73 rear deck numbers...

[Kevin N.]

hey guys...i just purchased a 73 coupe. 67K original mile "survivor". paint, interior, motor, trans, rear end and basically everything else is ALL untouched and unrestored. my question is...i found these letters and number (see pic) on the under side of the back deck. does anyone know what they might mean? it's a base motor car with only 2 options. am/fm and power steering. it was assembled on june 22. i'm guessing the "20" has something to do with the build date, but what could the "MM" mean?
thanks in advance.

[Larry M.]

Re: 73 rear deck numbers...

Kevin,

I've no clue on the 'MM"; but as for the '20', are they the last two digits of your VIN?

Larry

[Kevin N.]

Re: 73 rear deck numbers...

larry, i'm afraid not. the vin # is 431033. it was the 22nd one before the end of the day, though. maybe they misjudged by 2. maybe it was the 20th coupe body built on that particular day the body was built? that still leaves the "MM".

[Michael W.]

Re: 73 rear deck numbers...

Kevin,

Where are you getting the info about '22nd before the end of the day'? Most of us lucky to know +/- 2 days of when the car was built, never mind what portion of the day.

The only numbers usually found underneath panels are related to the job number which were typically three digits or sometimes and RPO number. What's on your trim tag?

[Tom H.]

Re: 73 rear deck numbers...

Is the car red ???? MM / Mille Miglia ?????? Just a thought. Pretty late VIN on a 73 too. Sounds like a neat one.

[Kevin N.]

Re: 73 rear deck numbers...

Kevin,

Where are you getting the info about '22nd before the end of the day'? Most of us lucky to know +/- 2 days of when the car was built, never mind what portion of the day.

The only numbers usually found underneath panels are related to the job number which were typically three digits or sometimes and RPO number. What's on your trim tag?

hey michael...in the NCRS birthday book, of course. my trim tag says K21 (june 21), but the b-day book says june 22. a day or 2 here and there is normal. (my 67 was over 1 week off). on their calendar it shows, on june 22, that the final vin number built that day was 31055. that's 22 after mine. and TOM...as for my color it's dark blue code 927. so the "MM" for mille miglia red is out. maybe the "MM 22" is the assemble guys initails and age, ha,ha?

[Michael W.]

Re: 73 rear deck numbers...

The dates in the birthday book are calculated for the most part, not authenticated actuals.

[Kevin N.]

Re: 73 rear deck numbers...

The dates in the birthday book are calculated for the most part, not authenticated actuals.

in the future which is more acurate...the b-day book or the trim tag?

[Michael W.]

Re: 73 rear deck numbers...

Neither. No wait, both! .

The trim tag date is simply the date the tag was stamped and affixed to the body. The car may have been completed the same day in a minority of cases, but most were the next day, the day after that or maybe the following Monday if the trim tag date was a Thursday. Lots of variables as you can see.

Mine was completed two days after the trim tag date according to GM Canada records.

[Wayne W.]

Re: 73 rear deck numbers...

Numbers on individual panels like that are usually just accounting numbers by the panel manufacturer. In this case, my feeling is that this is the 22nd. panel of the run,day,or week and the initials are the inspector.

If you look closely, you will find that the sand blasting has chipped away at the marks, which means they were there before the panels came to the body shop for assembly. Most likely applied by the panel manufacturer.

[Michael D.]

Re: 73 rear deck numbers...

...the initials are the inspector...

I agree. Inspector's mark.

[Kevin N.]

Re: 73 rear deck numbers...

right you are guys...today i dropped the tank to retrieve the tank sticker and found some more numbers..."MH 26" AND 6-14 and 6133. the "MH 26" is just like the previous "MM 22". i'm guessing the 6-14 is the date june 14 as my car was built on june 21. as for the 6133 that's probably the job number. the tank sticker was in a few pieces, but i think i can put it back together to look good then preserve it in plastic.

[Tom R.]

Re: 73 rear deck numbers...

right you are guys...today i dropped the tank to retrieve the tank sticker and found some more numbers..."MH 26" AND 6-14 and 6133. the "MH 26" is just like the previous "MM 22". i'm guessing the 6-14 is the date june 14 as my car was built on june 21. as for the 6133 that's probably the job number. the tank sticker was in a few pieces, but i think i can put it back together to look good then preserve it in plastic.

So, look at the upper left hand corner in box 10 with the caption SCHED NO DATE and look at the numbers. This is schedule data and the estimated date of production. The estimated date of production could be within a day or two of your trim tag date code.

The schedule no 33-xxxx, those last four digits could reconcile with an underbody panel number. It served, during this period as the job number not unlike previous years. I've seen this number on the passenger side underbody but 1973 was a transition year in terms of GMAD landscape style build sheet and data processing.

Actually the data on your build sheet looks clear and legible although its in pieces. Drop me a note if you need help with interpreting your build sheet data.

[Christopher K.]

Re: 73 rear deck numbers...

Kevin
Great find!
I believe my dark blue (927) '73 L82 has the same "MM". I'll try to post a pic tonight.
Chris

[Kevin N.]

Re: 73 rear deck numbers...

tom...most of the build sheet is self explanatory. the build date from box 10 is 1 day from my trim tag. i'll keep my eyes open for the other number from box 10 as i'm searching which is 10-0195. turns out it's only a 2-option car. power steering and am/fm radio. rare, but desireable? with ALL it's originality...i like it. the white lettered firestones on it now were the replacements from firestone back in 1979 and i have the 4 pages of replacement receipts when they were replaced and they are still on the car and very good shape, too. the tank sticker shows blackwalls which matches the firestone 500 original spare.