body build date vs car's build date for a 66

[John C.]

Hey guys, I have a question concerning the body build date. A have a buddy looking to buy a 66 and he discovered the body's build date is 5 months prior to the car's actual build date. Does the body build date fall under the same 6 month rule like other parts ( radiators, alternators. transmissions, rear end, etc ) as being installed per the actual build date that is stamped on the block pad ? And, is this body date stamped on the trim tag ? Is a 5 month gap acceptable ? Can someone explain the body date as it's shown on the trim tag ?
Thank you,
JC

[Jim D.]

Re: body build date vs car's build date for a 66

5 months is not common. Are you sure he's decoding the body date correctly? For the 66 production year, A.O. Smith bodies started with "A" for Aug., "B" for Sept. etc. St Louis bodies started with "A" for Sept., "B" for Oct. etc.

[John C.]

Re: body build date vs car's build date for a 66

Not sure if he's reading it correctly or not, probably not due to not knowing when the date month count starts. I looked at my trim tag on my 65 and it doesn't say if it's an A.O. Smith body or from St. Louis. Can you help a dummy with some details ?
JC

[Jim D.]

Re: body build date vs car's build date for a 66

Not sure if he's reading it correctly or not, probably not due to not knowing when the date month count starts. I looked at my trim tag on my 65 and it doesn't say if it's an A.O. Smith body or from St. Louis. Can you help a dummy with some details ?
JC

The body number on the Trim Tag has a prefix of either an "A" for A.O.Smith or a "S" for St. Louis. On my two 65's, the A.O.Smith car had a body build date of April 1 and the car was built April 10. My St. Louis car has a body build date of May 4 and the car was built May 5.

[Stephen L.]

Re: body build date vs car's build date for a 66

Post the actual information shown on the trim tag and serial number here to eliminate any doubt...

[John C.]

Re: body build date vs car's build date for a 66

OK, I hear what you're saying , but per the stamps and tags on my car, I'm not sure if I completely understand.
The date stamp on the upper left corner of the trim tag indicates what exactly? Does it show the body build date or the actual car build date? If it's the car build date, then where is the body build date shown ?
Also, if the date stamp on the trim tag ( upper left corner) is the cars build date, then what does the date stamp on the front of the block indicate? If the engine stamp indicates the build date of the engine itself, and the stamp on the upper corner of the trim tag is the body build date, then where is the actual build date for the car ?
JC

[Jim D.]

Re: body build date vs car's build date for a 66

John,

The date on the Trim Tag is the date the body is built. The date on the engine pad is the date the engine was assembled. The actual build date of the car is not recorded anywhere on the car. You can use one of several "car birthday" calculators (C2 registry has one online) or get the shipping report from the NCRS and get the actual date the car was built.

[John C.]

Re: body build date vs car's build date for a 66

OK, I'm starting to get the picture now. And I assume the body built date shouldn't be more than 6 months before the car's birthday just like any other date stamped part on the car ? And, I would think the body build date would be earlier than the engine build stamp ? I'll see if I can post the trim tag and VIN tag off my car.
JC

[John C.]

Re: body build date vs car's build date for a 66

[John C.]

Re: body build date vs car's build date for a 66

[Jim D.]

Re: body build date vs car's build date for a 66

Everything lines up perfectly. Body built May 26 and the car was built the next day. That's the same as mine built earlier the same month.

[Tom D.]

Re: body build date vs car's build date for a 66

Just a note here: Discussion title says "for a 66" but Mr. Curtiss (52629) posted a trim tag and a VIN plate from a 1965 Corvette.
Should be a Maroon Convertible. #18494 made in '65.

[John C.]

Re: body build date vs car's build date for a 66

You are correct Tom. The subject kind of got turned around. Initially I was trying to help out a friend that is considering buying a 66 and he had a concern because the body build date is 5 months off from the cars build date and he thought that was a little weird. In the process of learning all this, I discovered that I didn't completely understand the body date vs the final build date and so I posted the trim / VIN tags off my 65. Sorry for the confusion. The knowledge you guys have about all this is invaluable. Thanks so much for helping us understand !
JC

[John C.]

Re: body build date vs car's build date for a 66

Well that's good news ! Any chance you could point me in the right direction to see what chart you used to determine the cars birthday ? Not that I don't believe you, I'd just like to know and I could also forward the information to my friend that is trying to buy the 66.
Thank you Jim !
JC

[Jim D.]

Re: body build date vs car's build date for a 66

Here ya go John. The C2 registry has a calculator for figuring the cars birthday. https://www.c2registry.org/