68 Trim Tag Question
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7th Gear
Joined: Mar 2016
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68 Trim Tag Question
New to this forum, so hello! I don't currently own a Vette, but I have been searching for the right one. I have a question to ask. I recently looked at a 68 convertible. All the numbers on the car check out so far except the trim tag. The tag reads K07 for date, 420 for trim, 983 for paint. The car is painted British Green with Saddle interior. Problem is, nowhere I read shows 420 Saddle as an interior color for 68. The last six of the VIN is 421740, which appears to have been in the May 68 build sequence. The tag reads K07, which is June 68 for the build date. I have read where their may have been some special order combinations not on the normal list of colors. Is it possible that this car may have been one of those? Is the VIN build sequence close enough to the build date listed on the tag? Or, is my hunch that the car has a replacement tag from a 69 Vette that was swapped onto it make more sense? If they replaced the entire interior, they did a thorough job and looks like it belongs there. A little confused, so your input would be appreciated. Thanks
Racer
Joined: Nov 2014
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c3dreaming
The saddle interior color was added sometime during the 1968 model year. Early sales brochures don't show it but the later editions do. Saddle was definitely in production by the June production date of the car you looked at.
John
The saddle interior color was added sometime during the 1968 model year. Early sales brochures don't show it but the later editions do. Saddle was definitely in production by the June production date of the car you looked at.
John
Last edited by JC68; Mar 18, 2016 at 11:43 PM.
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Mar 2016
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Thanks for that info. What do you think about the difference in the VIN sequence compared to the tag date code? Would this be close enough to be considered acceptable or normal? Thanks
Racer
Joined: Nov 2014
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c3dreaming
I think the K07 body build date is about where it should be for build sequence 21740. The books I have show 20928 as the last car built in May 1968. They had finally figured out how to build them by then, over 3,000 car were produced in June. That is over 750 per week.
John
I think the K07 body build date is about where it should be for build sequence 21740. The books I have show 20928 as the last car built in May 1968. They had finally figured out how to build them by then, over 3,000 car were produced in June. That is over 750 per week.
John
Last edited by JC68; Mar 19, 2016 at 01:21 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Kannapolis NC
The trim dag date info is correct for your vin (June). 420 is the correct code for saddle. The color code is correct for British Green. The info you provide lines up. It wouldn't be easy to find a 69 trim tag with correct colors and build date to line up with your vin. 983 was called Fathom Green in 69.
Team Owner
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7th Gear
Joined: Mar 2016
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Wow! Thanks for all the quick responses. That was really bothering me, especially when considering this kind of money. Not buying it for an investment, but want to make sure it's a correct car. I may end up pulling the trigger on this one.
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7th Gear
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Another two questions I have. 1) The car has the 69 style sidepipes on it. Would these possibly have been offered as a build option on this later 68 or were they most likely added? The rear valence has no exhaust provisions in it, but I guess they could have been filled before a repaint. 2) It also has the luggage rack on it. Were most of these factory installed or a dealer installed option? He doesn't have the build sheet, but it may still be on top of the tank, or lost forever for all I know. Thanks
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Another two questions I have. 1) The car has the 69 style sidepipes on it. Would these possibly have been offered as a build option on this later 68 or were they most likely added? The rear valence has no exhaust provisions in it, but I guess they could have been filled before a repaint. 2) It also has the luggage rack on it. Were most of these factory installed or a dealer installed option? He doesn't have the build sheet, but it may still be on top of the tank, or lost forever for all I know. Thanks
The luggage racks were dealer add-ons.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Shamong, NJ
Side pipes were a 69 option only, but they've been added to a lot of cars over the years.If you take a look at the back side of the rear valance, it's usually pretty easy to identify a car that has been converted to side pipes.
69's built with side pipes, had different rear fenders, than ones with under car exhaust. There is a straight seem in the rear fender, were it meets the rear valance, on cars built with side pipes. Cars with under car exhaust, had a half circle cut out in the rear fender, for the exhaust bezel. Aftermarket rear valances for side exhaust cars, have half circle "ears" on each side of the valance, to fill the half circle in the fender. A rear valance with the "ears" is usually a dead giveaway, to a car that's had side exhaust added, because people rarely go the trouble to change the rear fenders, when adding side exhaust.
Make sure the back-up lamps are still in the rear valance panel. I've seen a few 68's, that have had 69 valances used when side pipes were installed.
Good luck with your purchase!
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7th Gear
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And another question I have...Could the car be fairly easily converted back to rear exhaust, or do you have to make major cutting modifications to the area on the side where the side pipe comes out? Novice here, so please bear with me!
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Shamong, NJ
Unlike a 63-67's, where there are two tabs on each side of the car that have to be cut off to add side exhaust, there are no mods needed to the rocker area of 68-82's.