Date Stamp Importance

[Edward Osowski]

This may be a dumb question, but what is the importance of date stamping on the rear trailing arm of a 1967 corvette? My opinions are divided between cleaning the parts up which would remove the painted date stamp or simply leaving it "as is".

Simply put, does keeping the date stamp add any value to the car or not?

Any suggestions or advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you. Ed

[Tom B.]

Re: Date Stamp Importance

Ed,

I think you are going to continue to get opinions about this one, but I'll tell you what my "observation" and even that might be completely different from someone else.

If you believe the date stamp on any part or portion of the car is original then by removing it you remove some of the car's originality. "Practically" anything nowadays can be reproduced or restored on Corvettes but "originality" is "supposed" to be a one-time thing. And to some people that has value, or rather "more value". Others are indifferent and I can't begin to tell you any percentages.

Unfortuately sometimes originality, like date stamps, get in the way of a good looking restoration. Then the choice becomes yours as to what you want to sacrifice, good looks or originality. Many, many times you can't have both and each have value to different types of people.

The other problem is you knowing the part is original but once it's restored how does anyone else know that it didn't come from somewhere else? Good documentation will help. So much for philosophy. Best wishes. Tom

[Tom B.]

Re: Date Stamp Importance

Ed,

I think you are going to continue to get opinions about this one, but I'll tell you what my "observation" and even that might be completely different from someone else.

If you believe the date stamp on any part or portion of the car is original then by removing it you remove some of the car's originality. "Practically" anything nowadays can be reproduced or restored on Corvettes but "originality" is "supposed" to be a one-time thing. And to some people that has value, or rather "more value". Others are indifferent and I can't begin to tell you any percentages.

Unfortuately sometimes originality, like date stamps, get in the way of a good looking restoration. Then the choice becomes yours as to what you want to sacrifice, good looks or originality. Many, many times you can't have both and each have value to different types of people.

The other problem is you knowing the part is original but once it's restored how does anyone else know that it didn't come from somewhere else? Good documentation will help. So much for philosophy. Best wishes. Tom