1981 Trim Tag help
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 206
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From: Nashville IN
1981 Trim Tag help
Hey Guys n Gals,
I've been asked to help document a 2 owner, 1981 T-Top coupe, with extremely low miles, as in under 2,700 actual miles.
The car definitely looks like an honest car, but I have a couple questions.
The car was one of the last built in St. Louis, (K30) (VIN checks out too).
The curiosity is that the Trim Tag was painted over, body color. So much so, that it's hard to read. There are NO other indications that the car was in any sort of accident, etc...or resprayed.
My assumption therefore, is that either this was 'normal' for St. Louis cars, or due to the fact that it's within the last 2k built there, they just didn't give a dang.
Anyone else have a St. Louis car with a painted trim tag?
Thanks again,
Doug Harden
I've been asked to help document a 2 owner, 1981 T-Top coupe, with extremely low miles, as in under 2,700 actual miles.
The car definitely looks like an honest car, but I have a couple questions.
The car was one of the last built in St. Louis, (K30) (VIN checks out too).
The curiosity is that the Trim Tag was painted over, body color. So much so, that it's hard to read. There are NO other indications that the car was in any sort of accident, etc...or resprayed.
My assumption therefore, is that either this was 'normal' for St. Louis cars, or due to the fact that it's within the last 2k built there, they just didn't give a dang.
Anyone else have a St. Louis car with a painted trim tag?
Thanks again,
Doug Harden
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,666
Likes: 3,122
From: Shamong, NJ
That tag looks right to me. Red exterior and black leather interior, with a body build date of June 30th.
The trim tag was attached to 81's at St. Louis, between the second and third color coat. At Bowling Green, the tag was installed after the body left the paint shop.
81's built in St. Louis should have painted trim tags, while BG cars have unpainted tags.
The trim tag was attached to 81's at St. Louis, between the second and third color coat. At Bowling Green, the tag was installed after the body left the paint shop.
81's built in St. Louis should have painted trim tags, while BG cars have unpainted tags.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,236
Likes: 898
From: Myrtle Beach SC
Doug
As GB and Easy note above, 81s were shipped with paint on the trim tag. This practice was consistent from 1977 through the end of St Louis production. The practice began somewhere in 1975/76 when the booth was moved to accommodate the increased number of Corvettes being built to a location between the first and second color coats.
Thus, the trim tag was not present when the primer coats were sprayed and typically paint will flake off the trim tag. Now having said that, the paint looks heavy on the tag but nothing I would question.
This is a good issue that deserves clarification as you document the 81 for a friend. Also consider the build sheet that will document broadcast codes on the mechanical parts such as alternator, starter, carb, suspension, etc. In a low-mileage Corvette it may be just laying around like under carpet, in one of the rear storage compartments (under jack), etc. The standard practice was to glue it to the top of the gas tank but that tends to be a challenge to retrieve. Better to confirm its there and leave it alone...noting it is there.
Hope this helps!
As GB and Easy note above, 81s were shipped with paint on the trim tag. This practice was consistent from 1977 through the end of St Louis production. The practice began somewhere in 1975/76 when the booth was moved to accommodate the increased number of Corvettes being built to a location between the first and second color coats.
Thus, the trim tag was not present when the primer coats were sprayed and typically paint will flake off the trim tag. Now having said that, the paint looks heavy on the tag but nothing I would question.
This is a good issue that deserves clarification as you document the 81 for a friend. Also consider the build sheet that will document broadcast codes on the mechanical parts such as alternator, starter, carb, suspension, etc. In a low-mileage Corvette it may be just laying around like under carpet, in one of the rear storage compartments (under jack), etc. The standard practice was to glue it to the top of the gas tank but that tends to be a challenge to retrieve. Better to confirm its there and leave it alone...noting it is there.
Hope this helps!
Last edited by hunt4cleanair; May 24, 2016 at 04:58 AM.
