1963 & 1964 frame VIN stamps

[Edward M.]

I am wondering if there is any year indicator on the frame VIN stamp for 1963 or 1964 VIN stamps.

All I am seeing is a format like SI23456, where S = St. Louis, and I23456 is the last six digits of the VIN.

If there is no year indicator stamped on the frame, how do we determine what year the frame is from.

I do understand that 1963 frames are unique, but I am puzzled about the lack of a year indicator. Even then, how would we tell the year of a 1964 frame.

The only thing I can come up with is:

If the frame has the 1963 only features, then it is a 1963 frame.

If the frame does not have the 1963 unique features, and it does not have a year indicator on it (as the 1965,1966, and 1967 frames do), then it is a 1964 frame.

And for that matter, do all (even very early) 1965 frames have the year stamp on them (i.e. 5SI23456)

[Don H.]

Re: 1963 & 1964 frame VIN stamps

Here are some answers for you posted in an eerily similar thread, on another corvette forum.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...vin-stamp.html

[Edward M.]

Re: 1963 & 1964 frame VIN stamps

I am asking the same question in multiple places, and getting conflicting information. But every picture I see of a 63 or 64 frame stamp[ does NOT have a year indicator anywhere in it.

[Jon R.]

Re: 1963 & 1964 frame VIN stamps

Edward,

My 1963 frame stamp clearly has just S followed by the last 6 digits of the VIN. Nothing about the year.

Jon

[Edward M.]

Re: 1963 & 1964 frame VIN stamps

I believe that 1964 frames have the same situation. The year indicator started in 1965 with a format like 5SI23456.

[Dick W.]

Re: 1963 & 1964 frame VIN stamps

There are minor differences in the C-2 frames, with the 63 and late 65 probably having the most distinguishable differences. Braces, brackets, holes, etc. One would have to study the different frames to see the differences.

[Edward M.]

Re: 1963 & 1964 frame VIN stamps

So, if I had a C2 frame that was stamped SI06265, and it had the extra body mount for a convertible, the best guess is that this is a 1964 convertible frame.

No year indicator on the frame stamp, so 1963 or 1964, plus the extra convertible body mount that 1963 did not have means 1964.

Sound reasonable?

This frame would have been under car 40867S106265, correct?

FYI: I am using the VIN number as an example, not as an actual number.

[Dick W.]

Re: 1963 & 1964 frame VIN stamps

So, if I had a C2 frame that was stamped SI06265, and it had the extra body mount for a convertible, the best guess is that this is a 1964 convertible frame.

No year indicator on the frame stamp, so 1963 or 1964, plus the extra convertible body mount that 1963 did not have means 1964.

Sound reasonable?

This frame would have been under car 40867S106265, correct?

FYI: I am using the VIN number as an example, not as an actual number.

No notch in the front crossmember for balancer, has the appropriate shifter mount, correct body mount brackets for 64, correct upper control arm frame brackets unique to 63-64, frame gussets below the #3 body mount, correct park brake brackets, rear axle bumper bracket, yada, yada, yada, it could be a 64 frame. I know this is more than you asked for but there are so many variances in the first couple of years of the C 2 production

[Edward M.]

Re: 1963 & 1964 frame VIN stamps

Good info Dick, thanks. It is a 64 frame, or a real good imitation.