Odd Big Block VIN Derivative Stamp

[Rocco S.]

This post is not Corvette specific but thought there might be some interested members. I recently purchased an all original 1968 Chevelle SS with a 396-325HP engine. I know the entire history of the car and the engine is original and has never been apart for a rebuild.

The block stamp has a typical Tonawanda assembly stamp, which is one week before the Chevelle was assembled in Baltimore. The VIN derivative stamp "18B152431" is very odd. The 1 is Chevy, the 8 is the year, B is Baltimore but the "152431" appears to be double stamped. Has anyone seen this double stamp before? Any opinions or feedback? If the stamps were in a holder why is only the last digits double stamped?

The block appears to still have the proper broach marks. In addition, both the assembly stamp and VIN stamp match the Portect-O-Plate.

Thank You.

Engine Stamp.jpg Engine Stamp.jpg

[Patrick B.]

It looks like the first strike was so off center that only the last characters appeared and they were very deep. The tool was then lined up as close as possible to the same position and struck again evenly with every character appearing, but it was not perfectly in the same position. It was certainly done at the Baltimore plant. This is my theory for how that appearance occurred.

[Don H.]

To make a little easier for people to see Rocco. Thanks for sharing.

Engine Stamp.jpg

[Dave P.]

When I saw the title, I was hoping yours was going to be an upside down Kansas stamp.

It looks to me that the initial stamp with the holder was faint. And then the 52431 was re-applied with individual stamps, individually. Otherwise, how does one reconcile that there are faint characters both to the left and to the right of the deeper imprints that are on top of the faint original stamp, and that the leading 18B1 is only present once?

Here's another SS396 VIN anomaly. I still remember the full VIN: 136800L189016. This is a 1970 Los Angeles built El Camino. I purchased it in 1973 long before I knew (or cared?) anything about stamp pads. This pic was taken in about 2015, shortly before I sold it.



IMG_3153.jpg

[Brian B.]

Hi, this isn't a big block VIN, it's a '66 327 350HP 4 speed. This is from a car I am looking at. I am told the engine is original, but the car's history is incomplete. Can anyone opine on if this appears to be an original stamp? the last three vin derived numbers are 841. It's very faint but they appear to be here. I could ask the owner to remove the paint, but I haven't gone that far yet.
hv00kgg7.png

[Kenneth B.]

Hi, this isn't a big block VIN, it's a '66 327 350HP 4 speed. This is from a car I am looking at. I am told the engine is original, but the car's history is incomplete. Can anyone opine on if this appears to be an original stamp? the last three vin derived numbers are 841. It's very faint but they appear to be here. I could ask the owner to remove the paint, but I haven't gone that far yet.
hv00kgg7.png

Dont think anyone will give you a opinion with all that paint on the pad.