trim tag 1965 corvette

[Gary K.]

I purchased a non matching numbers 1965 corvette stingray convertible back in April as a Sunday Driver. I have been trying to track down the history of the car just for fun and was able to track down the prior owner in PA who did the frame of restoration @ the year 2000.

Much to my surprise, he told me the original color was white with either a black or dark blue interior. He told me that he did not change the trim tag but obviously someone did at a later date.

He told me of some imperfections in the paint that he was not happy with at the time of his restoration that are still present on the car so I know we are talking about the same car.

When I purchased the car, I was told that the exterior of the car and interior were the original maroon color from from the factory and the trim tag supported this. The color is actually very nice and I get lots of positive feedback about the color combination.

Since this was not a numbers matching car it really does not effect my car's value, but I thought I did a pretty good job checking out this car with two local corvette "experts" including inspecting the trim tag.

Even looking at it now, I cannot see that it is a "fake".

What do all of you "experts" think?

With all of the fakes out there, may be this post will help those still looking for matching numbers cars to know what to look for.

[Joe R.]

Re: trim tag 1965 corvette

OK, What's your question? You have a maroon/maroon 65 AOSmith Corvette that is the correct color and the trim tag supports this. That's an original tag. The original owner didn't know whether the car had a black or dark blue interior?????? What has he been drinking?

JR

[Jim D.]

Re: trim tag 1965 corvette

The "H" centered under the "M" is a dead give away that it's not an original trim tag. There are also several other indicators that it's not original. If you compare it side by side to a known original, the variations are obvious.

[Jim D.]

Re: trim tag 1965 corvette

OK, What's your question? You have a maroon/maroon 65 AOSmith Corvette that is the correct color and the trim tag supports this. That's an original tag. The original owner didn't know whether the car had a black or dark blue interior?????? What has he been drinking?

JR

The original owner said the car was originally WHITE with either black or dark blue interior (it was most likely black as the blue was not dark). That repo. trim tag reflects a color change for both ext. & int.

[Don H.]

Re: trim tag 1965 corvette

The "prior" owner said the car was originally White with something. Not necessarily the "original" owner. He may have been mistaken.

[Jim D.]

Re: trim tag 1965 corvette

The "prior" owner said the car was originally White with something. Not necessarily the "original" owner. He may have been mistaken.

Sorry, my mistake. However, if he did a restoration to the car, he would certainly know what the original color was. Regardless, that tag is clearly a fake.

[Gary K.]

Re: trim tag 1965 corvette

Thanks for the quick reply. Interesting that someone in an old post said that the H centered under the M means it IS original!

I feel like a detective trying to find out when and where the trim tag was changed. I have a pretty good lead.

When I go to the next local NCRS meeting I will check some of the trim tags on some of the other vettes so I will be better educated when I buy my next corvette!

[Jim D.]

Re: trim tag 1965 corvette

Thanks for the quick reply. Interesting that someone in an old post said that the H centered under the M means it IS original!

I don't know who said that but they are wrong. I have 2 65's. A S.L. car and a A.O.S. car. Here's a pic. (sorry for the poor quality)of one that I bought from the original owner. Notice the position of the "H".

[Gary K.]

Re: trim tag 1965 corvette

Just to defend the poor guy, this was 16 years ago and I was surprised he remembered as much as he did; he originally bought the car to restore and sell it. He has restored a number of C2 corvettes over the years, a hobby, not a full time job. The reason he remembered this one was he liked the maroon color combination from a 1990s vintage anniversary corvette which is why he restored it with the maroon color changes. He was so happy with the restoration he was thinking about keeping it but someone made him an offer he could not refuse; probably 2 owners before me.

[Joe R.]

Re: trim tag 1965 corvette

Well obviously someone in the above thread is wrong! Maybe it's me and maybe it's not!

Think I will wander on off this thread as I'm old and totally confused! That's my excuse anyway!

JR

[Gary K.]

Re: trim tag 1965 corvette

Thanks so much! I learn so much from this forum.

[Stewart L.]

Re: trim tag 1965 corvette

Hey Jim, where was your 396 built?

[Jim D.]

Re: trim tag 1965 corvette

Hey Jim, where was your 396 built?

It's a St. Louis car.

[Mike M.]

Re: trim tag 1965 corvette

purchase or borrow the NCRS Authentication Library. with it, you can compare your trim tag to that of know originals. mike

[Gene M.]

Re: trim tag 1965 corvette

Thanks for the quick reply. Interesting that someone in an old post said that the H centered under the M means it IS original!

I feel like a detective trying to find out when and where the trim tag was changed. I have a pretty good lead.

When I go to the next local NCRS meeting I will check some of the trim tags on some of the other vettes so I will be better educated when I buy my next corvette!

Quite the opposite a perfectly centered M & H is a FAKE. The trim tag in the original posting #1 is fake.