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69 trim plate ?

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Old May 15, 2011 | 12:26 PM
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Default 69 trim plate ?

Does anyone have a documented late 69 with auto, that has the trim plate with the lighted shift position indicator? Seems there may have been a change at some point in the production when it went from being just an aluminun stamped plate glued on, to the lighted built in style trim plate.
I could not find any indication in the aim in reference to the change. TIA.
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Old May 15, 2011 | 03:18 PM
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The shift plate has always had a lighted shift indicator on C3's with auto tranny. I'm not sure what you're asking???
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Old May 15, 2011 | 06:56 PM
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Most of the 69's I have seen do not have a lighted shift indicator. The Vette Vues Fact book of the 68-72 Stingray, by M. F. Dobbins, shows a couple examples of the non lighted plate for the 69. It shows no 70 auto plate but does show a 71 with the auto lighted plate.
Also a look thru the normal suppliers shows the non lighted auto shift pattern plate in the same outside shape as the 4 speed plate, listed for the 69, and a lense listed for the 70 thru 72.
My question is did ANY 69's come from the factory with the lighted plate. This is a very easy item to have been changed over the years, thus my question to someone with a 69 of unquestionable history, did late 69's have a different console plate than the early 69's.
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Old May 15, 2011 | 07:05 PM
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Hi c69
I looked through my info and can't find a mention of the shifter light.
I see reference to changes in the number of mounting screws for the whole plate, (4-6-4), but nothing else.
Sorry!
Regards,
Alan
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Old May 15, 2011 | 07:35 PM
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Just looking through the information I have, it appears that the lighted shift indicator for automatics started appearing during mid to late May of 1970. I was under the impression that the lighted indicator began with the start of the 1971 model year, but it apparently it started a bit earlier than that.

To answer your question, I wouldn't expect any 1969 automatic equipped Corvettes to have the lighted shift indicator.

Regards,

Stan Falenski
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Old May 15, 2011 | 07:56 PM
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Thanks Alan and Stan.
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Old May 15, 2011 | 10:27 PM
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Well, my 'batting average' isn't very good, today. I had a '68 many years ago...and a '74...but I did not recall the non-lighted shift plate. However, I have checked a couple of Corvette history books and spotted the described shift plate on a '69 vehicle. That caused the brain to kick in and remember what the '68 really had.

I'll go back to my easy chair and drink some "Ensure" now....
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Old May 15, 2011 | 10:41 PM
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I'll go back to my easy chair and drink some "Ensure" now....[/QUOTE]

Did you get enough to share? Those moments are getting all too frequent........ Thanks
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Old May 16, 2011 | 12:06 AM
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My late 70 has the plate. No lights.

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Old May 16, 2011 | 12:21 AM
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Originally Posted by 70Donnybrooke
My late 70 has the plate. No lights.
I had always thought that the lighted console for automatics was a 1971 model year characteristic, but I have some conflicting info in my notes about it showing up in late May of 1970. Apparently, yours tends to disprove that.

How late is your '70? I'd appreciate any feedback you can offer.

Regards,

Stan Falenski
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Old May 16, 2011 | 09:36 AM
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Originally Posted by c69vete
...My question is did ANY 69's come from the factory with the lighted plate...
I don't think so. I'm guessing it's a replacment trim plate. 71 was the first year for the lighted shift quadrant.

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Old May 16, 2011 | 11:37 AM
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My '71 was built in Dec. 1970 and it has the lighted plate. And I KNOW it to be original to the car. I doubt that anything built later was factory-built with that "early" plate. With a 'running change', the factory used up ALL of the old stock before changing over to a new design. After that, there wouldn't be any of the old stuff left to build the old configuration.
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Old May 17, 2011 | 12:08 AM
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Originally Posted by Rowdy Rat
I had always thought that the lighted console for automatics was a 1971 model year characteristic, but I have some conflicting info in my notes about it showing up in late May of 1970. Apparently, yours tends to disprove that.

How late is your '70? I'd appreciate any feedback you can offer.

Regards,

Stan Falenski
It is 17106. Which I think is July 31st build.
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Old May 17, 2011 | 01:19 AM
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Originally Posted by 70Donnybrooke
It is 17106. Which I think is July 31st build.
Thanks for the info!

Regards,

Stan Falenski
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