated. We plan on restoring this together, as we both had muslce cars as kids and though this would be a great way to be togther more and young again.
Jim
My wife just bought a 1972 convertable Stingray from the second owner. The car is 100% stock, and has been sitting in a garage since 1978. As far as we can tell this thing is fully original, even has an old owners manual in the map pocket. The title is from 1978.
Here is the question.
Looking at the VIN on the engine, and the VIN on the car pillar, the engine is 1 number behind the car VIN. (ie the car is 4000, the engine is 3999). Is this right? All other digits in the VIN match the engine. It seems improbable that the engine was replaced, based on the cars history, low miles, and the statistical probabilityof finding the original 1972 engine from the car that preceeded this one on the assembly line.
Not that is matters if the numbers do not match
as my wife is in love with the car and we will never get rid of it, but just for curiosity sakes we'd like to know.Any help is very much appreciated. We plan on restoring this together, as we both had muslce cars as kids and though this would be a great way to be togther more and young again.
Jim
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,140
Likes: 7
From: Ohio
It should not be that way but it could have happened. Their are lots of other numbers that need to be correct before I would say you got a GM mix up at assembly. If you don't want to post all the numbers of the VIN and block send a private message.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 10,362
Likes: 5
From: San Diego - Deep Within The State of CONFUSION!
Harrumph.
No matching numbers but that close? Had to be built that way OEM. It just HAD to be !!!
What are the odds that somebody had two consecutive-number vehicles and swapped the motors out?
I admit it sure is odd though!
No matching numbers but that close? Had to be built that way OEM. It just HAD to be !!!
What are the odds that somebody had two consecutive-number vehicles and swapped the motors out?
I admit it sure is odd though!
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Sounds like an assembly-line screwup. There have been a few coupes found with vert VINs, and vice-versa, so an engine mix-up wouldn't surprise me. The odds of finding the engine from the previous car down the line for a swap are astronomical. 
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
Hey, you have my engine!!! 
I have heard of these "1 number out of sequence" mistakes before. I am not sure exactly how they were supposed to have happened, but if there is another car with "your" engine seems to me the odds of finding it are greatly enhanced by the internet and this forum. On the other hand, maybe the factory stamped 2 engines with the same number, so yours is out one digit but every other car around yours is correct.
Either way, I have heard about this type of error before and it sure seems like it came from the factory that way. Just another example of an original "non matching numbers" car. Sorry, but your car is NOT numbers matching!!!
Funny, but true.
I have heard of these "1 number out of sequence" mistakes before. I am not sure exactly how they were supposed to have happened, but if there is another car with "your" engine seems to me the odds of finding it are greatly enhanced by the internet and this forum. On the other hand, maybe the factory stamped 2 engines with the same number, so yours is out one digit but every other car around yours is correct.
Either way, I have heard about this type of error before and it sure seems like it came from the factory that way. Just another example of an original "non matching numbers" car. Sorry, but your car is NOT numbers matching!!!
Funny, but true.
Last edited by PRNDL; Oct 8, 2005 at 05:31 PM.
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Thanks
Thanks to everyone who replied.
Not sure on the other parts (ie tranny/axle) numbers, though the engine VIN code does translate to a 72 with a 4-speed, which the car has.
The new carpet kit came in today, the only thing in the interior that needed replacement so my wife and I have the weekend planned!!
I'll post again when I jack the car up and crawl underneath to check numbers on the other parts.
(Sticker in door jam is missing so could not check, though the paint/trim tag is there, and matches the colors the car is in.)
Jim
Not sure on the other parts (ie tranny/axle) numbers, though the engine VIN code does translate to a 72 with a 4-speed, which the car has.
The new carpet kit came in today, the only thing in the interior that needed replacement so my wife and I have the weekend planned!!
I'll post again when I jack the car up and crawl underneath to check numbers on the other parts.
(Sticker in door jam is missing so could not check, though the paint/trim tag is there, and matches the colors the car is in.)
Jim
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 3,600
Likes: 837
From: PA
Originally Posted by KFG
I'll post again when I jack the car up and crawl underneath to check numbers on the other parts.
There are documented examples of the situation that you describe... It isn't very common, but it did happen. Typically (and as is in your case), the VIN derivative is off by one digit in sequence due to the individual responsible for stamping the number not changing the the stamp in the gang holder.
Unlike the engine assembly stamp (that includes the assembly plant location, assembly date, and broadcast code) which was stamped at the engine assembly plant, the VIN derivative was stamped at the Corvette assembly plant in St. Louis. The transmission was stamped with the VIN derivative at the same time as the engine... Meaning the misstamp almost certainly occurred on both the engine and transmission. That's the first thing that I would check once I was able to get under the car.
I'd be curious to hear what you discover.
Regards,
