1961 V.I.N. plate

[Barbara S.]

I am considering the purchase of a 1961 Corvette. It has had a frame off restoration about 5 years ago. When I looked at the V.I.N. plate, I noticed that the two rivots were missing from the VIN plate. The VIN does match the numbers on the engine stamping pad.

Why would the rivots be removed? When a car has had a frame off restoration, is it typical to remove the VIN plate? What does this suggest to the more experienced owners out there?

Help!

Thanks,
Tony Stein
Parkville, Missouri

[Mike M.]

Re: 1961 V.I.N. plate

vin plate was spot welded to the steering column mast jacket on the engine side of the firewall. they are know to have fallen off and hence lost.ya need to check the frame stamping(it should match the title and the vin plate--if it doesn't , be cautious.) if the engine pad doesn't contain the car's vin # , as well as machine assembly data, it indicates the current engine isn't original.good luck, mike

[Mike M.]

Re: 1961 V.I.N. plate

vin plate was spot welded to the steering column mast jacket on the engine side of the firewall. they are know to have fallen off and hence lost.ya need to check the frame stamping(it should match the title and the vin plate--if it doesn't , be cautious.) if the engine pad doesn't contain the car's vin # , as well as machine assembly data, it indicates the current engine isn't original.good luck, mike

[Mike M.]

Re: 1961 V.I.N. plate

PS ; get local NCRS member/experienced judge to check the car out for you before buyin. Where ya located? mike

[Mike M.]

Re: 1961 V.I.N. plate

PS ; get local NCRS member/experienced judge to check the car out for you before buyin. Where ya located? mike

[Barbara S.]

Re: 1961 V.I.N. plate

Hi Mike. I'm in suburban Kansas City, but the car is in N.Y. (Buffalo area).

The numbers on the VIN plate seems to match the numbers on the engine stamping pad.

If I can read the photos right, the VIN reads: 10867S102809

The engine stamping pad reads: 1102809 FII0ICT

Does this help?

Thanks!
Tony

[Barbara S.]

Re: 1961 V.I.N. plate

Hi Mike. I'm in suburban Kansas City, but the car is in N.Y. (Buffalo area).

The numbers on the VIN plate seems to match the numbers on the engine stamping pad.

If I can read the photos right, the VIN reads: 10867S102809

The engine stamping pad reads: 1102809 FII0ICT

Does this help?

Thanks!
Tony

[Mike M.]

Re: 1961 V.I.N. plate

the 61's vin # and the vin derivative on the engine pad match.CT suffix is a 245 hp and manual tranny. ie, its a hydraulic lifter, 2 x 4 bbl, and the tranny could be a 3 or 4 speed.F1101 denotes a Flint block(as it should be for a corvertte small block engine case and the 1101 is nov 1st.) vin 2809 was built in the later part of nov of 60 so a machine assembly date of nov 1 is appropriate for the build date of the car. There is much more to evaluating a c-1 and its engine than i've just described. i don't think i know anyone in the buffalo area but the western NY chapter has ssome knowledgable folks who should be able to evaluate for you. post a request for assistance from gene mano( he may be in transit to the national convention in windsor canada as we speak. good luck, mike vin

[Mike M.]

Re: 1961 V.I.N. plate

the 61's vin # and the vin derivative on the engine pad match.CT suffix is a 245 hp and manual tranny. ie, its a hydraulic lifter, 2 x 4 bbl, and the tranny could be a 3 or 4 speed.F1101 denotes a Flint block(as it should be for a corvertte small block engine case and the 1101 is nov 1st.) vin 2809 was built in the later part of nov of 60 so a machine assembly date of nov 1 is appropriate for the build date of the car. There is much more to evaluating a c-1 and its engine than i've just described. i don't think i know anyone in the buffalo area but the western NY chapter has ssome knowledgable folks who should be able to evaluate for you. post a request for assistance from gene mano( he may be in transit to the national convention in windsor canada as we speak. good luck, mike vin

[Barbara S.]

Re: 1961 V.I.N. plate

Thanks Mike for your help. Back in the early 1980's, I was very active in the NCRS. I owned a real nice, original blue on blue 1966 Coupe, 427/390 hp car. I paid 6000 for it and when I sold it seven years later for 12000, I thought I was real smart. Well, you can imagine how dumb I feel now.

Anyway, my wife has given me the green light to buy another vintage corvette. This time, I want to buy a real nice, and original solid axle car (58to62), but I've been out of touch all these years, and I don't want to make a mistake. I'm not set in stone on a 61. I just want a really nice solid axle car that I can store most of the time but drive it some too.

Thanks again. Any help is appreciated.
Best regards,
Tony Stein
Kansas City, Missouri

[Barbara S.]

Re: 1961 V.I.N. plate

Thanks Mike for your help. Back in the early 1980's, I was very active in the NCRS. I owned a real nice, original blue on blue 1966 Coupe, 427/390 hp car. I paid 6000 for it and when I sold it seven years later for 12000, I thought I was real smart. Well, you can imagine how dumb I feel now.

Anyway, my wife has given me the green light to buy another vintage corvette. This time, I want to buy a real nice, and original solid axle car (58to62), but I've been out of touch all these years, and I don't want to make a mistake. I'm not set in stone on a 61. I just want a really nice solid axle car that I can store most of the time but drive it some too.

Thanks again. Any help is appreciated.
Best regards,
Tony Stein
Kansas City, Missouri