Need some insight
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 30
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From: Midland TX
Need some insight
I just bought this 1977 Corvette. I've done a little research and found out that the VIN and plate in the door jam all point to this being a '77. Obviously, the car has been worked on and still needs more work to go. My question is, what are the tell tell signs that someone did a rear clip graft? Interior looks origanal too, down to the pull shade that covers the cargo area. I did find out that the car was built in St. Louis in late Oct 1976. I can take more pictures of whatever I need to. Just curious if this is a graft, or a factory 'mistake'. Thank you.
Benjamin
Benjamin
Team Owner
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
The big back window in your pic was not introducted until the 1978 model year.
...Just curious if this is a...factory 'mistake'...
All 77 VINs are 1Z37*7S4xxxxx. Asterisk stands for the engine code.
All 78 VINs are 1Z87*8S4xxxxx except Pace Cars.
A Corvette in production in October 1976 would have been the 1977 model year.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Scottsdale AZ
If it was clipped, you should see a seam behind the seats where the two halves were mated - - it should be visible under the carpet as well as underneath the car unless is was concealed with spray undercoating.
Just a thought - - put your fingers on the vin plate (driver's A pillar) and make sure it doesn't slide or move - - I've seen a couple of "vin switches" that are revealed by irregularities like this indicating other problems about the car.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 30
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From: Midland TX
Thank you for the replies. My VIN is 1Z37L7S408290. That leads me to believe the body/frame is a 77. The dash and interior is deffenantly 77. What is the best way to tell if someone took the time and money to put a bubble back on it along with 78 trim pieces in the rear of the car? The story I got from the guy i got it from was he only owned the car a few months (had to sell for personal reasons) and that he bought it from the origanal owner who siad he never changed anything about the car. I'm just trying to find the truth so I know what I have and how I want to proceed with the resto. Thank you.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 30
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From: Midland TX
If it was clipped, you should see a seam behind the seats where the two halves were mated - - it should be visible under the carpet as well as underneath the car unless is was concealed with spray undercoating.
Just a thought - - put your fingers on the vin plate (driver's A pillar) and make sure it doesn't slide or move - - I've seen a couple of "vin switches" that are revealed by irregularities like this indicating other problems about the car.
Race Director
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From: Science Bitch! Mississauga, Ontario
Canadian Events Coordinator
It's unfortunate that so many stories are told from previous owners that are just plain lies. There is no way the car was built like that from the factory.
Les
Les
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Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
VIN is correct for a 77. #8290 would have been assembled in October, 1976. Time/Build date in the upper right corner of the trim tag will give you the day of the month.
Someone obviously did.
Someone --the original owner or the second owner -- put the big back window on it.
If the swap was only the rear surround panel, glass, and fuel tank, you may not find obvious signs of a clip being swapped.
The frame is stamped with a VIN derivitive on the top of the rail, drivers side, just in front of the #4 body body. You may or may not be able to see this stamp.
...What is the best way to tell if someone took the time and money to put a bubble back on it along with 78 trim pieces in the rear of the car?...
...bought it from the origanal owner who siad he never changed anything about the car. I'm just trying to find the truth...
If the swap was only the rear surround panel, glass, and fuel tank, you may not find obvious signs of a clip being swapped.
The frame is stamped with a VIN derivitive on the top of the rail, drivers side, just in front of the #4 body body. You may or may not be able to see this stamp.
Last edited by Easy Mike; Nov 1, 2012 at 12:32 PM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 30
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From: Midland TX
VIN is correct for a 77. #8290 would have been assembled in October, 1976. Time/Build date in the upper right corner of the trim tag will give you the day of the month.
Someone obviously did.
Someone --the original owner or the second owner -- put the big back window on it.
If the swap was only the rear surround panel, glass, and fuel tank, you may not find obvious signs of a clip being swapped.
The frame is stamped with a VIN derivitive on the top of the rail, drivers side, just in front of the #4 body body. You may or may not be able to see this stamp.
Someone obviously did.
Someone --the original owner or the second owner -- put the big back window on it.
If the swap was only the rear surround panel, glass, and fuel tank, you may not find obvious signs of a clip being swapped.
The frame is stamped with a VIN derivitive on the top of the rail, drivers side, just in front of the #4 body body. You may or may not be able to see this stamp.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
You can go here http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...x.php?cmd=area and see if you can obtain a copy of the original dealer invoice for your 77. The invoice will list all the options on the car, the original dealer, original prices, shipping date, etc., but it will not tell you any owner information.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Western NY
The car has a '78-'81 rear window, a '78-'79 rear spoiler, and at least a '78-'79 "Corvette" logo on the rear bumper, if not the entire bumper.....yet the car's "identity" says it's a '77. Me thinks somebody had a '77, but liked the newer rear end and did a "swaperoo".
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2012
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From: Midland TX
Is it just me, that's overlooking the 800lb gorilla in the room?
The car has a '78-'81 rear window, a '78-'79 rear spoiler, and at least a '78-'79 "Corvette" logo on the rear bumper, if not the entire bumper.....yet the car's "identity" says it's a '77. Me thinks somebody had a '77, but liked the newer rear end and did a "swaperoo".
The car has a '78-'81 rear window, a '78-'79 rear spoiler, and at least a '78-'79 "Corvette" logo on the rear bumper, if not the entire bumper.....yet the car's "identity" says it's a '77. Me thinks somebody had a '77, but liked the newer rear end and did a "swaperoo".
Cruising
Joined: May 2012
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Alarm bells ringing in my head but I hope I'm wrong. Where have you checked on the car for VIN #s? It would be far easier to change the trim tag and VIN plate from a 77 onto a 78 than to change the rear clip. I've seen Harley titles used on bikes/ frames they didn't belong to. On your Vette you should be able to fairly easily check engine block and head numbers to see if they match the 77 number, or if they even match each other. If no numbers match it's a more difficult task. I'd be most concerned that you might be dealing with a stolen car re-titled under a title from another car. I sincerely hope this is not the case.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,548
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From: Woodinville WA
I bet someone went to the expense and effort to swap a bubble rear glass.... of course, now we ask "why", I'm sure his (or her) response would be "because I wanted to."
I don't think VIN swap because thieves are lazy, and they're not going to swap the dash from a 77 into a 78 - that would be a large amount of work.
Heck, my dad occasionally retells me the story of cutting the split out of a split window Corvette so they could put the 65 window in it.... (if you listen closely you can hear the purists scream)
I don't think VIN swap because thieves are lazy, and they're not going to swap the dash from a 77 into a 78 - that would be a large amount of work.
Heck, my dad occasionally retells me the story of cutting the split out of a split window Corvette so they could put the 65 window in it.... (if you listen closely you can hear the purists scream)
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Midland TX
I bet someone went to the expense and effort to swap a bubble rear glass.... of course, now we ask "why", I'm sure his (or her) response would be "because I wanted to."
I don't think VIN swap because thieves are lazy, and they're not going to swap the dash from a 77 into a 78 - that would be a large amount of work.
Heck, my dad occasionally retells me the story of cutting the split out of a split window Corvette so they could put the 65 window in it.... (if you listen closely you can hear the purists scream)
I don't think VIN swap because thieves are lazy, and they're not going to swap the dash from a 77 into a 78 - that would be a large amount of work.
Heck, my dad occasionally retells me the story of cutting the split out of a split window Corvette so they could put the 65 window in it.... (if you listen closely you can hear the purists scream)
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2012
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From: Orlando FL
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Louisville KY
I just bought this 1977 Corvette. I've done a little research and found out that the VIN and plate in the door jam all point to this being a '77. Obviously, the car has been worked on and still needs more work to go. My question is, what are the tell tell signs that someone did a rear clip graft? Interior looks origanal too, down to the pull shade that covers the cargo area. I did find out that the car was built in St. Louis in late Oct 1976. I can take more pictures of whatever I need to. Just curious if this is a graft, or a factory 'mistake'. Thank you.
Benjamin
Benjamin
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,503
Likes: 2
From: Raleigh NC
If a swap was done, it had to be done pretty soon after the car was new--otherwise, why not put the 80-82 rear clip on? The reason I say that, is that if there was a swap done, they sure did a picture perfect job--most swaps like this gotta customize something. That just wasn't done.
VIN tags have been switched.
VIN tags have been switched.