The 1965 GM strike vs build date and #s on the corvettes

[Domenic T.]

I bought a new SS in 65 and it was Months late. Did this affect the date codes on the 65 Corvettes? Some are searching for parts within a certain time period. In my case i want to type a date code on a foil sticker for a 65 A6 compressor. Did the vendors also stop production? Does any one know when the strike was in effect? Does this effect the 6 Month rule?

Dom

[Wayne M.]

Re: The 1965 GM strike vs build date and #s on the corvettes

I bought a new SS in 65 and it was Months late. Did this affect the date codes on the 65 Corvettes? Some are searching for parts within a certain time period. In my case i want to type a date code on a foil sticker for a 65 A6 compressor. Did the vendors also stop production? Does any one know when the strike was in effect? Does this effect the 6 Month rule?

Dom -- I've wondered if the 6-month rule can be relaxed for labor strikes, end of previous model year (vacation & plant turn-arounds) to the start of new model year. The attached photo is of the P-o-P imprint on the work order of the selling dealer of my first car, '65 VIN 4835. Within the 6 months window, but an interesting 3_1/2 month gap between the Muncie trans assy date and the motor & differential. Might have had something to do with the strike at St. Louis. Lucky the trans & rear end dates are not judged.

Here's another example, testing the limit of the 6-month rule on early '65s. I had a TI distib 1111060 for L76, with band dated 4-C-30.[April 30] (I've seen at least 3 of these on eBay, which makes me think that Delco must have ran a batch every 3 months or so to supply limited production demand). Now the last '65 before the strike was VIN 1425 and has an S trim tag of B25 (Sept 25th). Then, on the Corvette production line, work resumed on D6 (S-trim tag = Nov 6th). I used to have VIN 1487, built that day, after the strike was over. So if there was no strike, my car should have been produced (say) 26th of Sept, which would be 5 months later than the distrib; (April 30 to Sept 26). But the distrib was dated 5 months plus 40 days before the build date, all due to the strike, etc.

Hope my calendar math is correct .

This penalizes early model year cars, and especially if there was a stoppage of labor.

[Terry M.]

Re: The 1965 GM strike vs build date and #s on the corvettes

There were work stoppages in 1969, 1970 and 1971. When I was NTL I advised my judges when we encountered cars built near those strike dates so they would be aware of potential date issues. If I missed the issue, they would raise it. One owner of a 1970 that he determined sat on the assembly line at St Louis for several months wrote a story for The Restorer about the date anomalies on his car. If an owner has concerns about this a conversation with the NTL should solve them.

[Mark E.]

Re: The 1965 GM strike vs build date and #s on the corvettes

Does this effect the 6 Month rule?

Dom

I can't help with 1965, but there's at least one thread talking about original components for MY70 outside the six month rule. This may be related to the January introduction of '70s and the possible use of components stockpiled during the delay. (Although I don't know the specific cause for the early component dates.)

[Mike E.]

Re: The 1965 GM strike vs build date and #s on the corvettes

Dom -- I've wondered if the 6-month rule can be relaxed for labor strikes, end of previous model year (vacation & plant turn-arounds) to the start of new model year. The attached photo is of the P-o-P imprint on the work order of the selling dealer of my first car, '65 VIN 4835. Within the 6 months window, but an interesting 3_1/2 month gap between the Muncie trans assy date and the motor & differential. Might have had something to do with the strike at St. Louis. Lucky the trans & rear end dates are not judged.

Here's another example, testing the limit of the 6-month rule on early '65s. I had a TI distib 1111060 for L76, with band dated 4-C-30.[April 30] (I've seen at least 3 of these on eBay, which makes me think that Delco must have ran a batch every 3 months or so to supply limited production demand). Now the last '65 before the strike was VIN 1425 and has an S trim tag of B25 (Sept 25th). Then, on the Corvette production line, work resumed on D6 (S-trim tag = Nov 6th). I used to have VIN 1487, built that day, after the strike was over. So if there was no strike, my car should have been produced (say) 26th of Sept, which would be 5 months later than the distrib; (April 30 to Sept 26). But the distrib was dated 5 months plus 40 days before the build date, all due to the strike, etc.

Hope my calendar math is correct .

This penalizes early model year cars, and especially if there was a stoppage of labor.

It potentially "penalizes" late cars as well. E.g. late 62's, because the coming 63's were an all-new car, and the plant was using up whatever they had left over prior to the model year change. But as Terry says, the judging team is aware of that. In spite of what many critics say, NCRS judging teams use common sense when judging, and team leaders are experienced enthusiasts.

[Ken R.]

Re: The 1965 GM strike vs build date and #s on the corvettes

My 65 coupe was built on 2-1-65. The glass code dates: TG = 8-64; LG = 3-64; JG = 5-64; LG = 11-64; TG = 8-64. These are left side, right side and rear. So they pulled items out of the bin as they ran out or had new ones put in front of older ones. A strike will upset any order we expect I feel.