65 Roadster Final Monthly Serial Number

[George C.]

While reading through the AIM and looking at the tags on my car I found a discrepancy that I can't explain. The build time stamp is I27 which I believe means April 27th. The car is AO Smith, number A5361, and the VIN is 116903. The engine block cast date looks like C 15 5 this all sounds good so far.
But the AIM says final VIN for April 65 was 116516. So, the obvious question is could the AIM be wrong or has my car had some previous tag alteration? The tags look original, rosette rivits on the VIN tag and regular rivets on the body tag.
Any assistance is welcome, the car is a driver and no intention of judging. I am trying to keep it as correct as possible as I drive and restore.

Thank you,

George # 36809

[Craig S.]

Re: 65 Roadster Final Monthly Serial Number

George, the trim tag build date is the date A O Smith assembled the body of your 65, NOT the vehicle assembly date of the car in St Louis. There was typically a 10-12 day delay via train to transport the completed body to St Louis for final assembly. So, I would say all looks correct with an early May build date. FYI, my AOS 67 has a body build date of I28 (April 28) but the VIN shows the assembly of the car was the morning shift on May 11..Craig

[artarmstrong]

Re: 65 Roadster Final Monthly Serial Number

George, I'm at a loss here, I'm very familiar with the AIM's and to my knowledge the AIM's DO NOT show ANY final build date? Where did you find this data in the 1965 AIM?

Art

[Terry #36825]

Re: 65 Roadster Final Monthly Serial Number

Wisconsin Chapter has a build date calender for most cars.

Terry

http://www.ncrswi.bizland.com/wi_ncrs/bdaycalc.htm

[Wayne M.]

Re: 65 Roadster VIN vs. Trim

George --- Here's another A-body '65 close to yours, with car built the first production day of May. I used to own this car in the early '80s.

VIN (derivative) # 16524 --- Trim: I22, 19 467, STD., A-5814, Q-Q. (your body # is probably A-5861, not 5381)
Mechanicals: F0421HF (300 hp, cast D205), P0415, AM4 21 65 (3.36 posi).

So your #'s appear OK, IMO.

[Mike E.]

Re: 65 Roadster Final Monthly Serial Number

Checking in with another 65--I have 16517, first car down the line in May.
It has original protecto plate with it,so numbers are verifiable.
I22 A-5287 body
paint QQ trim std
motor was F0419HE
rear end AK0414W
trans S224

It's a base-motor, three-speed car, with no options except radio and whitewalls.Also has original window sticker--delivered to Swift and Cain Chev.
Ambridge, Pa.

Hope that helps with your question, too.
Mike Ernst #211

[George C.]

Re: 65 Roadster Final Monthly Serial Number

Art,

I was refering to page 10 in the 1965 AIM where they show the final serial number for each month of production. I couldn't make sense out of mine as the serial number shows a final assembly on my car, 116903, sometime in May, and the body duild date was I27 meaning April 27th.

The answer is the delay in shipment of the AO Smith body. That makes me feel better.

Thank you all for your reponses.

George

[George C.]

Re: 65 Roadster Final Monthly Serial Number

Art,

Sorry I screwed up again, I meant to say the NCRS 1965 Technical Information & Judging Guide.

George

[Art A.]

Re: 65 Roadster Final Monthly Serial Number

Boy, You had me going with your first post here tonight---for the life of me I couldn't imagine where you were getting the Final Monthly Serial Numbers in the AIM----glad you clairfied.

Art