74 trim tag help
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 9,429
Likes: 44
From: Macon, GA
Here's my guess though I've never heard or seen it happen before.
The body build date is a letter follwed by 2 numbers so that can't be it.
In 1975, the paint code was 2 numbers follwed by the letter "L" which indicated laquer paint.
In 1974, the exterior paint code was 3 numbers only. Silver Mist Metallic was paint code 914. If you have a late year '74, it may be possible that they dropped the "9" in 914 and used 14L to designate Silver Mist Metallic in laquer?
Sounds crazy, but that's the only thing I can think of.
This site shows (14) and (914) as the same code, so my guess is that it is indeed Silver Mist Metallic in laquer.
http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache...lnk&cd=1&gl=us
The body build date is a letter follwed by 2 numbers so that can't be it.
In 1975, the paint code was 2 numbers follwed by the letter "L" which indicated laquer paint.
In 1974, the exterior paint code was 3 numbers only. Silver Mist Metallic was paint code 914. If you have a late year '74, it may be possible that they dropped the "9" in 914 and used 14L to designate Silver Mist Metallic in laquer?
Sounds crazy, but that's the only thing I can think of.
This site shows (14) and (914) as the same code, so my guess is that it is indeed Silver Mist Metallic in laquer.
http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache...lnk&cd=1&gl=us
Last edited by sperkins; Dec 31, 2007 at 09:19 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 45
From: Cameron Park CA
The Corvette Black Book lists 14 as exterior color Silver Mist for MY 1974. It states, "Exterior color code on trim plates was generally a two number code followed by the letter L." It goes on to state that sometimes a 9 preceeded the two numbers with no letter following. Interior code 400 is black vinyl. Ref: page 69 in the 1953-2008 edition.
Cheers,
Pete
Cheers,
Pete
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
ollwed by 2 numbers so that can't be it.
In 1975, the paint code was 2 numbers follwed by the letter "L" which indicated laquer paint.
In 1974, the exterior paint code was 3 numbers only. Silver Mist Metallic was paint code 914. If you have a late year '74, it may be possible that they dropped the "9" in 914 and used 14L to designate Silver Mist Metallic in laquer?
In 1975, the paint code was 2 numbers follwed by the letter "L" which indicated laquer paint.
In 1974, the exterior paint code was 3 numbers only. Silver Mist Metallic was paint code 914. If you have a late year '74, it may be possible that they dropped the "9" in 914 and used 14L to designate Silver Mist Metallic in laquer?
The L does NOT stand for lacquer, it stands for 'lower'. The GM system for identifying two tone cars was to use 'U' for the upper paint colour and 'L' for the lower. Monotone cars simply used the character 'L'.
Internet myth is that 'L' stood for lacquer and 'U' for urethane.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 175
Likes: 0
You're correct regarding the colour of the paint and the fact that GM went from 3 digits to 2 digits plus a letter in the late 74 time frame.
The L does NOT stand for lacquer, it stands for 'lower'. The GM system for identifying two tone cars was to use 'U' for the upper paint colour and 'L' for the lower. Monotone cars simply used the character 'L'.
Internet myth is that 'L' stood for lacquer and 'U' for urethane.
The L does NOT stand for lacquer, it stands for 'lower'. The GM system for identifying two tone cars was to use 'U' for the upper paint colour and 'L' for the lower. Monotone cars simply used the character 'L'.
Internet myth is that 'L' stood for lacquer and 'U' for urethane.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
OK, so the internet myth started with a book myth. In any case the L does not stand for lacquer. Have a look at a Bowling Green trim tag, it shows xxL and xxU where xx is the two digit paint colour code.
Last edited by Mike Ward; Jan 1, 2008 at 04:20 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 21,453
Likes: 461
From: Massillon,Ohio USA
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12
...I did a survey on 1974 Corvettes the year they were the "Silver Salute"(25th Anniversary Celebration Car)and did some sixty cars there @ the 1999 Bloomington Gold Corvette Show. I had a car or two from the first day production to last day production cars. Have looked at probably 200-300 1974 Trim Tags in the last 15yrs or so and have NEVER, EVER have seen a "9XX" number for the paint code on any 1974 I looked at. Doesn't mean it didn't happen, I've just yet to see one.
...at the middle, right side of my "original" broadcast sheet for my Orange '74 Coupe under where all the options are listed it says...
80U UPPER ORANGE
80L LOWER ORANGE
XXX CUSTOMER ORDER
...Trim Tag of course says "80L"
...at the middle, right side of my "original" broadcast sheet for my Orange '74 Coupe under where all the options are listed it says...
80U UPPER ORANGE
80L LOWER ORANGE
XXX CUSTOMER ORDER
...Trim Tag of course says "80L"
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski