1967 ECL "BP" and C60 Air Conditioning

[Richard M.]

I looked at a 300HP(Base) 4-Speed 1967 Convertible in South Florida Sunday with Factory installed C60 Air Conditioning. The Trim Tag stated 414 BP. Bright Blue Vinyl. The Tag appeared very original with rivet break-off points appearing normal, etc.

According to my Reference Data......(Trim Tag Book)

BP Includes C07 (Auxiliary Hardtop) (now gone)

BP Excludes A31(PW), A82(Headrests), A85(Shoulder Harness), and M35(Powerglide)

It has none of the above, original block, fine stamp pad, 12 days between cast date and assembly, and 4-Speed Muncie with matching vin with identical fonts to the vin derivative on the pad. Car appeared very original with a few slight owner mods/fixes.

The AC system certainly seemed original to me. Since the ECL data I have does not specify a ECL which "Includes" C60, other that the Tank Sheet, is there anything else to verify C60 was factory installed? It had all of the proper AC vents, Pass side kickpanel blocked vent, much patina around the engine bay AC hardware, Battery on Driver Side with access cover in the skirt, very original looking wiring harness, rubber seal on top of the radiator with 4 original looking clips, etc, etc.

It certainly appeared original. How can one be sure?

Rich

[Gene M.]

Re: 1967 ECL "BP" and C60 Air Conditioning

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It has none of the above, original block, fine stamp pad, 12 days between cast date and assembly, and 4-Speed Muncie with matching vin with identical fonts to the vin derivative on the pad. Car appeared very original with a few slight owner mods/fixes. ................
Rich

Rich, After '65 the VIN stamps were not the same holder and digits. There were two separate stamping set ups for engine pad and transmission. Verification using impressions on '65 and previous was easier to determine "foul play", or engine replacement.

Does the engine build call for air? Are you interested in verification of the interior choice or the air conditioning?

[Jim T.]

Re: 1967 ECL "BP" and C60 Air Conditioning

You stated the passenger side vent blocked. If it is like my 70, the passenger side vent opens with a vacuum motor when MAX air is selected to circulate cabin air across the air conditioning evaporator to reenter through the air conditioning vents. Using MAX air the entry point for outside air through the evaporator is blocked off with a vacuum operated motor operation.
A C2 Corvette convertible with factory air is nice to have, I drove my 1964 factory air conditioned Corvette convertible from San Diego to the Georgia east coast in the summer of 1969 in the comfort of it's air conditioning system.

[Brian M.]

Re: 1967 ECL "BP" and C60 Air Conditioning

Where is the head light roll over switch located? Just curious.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1967 ECL "BP" and C60 Air Conditioning

Rich, After '65 the VIN stamps were not the same holder and digits. There were two separate stamping set ups for engine pad and transmission. Verification using impressions on '65 and previous was easier to determine "foul play", or engine replacement.

Does the engine build call for air? Are you interested in verification of the interior choice or the air conditioning?

Gene, It seems like the fonts are identical to me, but maybe I'm mistaken. I'd like to post pics of both but for confidentiality I'll have to delay that for now.

The engine is a Base 300HP and is a HE code. My spec guide sasy that there were no special suffixes for the Base with C60. I do see that the L79 had HP and KH for C60 versions, but not for the Base engine.

My reason for asking is just a curiosity factor to do with any C60 equipped vehicle, like this one, and how to verify if originally factory installed or not. I thought the ECL's in 1967 differentiated C60 usage like some previous years, but it does not.

Thanks,
Rich
p.s. Heading out for the day so I won't be able to check in until tonight.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1967 ECL "BP" and C60 Air Conditioning

You stated the passenger side vent blocked. If it is like my 70, the passenger side vent opens with a vacuum motor when MAX air is selected to circulate cabin air across the air conditioning evaporator to reenter through the air conditioning vents. Using MAX air the entry point for outside air through the evaporator is blocked off with a vacuum operated motor operation.
A C2 Corvette convertible with factory air is nice to have, I drove my 1964 factory air conditioned Corvette convertible from San Diego to the Georgia east coast in the summer of 1969 in the comfort of it's air conditioning system.

The blocked term I used may be confusing. It has the special half vent and not a door like non C60 cars.

Rich, After '65 the VIN stamps were not the same holder and digits. There were two separate stamping set ups for engine pad and transmission. Verification using impressions on '65 and previous was easier to determine "foul play", or engine replacement.

Does the engine build call for air? Are you interested in verification of the interior choice or the air conditioning?

Gene, I just looked at the pics again quickly....my error. You are right thanks for pointing that out. Different fonts, but same derivative. In fact the engine doesn't have "7S10xxxx" like the trans.....just "710xxxx". I forgot about that difference.

Where is the head light roll over switch located? Just curious.

It's on the wrong side but I've been told that's not ALWAYS a factor.

Rich
ps heading out for now....I gotta fix some cylinder heads today

[Wayne M.]

Re: 1967 ECL "BP" and C60 Air Conditioning

Rich, After '65 the VIN stamps were not the same holder and digits. There were two separate stamping set ups for engine pad and transmission. Verification using impressions on '65 and previous was easier to determine "foul play", or engine replacement. ....

Gene -- did you mean starting in '65 model year ? (or actually soon after the start) ? St. Louis used two different stamping holders, as the powers-that-be said that the 1st character on the transmission had to be the letter representing the assembly plant.

Here's another example I just saw yesterday, on eBay. The "5" overstamped with a large "S". The trans assy date is P0812, so this could be from an early Corvette VIN 100589, or from a real early St. Loius passenger car.

I've seen one other with a large S overstamping the 5, on a Corvette VIN 01372 (IIRC).

S(5)100589-P0812-a.jpg

[Mike M.]

Re: 1967 ECL "BP" and C60 Air Conditioning

Gene -- did you mean starting in '65 model year ? (or actually soon after the start) ? St. Louis used two different stamping holders, as the powers-that-be said that the 1st character on the transmission had to be the letter representing the assembly plant.

Here's another example I just saw yesterday, on eBay. The "5" overstamped with a large "S". The trans assy date is P0812, so this could be from an early Corvette VIN 100589, or from a real early St. Loius passenger car.

I've seen one other with a large S overstamping the 5, on a Corvette VIN 01372 (IIRC).

I own a very early unrestored one owner 65' 365hp roadster and it has a grind out engine pad on the vin# and the trans is stamped twice, once starting with the 5 plus vin# and then again another time starting with the S plus the vin# right above it in the main case
The car is a St Louis car and the vin is in the 1580's range

[Wayne M.]

Re: 1967 ECL "BP" and C60 Air Conditioning

I own a very early unrestored one owner 65' 365hp roadster and it has a grind out engine pad on the vin# and the trans is stamped twice, once starting with the 5 plus vin# and then again another time starting with the S plus the vin# right above it in the main case
The car is a St Louis car and the vin is in the 1580's range

Welcome to the (small) club, Mike. Here's mine. There were some weird things going on when the strike was over (Nov 6th). Assy. date of my trans is P0916.

[Bill L.]

Re: 1967 ECL "BP" and C60 Air Conditioning

Rich:

Interesting find for sure.... this is my "OPINION" so for whatever that is worth--- a couple of things--

First--- there is an old saying --- "Nobody fakes a 300 horse car"

Second --- I suppose it is "POSSIBLE" to add factory AC to a car but the sheer volume of parts needed and the time and money involved would probably be somewhat prohibitive to say the least -- to do it correctly anyway --- so "possible" yes ---- "probable" --- NO ---

It would have been much more logical to take a base motor car with AC and fake a 350 or big block motor (Not that anyone EVER has done that!!!) vs adding AC to a base motor car ----

Again just my opinion ---

Regards
Bill

[Mike M.]

Re: 1967 ECL "BP" and C60 Air Conditioning

Welcome to the (small) club, Mike. Here's mine. There were some weird things going on when the strike was over (Nov 6th). Assy. date of my trans is P0916.

Wow!!!
Thanks wayne mine is 99 after yours!!
I will take some pics and post as well, I will also check assembly date

Thanks for sharing

[Gene M.]

Re: 1967 ECL "BP" and C60 Air Conditioning

65 was the last year for single stamp for engine and tranny. Be advised many of the 3 speed cast iron trannys do not have the vin stamp. I don't know why.

[Wayne W.]

Re: 1967 ECL "BP" and C60 Air Conditioning

Take a good clear picture of the ac box mounting at the top and under the fender. I will tell you if its real or not.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1967 ECL "BP" and C60 Air Conditioning

Rich:

Interesting find for sure.... this is my "OPINION" so for whatever that is worth--- a couple of things--

First--- there is an old saying --- "Nobody fakes a 300 horse car"

Second --- I suppose it is "POSSIBLE" to add factory AC to a car but the sheer volume of parts needed and the time and money involved would probably be somewhat prohibitive to say the least -- to do it correctly anyway --- so "possible" yes ---- "probable" --- NO ---

It would have been much more logical to take a base motor car with AC and fake a 350 or big block motor (Not that anyone EVER has done that!!!) vs adding AC to a base motor car ----

Again just my opinion ---

Regards
Bill

Bill, I agree with your thoughts too.

Take a good clear picture of the ac box mounting at the top and under the fender. I will tell you if its real or not.

Wayne, Here are a few. I'm unsure I'm seeing a smoking gun though. It certainly has it's patina, but if it was added 49 years ago at the dealer, that would still be the case. It's too bad the ECL didn't tell the story.

P8160015.jpgP8160016.jpgP8160017.jpgP8160018.jpgP8160064.jpg

[Brian M.]

Re: 1967 ECL "BP" and C60 Air Conditioning

Is it in the standard non AC location or to the right?

Where is the head light roll over switch located? Just curious.