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68 Trim Plate......?

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Old Oct 26, 2011 | 07:31 AM
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Default 68 Trim Plate......?

I'm not familiar with how it was done in 68, but I know the earlier cars had these plates riveted with special fasteners. I've never seen them screwed on like this. What can you tell from the #'s? What say you C3 freaks? Thanks gents.
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Old Oct 26, 2011 | 08:25 AM
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To start with, somebody has had that trim plate off the car. All trim plates were installed with pot rivets. There was nothing special about them though, they were just regular pop rivets.

From the info on it, the plate says that the car should have a black vinyl interior (STD), and LeMans Blue exterior (976). The "E12" is the body build date, which I think would be Jan. 12, for a 1968 Corvette (E being the 5th month of production). From the body build date, I would guess that the VIN should be somewhere around #9,000.

I can't tell from the picture, if this is a real or repr trim tag, but either way, I would be very suspect of this car.

Last edited by gbvette62; Oct 26, 2011 at 08:27 AM.
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Old Oct 26, 2011 | 08:48 AM
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I have a 68 Lemans blue car with std. interior. No Phillips head screws on these Rivets only as GB stated. Someone has removed this plate from this or another car perhaps to "create" what they wanted.
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Old Oct 26, 2011 | 09:27 AM
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Originally Posted by gbvette62
To start with, somebody has had that trim plate off the car. All trim plates were installed with pot rivets. There was nothing special about them though, they were just regular pop rivets.

From the info on it, the plate says that the car should have a black vinyl interior (STD), and LeMans Blue exterior (976). The "E12" is the body build date, which I think would be Jan. 12, for a 1968 Corvette (E being the 5th month of production). From the body build date, I would guess that the VIN should be somewhere around #9,000.

I can't tell from the picture, if this is a real or repr trim tag, but either way, I would be very suspect of this car.

9000!
.... How about 194678S406634

I'm laughing because this is the car we built the 468 big block for, and the owner hasn't got a clue about these cars, and paid WAY too much money for it about 5 years ago. NOW he's into finding out what he's got! Dah!
So I should check the redline (5600?) and the ujoint caps or straps to find out if it's even an original BB car? Anything else? The hoods isn't a GM item. Are the halfshafts bigger, 3 in?
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Old Oct 26, 2011 | 09:52 AM
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Originally Posted by Kerrmudgeon
...How about 194678S406634...
E12 for 68 would be Tuesday, December 12th, 1967. Ending VIN for December 67 was #7922 so #6634 jives. Same for convertibles. Coupe production did not get under way until January, 1968.

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Old Oct 26, 2011 | 10:04 AM
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Robbie-

Half shafts were the same diameter for SB and BBs, only difference was shot peening on the BBs. The yokes should have caps.
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Old Oct 26, 2011 | 10:49 AM
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Originally Posted by Easy Mike
E12 for 68 would be Tuesday, December 12th, 1967. Ending VIN for December 67 was #7922 so #6634 jives. Same for convertibles. Coupe production did not get under way until January, 1968.

Are you sure about this? I thought 68 production began September 1967, which would make a body build date of "E12" January 12th.

I don't have a 68 Judging Manual at the shop, but the info I do have here, says that the last car built in Jan. was VIN 10386, which is why I guessed at about 9,000. Did 68 body builds begin in August 67, and not Sept., like the actual car production?
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Old Oct 26, 2011 | 12:08 PM
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Originally Posted by gbvette62
...Are you sure about this?...
Yes. Black Book does not say anything, but I've always suspected there were some August cars built or September was considered B and not A.

Time/Build for my '68 is I20 (April 68). Can't get I for April without considering August as A.

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Old Oct 26, 2011 | 04:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Mike Ward
Robbie-

Half shafts were the same diameter for SB and BBs, only difference was shot peening on the BBs. The yokes should have caps.
Thanks Mike and all, here's a shot of the tachometer, which shows there might be an interesting history to at least part of the car.....!
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Old Oct 26, 2011 | 07:47 PM
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I am in agreement with Mike. I have a January 1968 build coupe. The trim plate code is F22 and the serial number is consistent with what you listed, i.e mine is 4097xx.
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Old Oct 26, 2011 | 08:11 PM
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The pic of the tach above indicates a 427-435hp tri-power car if I'm not mistaken? If it is indeed the original unit, this car may have been a pretty special car, before someone chopped it all up, and reassembled it!

Are the numbers on the frame easy to see? Above the drivers rear kick?
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Old Oct 26, 2011 | 08:49 PM
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I think the tach is 427/435 so this might be an interesting clue. The VIN derivative is relatively easy to see on a non-corroded frame but that won't help establish anything on the car WRT to the engine.
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Old Oct 26, 2011 | 09:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Mike Ward
I think the tach is 427/435 so this might be an interesting clue. The VIN derivative is relatively easy to see on a non-corroded frame but that won't help establish anything on the car WRT to the engine.
I know Mike, I just checked with GM Canada's site and for 59$ they will tell you everything about cars made or sold in Canada. Dealer, delivery date, options, color, engine!everything....cool! and if they can't find any info, they don't charge you. So we'll do that for fun. Yay for
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