how to verify correct paint code
The body paint & trim tag indicates the interior was black vinyl "400".
The "989" indicates War Bonnet Yellow paint.
The "C17" indicates the car was produced on Oct 17th. ("C" the third month of production, and "17" the seventeenth day of the month.)
If the car is a 1971, then 17 October 1970 was a SATURDAY.
If the car is a 1972, then 17 October 1971 was a SUNDAY.
Always nice to be able to examine a car in person.
Tank stickers can be reproduced as needed, so they are not the final documentation source either. NCRS is a good source of information.
Last edited by mapman; Jun 23, 2007 at 03:33 AM.
Last edited by RunningMan373; Jun 23, 2007 at 04:19 AM.
The body paint & trim tag indicates the interior was black vinyl "400".
The "989" indicates War Bonnet Yellow paint.
The "C17" indicates the car was produced on Oct 17th. ("C" the third month of production, and "17" the seventeenth day of the month.)
If the car is a 1971, then 17 October 1970 was a SATURDAY.
If the car is a 1972, then 17 October 1971 was a SUNDAY.
Always nice to be able to examine a car in person.
Tank stickers can be reproduced as needed, so they are not the final documentation source either. NCRS is a good source of information.
So were the lines running over the weekend or did someone create this data plate and picked the wrong date?


I agree that it looks like blue (Bridgehampton?) paint underneath.
I hate it when people misrepresent what they're selling.
Just tell me the car came blue and was repainted.
Good Luck with it either way.
This may have been painted blue years ago to please whoever owned it at the time and recently brought back to it's stock color.
AS far as the tag looking new, I've got a 68 that's been sitting outside with no doors on it for the last 17 years and the tag looks just as new as this one.
Seems unlikely that GM would pay UAW rates to work on SATURDAY, let alone on SUNDAY.
Not having access to the actual plant work schedule, I would say the plate was produced with the wrong date. However, anything is possible, and there is no way to give you a definitive answer without more information. An inspection of the actual car would settle the issue.
How much money are they asking? Is there other documentation offered? Does ALL the information about the car make sense as a WHOLE? e.g. do they say the car has the ORIGINAL PAINT when you can detect other colors? e.g. significant time and money spent to fake a LOW DOLLAR car doesn't make sense. e.g. is the mileage reflected in the wear and tear on the car? Does the car have a good title? (stolen, salvage, etc).
If you are seriously interested in the car, get someone, who KNOWS what they are doing, to inspect the car.
NCRS's publications and web site are great sources of information about these cars. Their "1968-1982 Corvette Specifications Guide" has (as they say) " a wealth of information" about trim tags, VIN information, casting numbers, etc.
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Seems unlikely that GM would pay UAW rates to work on SATURDAY, let alone on SUNDAY.
Not having access to the actual plant work schedule, I would say the plate was produced with the wrong date. However, anything is possible, and there is no way to give you a definitive answer without more information. An inspection of the actual car would settle the issue.
How much money are they asking? Is there other documentation offered? Does ALL the information about the car make sense as a WHOLE? e.g. do they say the car has the ORIGINAL PAINT when you can detect other colors? e.g. significant time and money spent to fake a LOW DOLLAR car doesn't make sense. e.g. is the mileage reflected in the wear and tear on the car? Does the car have a good title? (stolen, salvage, etc).
If you are seriously interested in the car, get someone, who KNOWS what they are doing, to inspect the car.
NCRS's publications and web site are great sources of information about these cars. Their "1968-1982 Corvette Specifications Guide" has (as they say) " a wealth of information" about trim tags, VIN information, casting numbers, etc.
After looking at the car on fleabay, I thought the interior on this car looks pretty rough, the engine compartment is so-so, and where is the ignition shielding?
After looking at the car on fleabay, I thought the interior on this car looks pretty rough, the engine compartment is so-so, and where is the ignition shielding?
The trim tag indicates the car was built around 17 October 1970. The NCRS data book indicates NO UNITS BUILT in October 1970.
Seems unlikely that GM would pay UAW rates to work on SATURDAY, let alone on SUNDAY.
Not having access to the actual plant work schedule, I would say the plate was produced with the wrong date. However, anything is possible, and there is no way to give you a definitive answer without more information. An inspection of the actual car would settle the issue.
How much money are they asking? Is there other documentation offered? Does ALL the information about the car make sense as a WHOLE? e.g. do they say the car has the ORIGINAL PAINT when you can detect other colors? e.g. significant time and money spent to fake a LOW DOLLAR car doesn't make sense. e.g. is the mileage reflected in the wear and tear on the car? Does the car have a good title? (stolen, salvage, etc).
If you are seriously interested in the car, get someone, who KNOWS what they are doing, to inspect the car.
NCRS's publications and web site are great sources of information about these cars. Their "1968-1982 Corvette Specifications Guide" has (as they say) " a wealth of information" about trim tags, VIN information, casting numbers, etc.
They are claiming it is the original color, and that it was repainted to the original color. I pointed out to the guy that there was blue showing and he admitted the car was blue but did not elaborate. He also "lost" the tank sticker, which I suspect is convenient if the color has been changed and he does not want to admit it. It's too bad because I really like the car and the color and would not have been turned off by the color being changed. Now I don't know what to beleive. I hope he's reading this forum.
Here's the listing: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA:IT&ih=020
Here's the listing: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA:IT&ih=020
The ebay link you provided shows the VIN which indicates the car was built in Feb 1971. The trim tag looks to me like a "C17" indicating an October 1970 build. However, if the tag is a "G17" that would indicate a February 1971 build which would be correct for the VIN.
Difficult to tell from the picture but this seems more reasonable - still does not explain the blue paint, but these cars get repainted. Certainly, a repaint is not in itself a reason to dismiss the car.




-I just bought a '69 after months of looking. One thing I did discover is the fact that some of those trim tags look absolutely brand new that I know were original. I almost walked away from the car I bought for that reason. After purchase, I ended up talking to the previous owner to the seller who had the car since 1979 and he convinced me it was original. I found other instances of this as well.
-The only thing I see in your case is that the car was blue once. Whatever. I share your concern about matching the tag, but I'm not convinced it's a problem here. Yet.
-At any rate, don't buy until you see it in person.
Last edited by vettebuyer6369; Jun 23, 2007 at 06:00 PM. Reason: spelling
The fact that the seller told you the tank sticker was "lost" indicates they had it at one time. Does the fuel tank straps look like they have been removed or has a body off restoration been performed. (Most tank stickers are difficult to remove in one piece. you have to have access.


DATA PLATE IS ORIGINAL WITH ORIGINAL RIVITS, I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE USED ANOTHER CODE IF I WAS GOING TO CHANGE THE PLATE. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR IT HAD BEEN PAINTED BLUE OVER THE ORIGINAL WAR BONNET YELLOW AND I AM PRETTY SURE WITH A LITTLE SANDPAPER THERE IS WAR BONNET YELLOW UNDER THE BLUE I MISSED. THANKS, KEN CALL IF YOU HAVE MORE QUESTIONS 770-490-0340











