1966 Trim Tag versus Shipping Data Report

[Donald H.]

My trim tag has body build code of L01 which I think is July 01, 1966. I just got my shipping data report and it shows official GM Production Date of July 14, 1966. What would have caused this delay? Mine is an AO Smith Body.

I assume that the Production Date is determined by when the actual production is completed. So, was there that big of a delay for AO Smith bodies?

By the way, delivery was to Park Slope Chevrolet in Brooklyn, NY.

Thanks,

Don

[David L.]

Re: 1966 Trim Tag versus Shipping Data Report

Don,

The code on the trim tag on my 1966 Corvette is "F24" (February 24, 1966). The GM official Production Date was 2/24/1966 and the dealer was West End Chevrolet in Waltham, MA, according to the shipping data report.

St. Louis body

Dave

[Michael J.]

Re: 1966 Trim Tag versus Shipping Data Report

Lots of things can cause delays on the production line, like repairs when cars are pulled off line for a while to correct. That doesn't' sound like anything unusual.

[Mike E.]

Re: 1966 Trim Tag versus Shipping Data Report

My AO Smith body '65 has a Trim Tag Date of Jan 13, 1965 and a ship date of Jan 27, 1965. To me it only makes sense there would be a wider gap between a Smith body and a St. Louis body.

If you’re a total geek like me and have a Smith Body you might want to read John Hinckley's article he wrote a few years back about the AO Smith plant. In this John states. "Transit time varied from four days to two weeks. The train came right into the plant at St. Louis, and the bodies were unloaded into a scheduling area, where they were stored until they were required for production."

Mike

[Donald H.]

Re: 1966 Trim Tag versus Shipping Data Report

My AO Smith body '65 has a Trim Tag Date of Jan 13, 1965 and a ship date of Jan 27, 1965. To me it only makes sense there would be a wider gap between a Smith body and a St. Louis body.

John Hinckley's article he wrote a few years back about the AO Smith plant. In this John states. "Transit time varied from four days to two weeks. The train came right into the plant at St. Louis, and the bodies were unloaded into a scheduling area, where they were stored until they were required for production."

Mike

Thanks Mike, I'll read Johns article. I sort of figured that it was due to being an AO Smith body.

[R N.]

Re: 1966 Trim Tag versus Shipping Data Report

Hello Don,

My '66 AOS body trim tag is H16, March 16th, production date was March 25th. Hope this helps you.

[Loren L.]

Re: 1966 Trim Tag versus Shipping Data Report

Poor railroad service to start......then add some time while waiting for a demand for your body.....'65 #23561 is a July 9 body with A/C, PS and TI.....it got to hang around until they were making up "Let's Drop Some Weird Cars on Unsuspecting (and Unordered) Dealers" - also used up those old 3782780 blocks, don't you know...........and maybe........

[Ronald L.]

Re: 1966 Trim Tag versus Shipping Data Report

Unlikely scenario that this was random stuff - more like dealer orders, and given build time, paint, loading, rail time, two weeks is good stuff, not much different today

Poor railroad service to start......then add some time while waiting for a demand for your body.....'65 #23561 is a July 9 body with A/C, PS and TI.....it got to hang around until they were making up "Let's Drop Some Weird Cars on Unsuspecting (and Unordered) Dealers" - also used up those old 3782780 blocks, don't you know...........and maybe........

[Larry M.]

Re: 1966 Trim Tag versus Shipping Data Report

My trim tag has body build code of L01 which I think is July 01, 1966. I just got my shipping data report and it shows official GM Production Date of July 14, 1966. What would have caused this delay? Mine is an AO Smith Body.

I assume that the Production Date is determined by when the actual production is completed. So, was there that big of a delay for AO Smith bodies?

By the way, delivery was to Park Slope Chevrolet in Brooklyn, NY.

Thanks,

Don

Don:

1-2 weeks between AOS body build (by Trim Tag) and St Louis car build (by VIN Tag) are typical. Ten days is a good average..........and your car is 13 days with a holiday thrown in. So..........just about right.

My 1967 AOS convertible had a body build date of March 16 and a final car build date of March 28. Engine was built on March 20.........or when body was in shipment to St Louis.

Hope this helps.

Larry

[Loren L.]

Re: 1966 Trim Tag versus Shipping Data Report

Did someone leave a call to bring this up again in five years? '65 23561 was dropshipped at Madison Chevrolet (Scottsdale), unordered in August 1965. In subsequent years, John Amgwert put me in touch with an original owner, now in SoCal, of '65 23540, a base motor, 4spd Nassau Blue/Blue leather, AC, AM/FM, PW, PB, PS, WSW, & KO wheels that was dropshipped, unordered, at the dealership in Eloy, AZ. In a conference with sons of both dealers in the '90s, we were told that the response from the Regional Office to their calls of protest was to the effect "Would you like to be able to order a Corvette in 1966 and ensuing years and actually receive it?". We now believe that it's possible the 2 cars were on the same truck from the railway delivery point in Phoenix.

[Stewart L.]

Re: 1966 Trim Tag versus Shipping Data Report

Loren, if you recall from a previous thread, our 65 roadsters were consecutive body numbers at AO Smith in July 65. This gets even stranger because my car was delivered to Madison Chevrolet in Scottsdale too per the Shipping Report. It must have been on the same train and truck as yours!

[Loren L.]

Re: 1966 Trim Tag versus Shipping Data Report

Stewart, I'll have to dig out the file and re-establish contact with the son - if only to ask, "Why heinous crime did someone at the dealership commit?".

[Stewart L.]

Re: 1966 Trim Tag versus Shipping Data Report

I have the cars history since it came to Washington in 1967 but the first 2 years in Az are a mystery still. Anything you can find out would be great. I bet the dealership was thrilled to get a 396 in August in the desert.
An interesting side note, I bought my car from a large collection estate sale and a friend that helped me pick up my car saw a 70 Monte Carlo 454 and bought it. He found the shipping report under the seat and it was a Madison Chevrolet car too!