67 vert body #514 on SN#8269 ?

[Joe R.]

Just saw an ebay ad for what appears to be a pretty nice unrestored 67 convertible. However, it seems odd to me that a convertible with serial number 8269 (January 67) would have an AO Smith body number 514 (September 66).

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&sspagename=ADME%3AB%3ASS%3AUS%3A1123&viewitem=&item=150233514591

Could an AO Smith body have sat around St. Louis for that long before being used?

[Wayne M.]

Re: 67 vert body #514 on SN#8269 ?

Just saw an ebay ad for what appears to be a pretty nice unrestored 67 convertible. However, it seems odd to me that a convertible with serial number 8269 (January 67) would have an AO Smith body number 514 (September 66).

Could an AO Smith body have sat around St. Louis for that long before being used?

Joe -- Just a guess, but it may have had something to do with the labor strike at Ionia early in 1967 body production, mentioned in Noland's Vol 2 and probably discussed in the '67 TIM&JG (which I don't have). Normally, you'd expect a convertible A-body # 514 to be found on a car with a VIN in the range of 2000 (with A and S bodies contributing equally. and convertibles running about double the quantities of coupes). So if A-bodies were produced for about 2 weeks, then the strike began, this could have been an uncompleted body that sat at Ionia until the strike was over ('til Dec ? -- it was quite long).

[James G.]

Re: 67 vert body #514 on SN#8269 ?

I saw this add last eve also. And if it were in 1965, I would agree about the labor strike. However, I don't think 67 Corvette production was affected.

This car needs a complete examination to help anwer the questions. First place to look is for the frame vin number match up.

[John H.]

Re: 67 vert body #514 on SN#8269 ?

Could an AO Smith body have sat around St. Louis for that long before being used?

No, it wouldn't - chances are it sat around completed at A.O. Smith until the A.O. Smith strike ended in mid-December and was then shipped to St. Louis. The body was built just about the time the A.O. Smith strike started.

[James G.]

Re: 67 vert body #514 on SN#8269 ?

No, it wouldn't - chances are it sat around completed at A.O. Smith until the A.O. Smith strike ended in mid-December and was then shipped to St. Louis. The body was built just about the time the A.O. Smith strike started.

John, you just keep teaching me new knowledge. When I saw this anomolity, I knew there was a reason. Now this car sounds like something worth considering. The add reads well as a nice two owner car right here in my backyard.

[Loren L.]

Relax - something is afoot

1967 CV #8263 is on record with a St Louis body #4798; 1967 CP #8272 has St Louis body #2855 - So we arrive at #8272 with 7653 ST LOUIS BODIES - ONLY 619 possible ao smith bodies at that stage; and 1967 CV
8405 claims AO Smith body #517

[Patrick H.]

Re: 67 vert body #514 on SN#8269 ?

"so the bushings, shocks, rear strut rods, rear spring and even the pedal assembly bushings are all new."

I hate it when they do this.

Then again, as Dale Pearman would have said, it just makes my original car that much more valuable.

Patrick

[Page C.]

Re: 67 vert body #514 on SN#8269 ?

194377s108471 claimed a AO Simth boby # A-0251. This car was on ebay back in Jan and gave no body build date.
Page Campbell

[Mike M.]

Re: 67 vert body #514 on SN#8269 ?

Good point, Patrick.
Why would strut rods ever need to be replaced, Unless, Damaged?
Original springs can be re-arced (sp?).
H. a. N. D.