1968-72 Month-Ending VIN serial numbers...any validity to these numbers?

[Tom R.]

A related post by Jim Patitucci related to 1973 serial numbers is wanting for detail but I see that the Black Book shows the month-ending serial numbers for 1968-72 model years. Do these month-ending production serial numbers have any credibility? Or, just some numbers published based on the Birthday Calendar book? I see where some tech manuals incorporate these numbers while others ignore them...I'm curious!

[Terry M.]

Re: 1968-72 Month-Ending VIN serial numbers...any validity to these numbers?

A related post by Jim Patitucci related to 1973 serial numbers is wanting for detail but I see that the Black Book shows the month-ending serial numbers for 1968-72 model years. Do these month-ending production serial numbers have any credibility? Or, just some numbers published based on the Birthday Calendar book? I see where some tech manuals incorporate these numbers while others ignore them...I'm curious!

Tom,
Chevrolet published end of month serial numbers, and the end of month numbers in the 1968-1972 Tech Manuals are those from Chevrolet. I am pretty sure those end of month numbers in the NCRS Spec Guide are also from the same source, but I am not sure all editions of the spec guide contain those charts. It would not surprise me that the numbers in the Black Book also came from Chevrolet, but you would have to ask Mike Antonick that question to get a for-sure answer.

The problem with Chevrolet's numbers is that the location at which they considered the unit "off the line" changed from time to time, and to the best of my knowledge no one knows when and where all those changes happened.

In the 1968-1972 cars we have found those Chevrolet numbers to be reasonably accurate, but we do regularly find cars listed a little earlier than the end of month number that have the Certification Label dated the first working day of the following month. To the best of my knowledge it is always far less than 100 units, but it still sometimes creates confusion in the minds of both owners and judges. We have concluded for 1968-1972 Chevrolet's numbers were recorded before the final build details were completed on the car. These minor issues not-withstanding those numbers are useful in detecting trim tag and other alterations. Like most things Corvette, they have to be taken with some salt and not regarded as absolute.

Another glaring error is that the final production unit for 1968 is listed as the end of July. So far we have found 1968 Corvettes with trim tags dated to August 9, and we do not have the last 1968 yet. Just some more salt to put on the pile.

[Tom R.]

Re: 1968-72 Month-Ending VIN serial numbers...any validity to these numbers?

We have concluded for 1968-1972 Chevrolet's numbers were recorded before the final build details were completed on the car. These minor issues not-withstanding those numbers are useful in detecting trim tag and other alterations. Like most things Corvette, they have to be taken with some salt and not regarded as absolute.

Thanks Terry...I ask because Jim Patitucci asked a question about his 73 (separate post) where the trim tag documents April 30th while his buildsheet documents 05-01 which simply means it was meant to begin production May 1st...so actual was a day early. But his VIN is out of sequence. My curiosity is whether 68-72 have found those numbers credible...you have answered that question.

[Terry M.]

Re: 1968-72 Month-Ending VIN serial numbers...any validity to these numbers?

Thanks Terry...I ask because Jim Patitucci asked a question about his 73 (separate post) where the trim tag documents April 30th while his buildsheet documents 05-01 which simply means it was meant to begin production May 1st...so actual was a day early. But his VIN is out of sequence. My curiosity is whether 68-72 have found those numbers credible...you have answered that question.

I saw Jim's posting, but didn't comment on it because I have no data regarding 1973s.

The real question should be whether his VIN is out of sequence to the cars around it. Corvettes were usually built in serial number sequence, but as one of the engineers told me: "We don't have to do it that way."

In over 30 years of tracking 1968-1972 VIN & build dates I have found only one Corvette that was built out of sequence, but I know of others. During a frame-off restoration major body damage with factory repair provided the reason for the out of sequence VIN vs body dates. The body repair and an unusual paint/trim combination worked to create a unique situation. There was a story on that car and all the research we did on it in, I think Corvette Fever. It was a 1972 C60 LT1, and had it been a base motor probably no one would have noticed. On the other hand, if there was one there surely were others.

Milestone Corvettes, like the 1 millionth, were run down the line out of sequence. As a matter of fact there were actually two one millionth Corvettes built. They wanted to be sure they had one that could drive through the banner at the end of the line that day, so a spare was on hand. Neither one of those cars was actually the one millionth built, and John Amgwert had something to say about that at the time.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1968-72 Month-Ending VIN serial numbers...any validity to these numbers?

Milestone Corvettes, like the 1 millionth, were run down the line out of sequence. As a matter of fact there were actually two one millionth Corvettes built. They wanted to be sure they had one that could drive through the banner at the end of the line that day, so a spare was on hand. Neither one of those cars was actually the one millionth built, and John Amgwert had something to say about that at the time.

I thought that there were three (999,999 and 1,000,000 and 1,000,001) all the same.

[Rich C.]

Re: 1968-72 Month-Ending VIN serial numbers...any validity to these numbers?

I saw Jim's posting, but didn't comment on it because I have no data regarding 1973s.

The real question should be whether his VIN is out of sequence to the cars around it. Corvettes were usually built in serial number sequence, but as one of the engineers told me: "We don't have to do it that way."

In over 30 years of tracking 1968-1972 VIN & build dates I have found only one Corvette that was built out of sequence, but I know of others. During a frame-off restoration major body damage with factory repair provided the reason for the out of sequence VIN vs body dates. The body repair and an unusual paint/trim combination worked to create a unique situation. There was a story on that car and all the research we did on it in, I think Corvette Fever. It was a 1972 C60 LT1, and had it been a base motor probably no one would have noticed. On the other hand, if there was one there surely were others.

Milestone Corvettes, like the 1 millionth, were run down the line out of sequence. As a matter of fact there were actually two one millionth Corvettes built. They wanted to be sure they had one that could drive through the banner at the end of the line that day, so a spare was on hand. Neither one of those cars was actually the one millionth built, and John Amgwert had something to say about that at the time.

That's the first I heard about the 1,000,000th corvette NOT being the 1,000,000th! That's awful! So that means the REAL 1,000,000th didn't go down the sinkhole at least! I wonder who actually has it? Interesting!


1973 LS-4 454 coupe owned 24 years
1996 LT-4 CE coupe
Victory Hop Devil Ale- currently on tap!

[Tom R.]

Re: 1968-72 Month-Ending VIN serial numbers...any validity to these numbers?

In the 1968-1972 cars we have found those Chevrolet numbers to be reasonably accurate, but we do regularly find cars listed a little earlier than the end of month number that have the Certification Label dated the first working day of the following month. To the best of my knowledge it is always far less than 100 units, but it still sometimes creates confusion in the minds of both owners and judges. We have concluded for 1968-1972 Chevrolet's numbers were recorded before the final build details were completed on the car. These minor issues not-withstanding those numbers are useful in detecting trim tag and other alterations. Like most things Corvette, they have to be taken with some salt and not regarded as absolute.

I have to keep perspective that with early C3s, assembly, paint and bake were relatively complete by the time VIN and trim tag were attached. In contrast with late C3s and due to the station moved between booth 1 and 2, bodies were still being pulled for repair with tags attached. I worked up a table that contrasts pairs of VINs and job numbers (1978 Pace Cars) showing the differentials, not unlike what John Hinckley stated in his 2003 "Missing Link" article about body assembly being a mixmaster. The schedule numbers were taken from buildsheets with the second set of numbers used as the pre-assigned job number.

Table1.gif

[Jimmy P.]

Re: 1968-72 Month-Ending VIN serial numbers...any validity to these numbers?

Thank you all for helping to clarify all this for me. So then , am I to assume that my car is not unique regarding the out of sequence serial number and day early build date? The reason for this could have been because of some type of damage or unique color combo or buyer request during assembly which often occurred. Not sure if it would have been because of unusal color combo, mine is 976(Mille Miglia Red)/425 (Dark Red/Oxblood).

[Mark L.]

Re: 1968-72 Month-Ending VIN serial numbers...any validity to these numbers?

Please don't forget that the Shipping Data Report will provide the actual day the vehicle was considered built and out the door.

[Steven B.]

Re: 1968-72 Month-Ending VIN serial numbers...any validity to these numbers?

I saw Jim's posting, but didn't comment on it because I have no data regarding 1973s.

The real question should be whether his VIN is out of sequence to the cars around it. Corvettes were usually built in serial number sequence, but as one of the engineers told me: "We don't have to do it that way."

In over 30 years of tracking 1968-1972 VIN & build dates I have found only one Corvette that was built out of sequence, but I know of others. During a frame-off restoration major body damage with factory repair provided the reason for the out of sequence VIN vs body dates. The body repair and an unusual paint/trim combination worked to create a unique situation. There was a story on that car and all the research we did on it in, I think Corvette Fever. It was a 1972 C60 LT1, and had it been a base motor probably no one would have noticed. On the other hand, if there was one there surely were others.

Milestone Corvettes, like the 1 millionth, were run down the line out of sequence. As a matter of fact there were actually two one millionth Corvettes built. They wanted to be sure they had one that could drive through the banner at the end of the line that day, so a spare was on hand. Neither one of those cars was actually the one millionth built, and John Amgwert had something to say about that at the time.

Good Luck to those in the future when judging those cars with customer requested VINs.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1968-72 Month-Ending VIN serial numbers...any validity to these numbers?

Good Luck to those in the future when judging those cars with customer requested VINs.

The beauty is that the factory documents the build much better today than it did 40 years ago. IN addition, those getting specific VINs likely have a copy of the build sheet and data to present for judging.

Part of me wonders if some day we'll have accessible on-field build data in the future, but only if the Museum decides to sell it to us.

[Steven B.]

Re: 1968-72 Month-Ending VIN serial numbers...any validity to these numbers?

The beauty is that the factory documents the build much better today than it did 40 years ago. IN addition, those getting specific VINs likely have a copy of the build sheet and data to present for judging.

Part of me wonders if some day we'll have accessible on-field build data in the future, but only if the Museum decides to sell it to us.

We will need scanners to ID the bar codes!

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1968-72 Month-Ending VIN serial numbers...any validity to these numbers?

We will need scanners to ID the bar codes!

I've been saying that for years. With increasing technology I'm moderately surprised that the C4/C5 judges aren't starting to use an app on their phone to scan the tags on cars, as so many numbers can't actually be read.

[Terry M.]

Re: 1968-72 Month-Ending VIN serial numbers...any validity to these numbers?

I remember meeting an owner of a late C3 who worked for a company that manufactured bar code labels. I found out his occupation when I commented on the number of bar code labels on his Pace Car. He assured me that if we ever went to bar code scanners he would have no problem creating bar code labels. I think he worked for a company called Zebra.

[Terry M.]

Re: 1968-72 Month-Ending VIN serial numbers...any validity to these numbers?

I thought that there were three (999,999 and 1,000,000 and 1,000,001) all the same.

That could be. I never pursued the story far enough to get to those details.