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Old Jan 29, 2007 | 04:47 PM
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Default Build Numbers?????

I have a 99 FRC and I want to know what number out of the 4031 built in 99.

Any Ideas?
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Old Jan 29, 2007 | 04:57 PM
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What is the vin#??
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Old Jan 29, 2007 | 05:22 PM
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I don't know whether you'll be able to determne exactly what number yours is but if there is a way someone on here will tell you.
To guestimate what number yours was, take the total number of vettes built that model year and divide by 11 or 12 (I know that they shut down production for two weeks for model changeover and they may have some other shutdowns for holidays, etc.) Let's assume they made 33,000 vettes that year. 33k divided by 11 = 3k per month production. Let's say your last five digits of your VIN is 07,500 . That would mean your car was produced about half way through the 3rd month of production.(you can get exact date off your build sheet if you have one or the month of production off the driver's door info.)
Next, divide the 4031 into the annual production (33k?). Doing this gives you 8.19. That means that every time 8.19 vettes were built one of them was a frc. By dividing your VIN (7,500?) by 8.19 it comes to the number of FRC's made up to yours--916. This is only approximate and is using the numbers I made up.
I hope you can follow my line of thinking here. The cars are built on a random basis. If you've ever been to the assembly plant you see a couple of coupes on the line followed by a ZO6, followed by a vert, etc. etc.
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Old Jan 29, 2007 | 05:26 PM
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The numbers following 95 (9 is the 1999 model) 5 is the number indicating it was built in Bowling Green then the last set of numbers which starts with 1 then followed by your vehicle number that year.

Example: 1512456 means this was the 2456 built that year.

You can also get a build sheet and window sticker from the Corvette Museum.

Last edited by photoguy; Jan 29, 2007 at 05:29 PM.
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Old Jan 29, 2007 | 06:13 PM
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Vin 5110045

Last edited by Cornfed; Jan 29, 2007 at 06:18 PM.
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Old Jan 29, 2007 | 06:20 PM
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Yours was number 10,045
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Old Jan 29, 2007 | 06:27 PM
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Originally Posted by photoguy
Yours was number 10,045
Out of that number what is the best way to find my FRC # out of only FRC's. I am ordering a number plate and I want the number out of total FCR's in 99.

I will try what was suggested above but I want to make sure.
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Old Jan 29, 2007 | 06:29 PM
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Originally Posted by FLACHUSNRET
I don't know whether you'll be able to determne exactly what number yours is but if there is a way someone on here will tell you.
To guestimate what number yours was, take the total number of vettes built that model year and divide by 11 or 12 (I know that they shut down production for two weeks for model changeover and they may have some other shutdowns for holidays, etc.) Let's assume they made 33,000 vettes that year. 33k divided by 11 = 3k per month production. Let's say your last five digits of your VIN is 07,500 . That would mean your car was produced about half way through the 3rd month of production.(you can get exact date off your build sheet if you have one or the month of production off the driver's door info.)
Next, divide the 4031 into the annual production (33k?). Doing this gives you 8.19. That means that every time 8.19 vettes were built one of them was a frc. By dividing your VIN (7,500?) by 8.19 it comes to the number of FRC's made up to yours--916. This is only approximate and is using the numbers I made up.
I hope you can follow my line of thinking here. The cars are built on a random basis. If you've ever been to the assembly plant you see a couple of coupes on the line followed by a ZO6, followed by a vert, etc. etc.

I will try that
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Old Jan 29, 2007 | 06:39 PM
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http://www.idavette.net/facts/p99.htm
This will give you totals but I don't know how you will be able to tell exactly!

Last edited by photoguy; Jan 29, 2007 at 06:41 PM.
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Old Jan 29, 2007 | 07:34 PM
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Thanks, I will keep working on it...
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Old Jan 29, 2007 | 08:00 PM
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By using the GM VIS you can at least get the build date. That would at least be a start. Another idea would be to start a thread and ask other 99 FRC owners if they could assist with serial numbers and build dates. Just a thought.
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Old Jan 29, 2007 | 08:33 PM
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OK my 04 is 33221 out of 34064. So only 842 were built after mine. 34064/12 655 per week average. So this would indicate that mine was biult in the last 2 weeks of the C5 production run.

Is my understanding correct/

Thanks
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Old Jan 30, 2007 | 06:37 PM
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Makes sense to me!!
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Old Jan 30, 2007 | 06:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Vega$Vette
OK my 04 is 33221 out of 34064. So only 842 were built after mine. 34064/12 655 per week average. So this would indicate that mine was biult in the last 2 weeks of the C5 production run.

Is my understanding correct/

Thanks
You are correct!

Last edited by FLACHUSNRET; Jan 30, 2007 at 06:41 PM. Reason: spelling
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Old Jan 30, 2007 | 07:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Cornfed
Thanks, I will keep working on it...
Maybe someone can tell you what the total production run was for model year '99.
Once you have that number simply divide the number of frc's into the total production and go on from there to see where your VIN lines up.

The idea about getting 99 FRC owners to posts their VIN's and production dates seemed like a good idea at first but I don't see how that could help unless every owner, including all ever produced, with a FRC responded. For example, if I had the VIN 25 cars after you on a frc I would be in the same situation you are in, not knowing how many frc's were already produced.
Good luck in solving the riddle!
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Old Jan 30, 2007 | 07:17 PM
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Doesn't the sequence number that is located on the inside lid in the rear from BG indicate the actual sequence?
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Old Jan 31, 2007 | 11:21 PM
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The sequence number is the number which your vehicle was assigned as it began its trip on the assemble line. This number is usually different from the serial (VIN) because let's say your 2000 model car was built in May of 2000. By that late in the year they would already be producing a few 2001's for engineering etc. These 01's would have the 01's VIN's but the sequence numbers would be in the same line as your car as that number specifies the sequence of all vehicles and not just the current model years that comprise most of the production.
I hope I did not confuse you too badly! Look at your build sheet and you will probably see that they differ.
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Old Feb 1, 2007 | 01:22 AM
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FLACHUSNRET is correct and there is not a quick and easy answer to your question.

While VINs for each of the model years are most usually assigned in order, you really can't go by the VIN to tell what number off the line that your car was. Keep in mind that during each of the C5 production years, a number of containment, prototype and pilot vehicles for upcoming model years were built on the assembly line alongside with the current model year cars. These containment, prototype and pilot vehicles were assigned a VIN for their respective model year and a number of these cars were later made into saleable vehicles. James Schefter wrote about this in his book, "All Corvettes Are Red." Also, I've read and heard tell of current model year "build-out" cars and the next model year's cars being built together on the assembly line at the end of a number of the C5 model years. I also read where this happened with the 2005 C6 and the model year 2004 C5 "build-out" cars at the end of model year 2004.

I read an interesting letter on this subject that was sent to the editor of Corvette Enthusiast Magazine several years ago. The letter's author did not provide his credentials, but it was obvious that he was quite knowledgeable of the assembly plant's build and sequencing processes. He spoke briefly about how differently cars are built today versus back in the St. Louis days and the use of Job Numbers or Sequence Number as they appear on the C5's build sheet. He went on to state that the VIN is an Identification Number and not a "plant sequence number." He went on to say, "That is why VIN 00001 for 2005 can be built on the 2004 assembly line and have that ID number attached." He finished by saying, "So, plant sequence number or job sequence number has everything to do with the car assembly process and nothing to do with the VIN other than the two have a relationship, but do not match." You may be able to find a copy of this issue of Corvette Enthusiast at one of your local libraries. (See "Those Crazy VINs", in the "Enthusiast Notes" department, Corvette Enthusiast Magazine, October 2004, page 10.)

You car's build sheet will contain the Sequence Number in the lower right corner. Build sheets if you do not have one are available from the National Corvette Museum: Order Forum

As you can see, the build sequence involves much more than what it may first seem.

HTH
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Old Feb 1, 2007 | 09:30 AM
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Originally Posted by GrayC5
FLACHUSNRET is correct and there is not a quick and easy answer to your question.

While VINs for each of the model years are most usually assigned in order, you really can't go by the VIN to tell what number off the line that your car was. Keep in mind that during each of the C5 production years, a number of containment, prototype and pilot vehicles for upcoming model years were built on the assembly line alongside with the current model year cars. These containment, prototype and pilot vehicles were assigned a VIN for their respective model year and a number of these cars were later made into saleable vehicles. James Schefter wrote about this in his book, "All Corvettes Are Red." Also, I've read and heard tell of current model year "build-out" cars and the next model year's cars being built together on the assembly line at the end of a number of the C5 model years. I also read where this happened with the 2005 C6 and the model year 2004 C5 "build-out" cars at the end of model year 2004.

I read an interesting letter on this subject that was sent to the editor of Corvette Enthusiast Magazine several years ago. The letter's author did not provide his credentials, but it was obvious that he was quite knowledgeable of the assembly plant's build and sequencing processes. He spoke briefly about how differently cars are built today versus back in the St. Louis days and the use of Job Numbers or Sequence Number as they appear on the C5's build sheet. He went on to state that the VIN is an Identification Number and not a "plant sequence number." He went on to say, "That is why VIN 00001 for 2005 can be built on the 2004 assembly line and have that ID number attached." He finished by saying, "So, plant sequence number or job sequence number has everything to do with the car assembly process and nothing to do with the VIN other than the two have a relationship, but do not match." You may be able to find a copy of this issue of Corvette Enthusiast at one of your local libraries. (See "Those Crazy VINs", in the "Enthusiast Notes" department, Corvette Enthusiast Magazine, October 2004, page 10.)

You car's build sheet will contain the Sequence Number in the lower right corner. Build sheets if you do not have one are available from the National Corvette Museum: Order Forum

As you can see, the build sequence involves much more than what it may first seem.

HTH
I have exactly what he's talking about. I have an `03 50th AE Vert and my VIN is 100019. The car was built in February of `02 and has an RPO code of WD0/WD1. The car was a pilot car built for containment. From what I can find, the first 125 `03's were pilot cars.

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Old Feb 1, 2007 | 04:32 PM
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a number of containment, prototype and pilot vehicles for upcoming model years were built on the assembly line alongside with the current model year cars
OK my sequence # is 37722 and my VIN 33221. So you're saying 4500 additional cars were built on this line before mine. I'm guessing 4000+ of these had to be C6s?
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