When was the early late VIN cutoff for 1959 interior exterior trunk color?

[Ian G.]

When was the early late VIN cutoff for 1959 interior/exterior trunk color? I researched archives and another member reported his car VIN #2167 (Dec 58) had interior trunk color. My car was Frost Blue interior and exterior, so I cannot confirm (or at least couldn't tell the difference as I stripped paint). Anyone remember in regard to their cars? The guide says early cars were interior trunk color. Some other threads people mention "very late" cars were exterior trunk color.


This will be good for the new 1958-60 guide

[Barry A.]

Re: When was the early late VIN cutoff for 1959 interior exterior trunk color?

My 59, (vin 6026, March 31st) has trunk color of exterior (Originally Inca silver). There must be a specific VIN# that divides "early" and "late" for the color change, mine was about 2/3 of the way through the run. I would probably characterize my car as "late-ER" but not "very late" (but what do I know??)

[Pat H.]

Re: When was the early late VIN cutoff for 1959 interior exterior trunk color?

My 59 is a Nov car. It's been repainted a few time, but was originally Inca silver. When I was fixing the trunk springs, all indications point to the trunk being silver.

[Rick G.]

Re: When was the early late VIN cutoff for 1959 interior exterior trunk color?

Ian,

My 59 classic creammid January car has the trunk still painted the orginal classic cream color.

[Barry A.]

Re: When was the early late VIN cutoff for 1959 interior exterior trunk color?

A November car is certainly "early" but if trunk is exterior color that runs counter to the belief that only "later" cars were painted this way, and what explains a later, Dec car, 2167, with interior color? Maybe some early cars were one way and some another NOT dependent on VIN/production date but determined by color or some other factor. Ian, Pat and Rick what are the VIV #s of your 59s? I correspond with a guy in the midwest (I am in Maine) who has a white 59, VIN# 6021, just 5 cars older than mine. We believe they must have travelled the line within sight of each other. Fun to know that.

[Rick G.]

Re: When was the early late VIN cutoff for 1959 interior exterior trunk color?

Hi Barry,

My 59 Classic Cream is VIN 3219.

Rick

[Dan H.]

Re: When was the early late VIN cutoff for 1959 interior exterior trunk color?

Checked my notes from the 80's, only 59 with interior vrs exterior color in trunk/decklid area was under Vin 400. Didn't find any later ones, but they might go a bit higher?
Dan

[Ian G.]

Re: When was the early late VIN cutoff for 1959 interior exterior trunk color?

I spoke with member RJ mauser, who reported he saw an early Inca Silver car (maybe Pat's even?) in the 19xx range (?) that was likewise exterior color in the trunk and softtop area, so it may indeed be that Silver was always done that way. Having done some research, he also reported to me that he believes that the cutoff happened in the 25xx range, or the last week of December, so Rick's January car is consistent with RJ's observation. VIN 2167 was Tim Ehlers - Black on Red. So far, it looks like Vin 24xx and below is an "early" car and vin 25xx is a "late" car for this purpose... They may have made this change over Christmas vacation... :P Any members in the 25xx-31xx range who can report?

My Vin is 2382 (Dec 24, 1958), but originally Frost Blue on Blue, so no help in this discussion

[Pat H.]

Re: When was the early late VIN cutoff for 1959 interior exterior trunk color?

My 59 is #1084. This car is now red and appears to have been painted 3 time alway red except for the original silver. As I mentioned previously, when I scraped some paint off in the trunk, it was silver, but it could have been done by a previous owner, but for sure the trunk springs were silver.