65 Trim tag stamps

[Bill W.]

I am tearing down my 65 for restoration and I found my trim tag is hand stamped "0 5 5" . The car was completed May 12 1965 , and I know the stamp had to do with the warranty . But this is the first one I have seen in person . My question is why was this stamp needed the owner should have a warranty plate and why were so few of them stamped ? Wow that was the good old days 12 months or 12,000 mile warranty !

[Keith B.]

Re: 65 Trim tag stamps

If you notice on your vin tag after the word Chevrolet there is "DD" embossed. That stands for date of dilvery The dealer was suppose to stamp the date on the vin tag. I guess the dealer thought the trim tag had more room

[John H.]

Re: 65 Trim tag stamps

Chevrolet-Central Office begged/pleaded with/threatened the dealers for several years to stamp the delivery date adjacent to the "DD" on the VIN plate, but hardly any of them complied; the few that did usually stamped the softer aluminum trim tag vs. the hard stainless VIN plate. The battle ended with the introduction of the '68, with the VIN plate buried under the windshield garnish molding, behind the glass.

[Keith B.]

Re: 65 Trim tag stamps

Yes John you can look at hundreds of GM cars Pre 68 and none will have the date stamped on the vin tag

[Don H.]

Re: 65 Trim tag stamps

VIN plate.jpgHere is a picture of the very crude stamping on my '65 VIN. I believe it is "9 6 5" Don H.

[Ray G.]

Re: 65 Trim tag stamps

Chevrolet-Central Office begged/pleaded with/threatened the dealers for several years to stamp the delivery date adjacent to the "DD" on the VIN plate, but hardly any of them complied; the few that did usually stamped the softer aluminum trim tag vs. the hard stainless VIN plate. The battle ended with the introduction of the '68, with the VIN plate buried under the windshield garnish molding, behind the glass.

As a Chevrolet dealership mechanic (we were not called technicians back then) who worked "new car set-up" in the sixties, when the number of cars, and/or vacations dictated I can tell you we were not told to stamp delivery dates in VIN tags by management.
What "Chevrolet" wanted aand what happened at the dealer level were two different things. Picture a mechanic trying to stamp a date in a VIN tag. Especially on a Corvette.
Even then we were somewhat daunted by the idea of doing anything to a VIN tag.
my .02