Question about 1972 VINs
Pro
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 567
Likes: 5
From: bradenton fl
What is the number stamped on the transmission itself, not the id plate. the Id plate on pass side showed a feb 72 date.
The VIN number would be on the drivers side, horizontal on machine area just about the tranny pan, Should start off 12S5xxxxxThose numbers should match last 9 digits of VIN #
The VIN number would be on the drivers side, horizontal on machine area just about the tranny pan, Should start off 12S5xxxxxThose numbers should match last 9 digits of VIN #
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
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As far as I know your VIN would not make sense for any year Corvette, not just '72.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
... Assembly # 13460 (Feb 72)...
...trim tag has O23 in the upper right corner (have to double check to make sure it's not a C or G)...
Your #13460 is actually closer to the ending January car of 12661 so the G23 build date seems to be too late in the month for the VIN.
Tis a puzzle for sure.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 893
Likes: 7
From: Orange Park Florida
Oh, I'm OK with the car and engine. And I did not pay for matching numbers. The car didn't run when I purchased it and noticeable engine work had been done (850 cfm carb, HEI distributor, Xcelerator intake and headers) so I got it dirt cheap. Didn't take much to correct everything and it is running great now!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 5,386
Likes: 2
From: San Angelo TX
What is the number stamped on the transmission itself, not the id plate. the Id plate on pass side showed a feb 72 date.
The VIN number would be on the drivers side, horizontal on machine area just about the tranny pan, Should start off 12S5xxxxxThose numbers should match last 9 digits of VIN #
The VIN number would be on the drivers side, horizontal on machine area just about the tranny pan, Should start off 12S5xxxxxThose numbers should match last 9 digits of VIN #
thanks, I'll check there!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 5,386
Likes: 2
From: San Angelo TX
5 is the correct car line series code for the '72 models.
Possible. Last January car was #12661; last February car was #15020 so your consecutive unit number of 13460 would have been assembled in February, 1972.
Almost certainly a G for February 23, 1972. The problem is 2/23/72 was a Wednesday and there were only five more working days left that month, including Leap Day. Your #13460 is about 1500 cars from the end of production. Sadly, they could not have produced 1500 cars after yours between 2/23/72 and 2/29/72.
Your #13460 is actually closer to the ending January car of 12661 so the G23 build date seems to be too late in the month for the VIN.
Tis a puzzle for sure.
Possible. Last January car was #12661; last February car was #15020 so your consecutive unit number of 13460 would have been assembled in February, 1972.
Almost certainly a G for February 23, 1972. The problem is 2/23/72 was a Wednesday and there were only five more working days left that month, including Leap Day. Your #13460 is about 1500 cars from the end of production. Sadly, they could not have produced 1500 cars after yours between 2/23/72 and 2/29/72.
Your #13460 is actually closer to the ending January car of 12661 so the G23 build date seems to be too late in the month for the VIN.
Tis a puzzle for sure.
yep, "tis a puzzle" indeed! Amazing how little history there is on this car and how little is original to recreate it from. I'm really dredding pulling the gas tank especially since the build sheet might not even be there but it's starting to look like the only way.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 61
From: Wichita KS
IcemanZ06, I ran your VIN through 2 VIN decoders and this is what came up:
1972 Chevrolet Corvette 2-Door Coupe
1 Line Chevrolet
Z Model Corvette
37 Body 2-Door Coupe
K Engine V8 350 CID 1-4BBL - 200 HP
2 Year 1972
S Assembly St. Louis, Missouri
413460 Serial 413460
According to 2 decoder web sites that I looked at the 8th position is simply part of the serial number and does not designate a particular make. However, one site stated that "Some production sequence numbers start with a special number, the ZR1 starts with 800001".
Another site indicated that 1973 Corvettes used 4 as the first digit of the serial number.
Is there any chance the 6th digit is a 3 instead of a 2?
If so, I still think you may have a 1973 cowl and windshield frame.
cc
1972 Chevrolet Corvette 2-Door Coupe
1 Line Chevrolet
Z Model Corvette
37 Body 2-Door Coupe
K Engine V8 350 CID 1-4BBL - 200 HP
2 Year 1972
S Assembly St. Louis, Missouri
413460 Serial 413460
According to 2 decoder web sites that I looked at the 8th position is simply part of the serial number and does not designate a particular make. However, one site stated that "Some production sequence numbers start with a special number, the ZR1 starts with 800001".
Another site indicated that 1973 Corvettes used 4 as the first digit of the serial number.
Is there any chance the 6th digit is a 3 instead of a 2?
If so, I still think you may have a 1973 cowl and windshield frame.
cc
Last edited by CCrane65; Jan 20, 2009 at 11:45 PM. Reason: update information
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 5,386
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From: San Angelo TX
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
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Oops, I re-read my post above and realize that I left out a critical few words.
Meant to say: There is no K engine designator in 1973- or any other year C3 other than '72.
My meaning was that this VIN tag cannot have been transplanted from any other year Corvette due to the combination of engine designator and year designator.
Thanks for the catch.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 61
From: Wichita KS
Oops, I re-read my post above and realize that I left out a critical few words.
Meant to say: There is no K engine designator in 1973- or any other year C3 other than '72.
My meaning was that this VIN tag cannot have been transplanted from any other year Corvette due to the combination of engine designator and year designator.
Thanks for the catch.
Meant to say: There is no K engine designator in 1973- or any other year C3 other than '72.
My meaning was that this VIN tag cannot have been transplanted from any other year Corvette due to the combination of engine designator and year designator.
Thanks for the catch.
Mike, yeah, I did see that the base engine designator was a J in 73.
So it has to be correct since the only thing different is the first character of the serial number. But the only way to verify it is to match it up to any of the other VIN codes on the frame. If that matches we have an oddball that I'm sure the NCRS folks wold love to see.
cc
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
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From: Orange Park Florida
Race Director
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Team Owner
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 5,386
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From: San Angelo TX
yeah, its more than likely someone screwed it up AFTER it left the factory. I'll try and get the VIN from the rear frame and see if I can drop the gas tank sometime and get a pic of the buildsheet (if it's even there). I'll try and get the tranny code also since it's at the shop right now.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,438
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From: Melrose Florida
Forgive me for my audacity, and also my ignorance if this has been raised already...but are they proper rosette rivets? Also, any chance of seeing a photo of the VIN plate? Any documentation like POP, tank sticker or window sticker? Any old receipts with the VIN written on them?
How about the driver's door edge blue certification sticker (maybe look here FIRST)?
If ALL these things are non-existent, the most recent assumption is almost certainly correct:
Steve
How about the driver's door edge blue certification sticker (maybe look here FIRST)?
If ALL these things are non-existent, the most recent assumption is almost certainly correct:
Steve
