69 Factory "Signed"?

[Larry K.]

At another forum, a member was cleaning the underbody of his 69 and found this "signature" in on the underside of the rear deck. I wonder if "Lilly Bell" was an employee?

[Michael H.]

Re: 69 Factory "Signed"?

That's interesting. I've seen a few strange things similar to that over the years. This could have happened anywhere from the source of the panel, during shipping or even in the Corvette plant in St Louis when the panel was still just a panel in a stack.

I wrote my name in felt tip on the underside of one (or two, can't remember) of the panels of the "Last St Louis Corvette" as the body was being assembled in 1981.

[Ray G.]

Re: 69 Factory "Signed"?

? Lilly Bell Scott(Author) ?

Just an idea.

Ray

[Pete B.]

Re: 69 Factory "Signed"?

On my 71, i found initials GSR and the date 11-2-70... The car was a 12-3-70 build date. Both my C4's have final assembly dates pencil etched on the inside drivers side hood close to the front.

[Edward M.]

Re: 69 Factory "Signed"?

I suspect that the "GSR" is actually "GTR", which are the initials for General Tire and Rubber. GTR took over manufacturing some Corvette body panels in 1971 (at the Ionia plant as I recall). I have seen the very same thing on a couple of other 1971 Corvettes.

[William L.]

Re: 69 Factory "Signed"?

That's interesting. I've seen a few strange things similar to that over the years. This could have happened anywhere from the source of the panel, during shipping or even in the Corvette plant in St Louis when the panel was still just a panel in a stack.

I wrote my name in felt tip on the underside of one (or two, can't remember) of the panels of the "Last St Louis Corvette" as the body was being assembled in 1981.

Michael; Anybody you know in this picture????

[Michael H.]

Re: 69 Factory "Signed"?

Michael; Anybody you know in this picture????

The only two that I think I recognize would be the guy on the far left (worked on underbody at last stop before body drop) and the guy with the beard. (Bill Basil ?? chassis line but I don't remember what station)

I was standing in almost the exact same spot the photographer was standing in the picture. In fact, it's possible that I shot that picture. I'll look through my slides and see.

Just spotted another one. I think the guy standing just to the right of the guy with the striped shirt is the guy that pulled the engines off the racks and loaded them on to the conveyor.

Other faces are somewhat fimiliar but it's been almost 30 years.

[William L.]

Re: 69 Factory "Signed"?

The only two that I think I recognize would be the guy on the far left (worked on underbody at last stop before body drop) and the guy with the beard. (Bill Basil ?? chassis line but I don't remember what station)

I was standing in almost the exact same spot the photographer was standing in the picture. In fact, it's possible that I shot that picture. I'll look through my slides and see.

Just spotted another one. I think the guy standing just to the right of the guy with the striped shirt is the guy that pulled the engines off the racks and loaded them on to the conveyor.

Other faces are somewhat fimiliar but it's been almost 30 years.

Michael; The photo's were shot by a great Friend Bob Heggie. Bob passed away e few years ago, Do you anything about the 53/54 that was there?

[Michael H.]

Re: 69 Factory "Signed"?

Michael; The photo's were shot by a great Friend Bob Heggie. Bob passed away e few years ago, Do you anything about the 53/54 that was there?

I knew the story on the 54 years ago but I don't remember it now.

There were several people taking pictures from the same spot I was standing at the end of the final line. (that wasn't actually the "final line though. just the area at the end of the body drop line. The cars ran and moved under their own power but most of the interior was still to be installed.
On this "Last car", the trim line guys came over and installed most of it right there where the car sat)