'63 Trim Tag - Blue over Black??

[Sydney G.]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/coupe-/200928572125?_trksid=p5197.m1992&_trkparms=aid=111000&algo=REC.CURRENT&ao=1&asc=14&meid=7979738522739442690&pid=100015&prg=1006&rk=1&sd=200928572125&&forcev4exp=true

Hi,
I thought this '63 listed for sale on eBay might be interesting to some.
Take a look at the Trim Tag. If I'm seeing this right, Paint code 916A - Daytona Blue with STD - Black interior? (I'm in need of a computer update so the image is less than clear for me)
I've seen a number of Daytona Blue cars advertised over the years as having black interiors but
have always found that the sellers just didn't realize the interior was in fact Blue.
Not sure what is up with this trim tag but the Body number certainly seems to line up correctly with the serial number.
Not sure about the rivets though.

Syd

[Michael H.]

Re: '63 Trim Tag - Blue over Black??

Hi,
I thought this '63 listed for sale on eBay might be interesting to some.
Take a look at the Trim Tag. If I'm seeing this right, Paint code 916A - Daytona Blue with STD - Black interior?
Syd

Syd,

When the 63 model was introduced, there were several trim/paint combinations available that were discontinued a few months later. (October 62?) I don't remember all of the combinations that were discontinued though. I think Daytona blue with black interior was one such combination.

This occurred two times during early production of the 63 model. Dealers were notified of these changes.

Orders that were placed with the zone prior to these change notice dates would remain valid so a car ordered in Sept 62 may have been produced a month, or even a few months after the announcement.

It's also possible that the car was a special order/COPO, even after the availability of the color combo was discontinued in October 62.

[Alan D.]

Re: '63 Trim Tag - Blue over Black??

From what I see in "Authentication Library" by Grenning & Sinor the term BLK & later STD were used for the black vinyl interior.
That same book confirms that "Because black vinyl was the standard 1963 interior, not an option, no number or exception letter was used on those tags." So the only concern would be for an early car one would expect the BLK. I found no data as to the date when the STD was used instead of the BLK.

[Monte M.]

Re: '63 Trim Tag - Blue over Black??

In looking at all the trim tags I have pictures of, I do have a "J1 with STD" on it while I have a "J2 WITH BLK" on it.

I am not saying that is the transition, because I have earlier tags with "BLK" going all the way back to September of 1962.

Maybe some other member can chime in with the dates they have with the "STD" and "BLK" on them.

[Monte M.]

Re: '63 Trim Tag - Blue over Black??

Syd,

You are talking about the Daytona Blue with black interior. When I was a very small kid, my first introduction to the Corvette was when I was walking home from my friends house around the corner. We played during the day because were not old enough to be in school yet. Anyway, as I am walking home, this really cool car pulled up along side of me. The door swung open and my Uncle Jim yelled, "Do you want a ride home?" I remember it like t was yesterday.

The point of this is, the car he picked me up in was a 1963 Corvette Coupe, Daytona Blue with black interior. It was a 340 HP car. My Grandmother drove it into the garage wall. He sold it after he got t fixed. She thought it was in reverse when she let out the clutch to pull it out of the garage. He was off n the National Guard is why she was pulling it out.

Also, the link you post in you first post, the Daytona Blue Coupe, the vin number is literally only a couple of number from mine.

Are you saying the option of getting a black interior with a Daytona Blue car was no longer available? You could no longer get that combination?

Monte

[Philip C.]

Re: '63 Trim Tag - Blue over Black??

I think that the trim tag is bogus the M and H in Motors / Michigan line up they should not. Phil 8063

[Monte M.]

Re: '63 Trim Tag - Blue over Black??

Phil,
I agree. typically, it looks like the right edge of those two letters line up with each other. This tag has the "H" centered under the "M".

Plus, as you guys were mentioning before, it says "STD".
As I mentioned before, my car is just a few vin numbers different. My black interior is called out as "BLK". I only know of a handful of early cars with black
interior,but the ones I know of are all "BLK" like mine.

Monte 1963 Corvette body number 1657

[Mel H.]

Re: '63 Trim Tag - Blue over Black??

Others know this better than me, but heres what I see. VIN #3335 suggests assembly date of ~Nov 13th, 1962. Trim tags stamped "STD" indicate a black interior for '63, and although pics can be deceiving this does look like black interior. Is hard to believe this is an original interior, though looks can be deceiving.

If I'm right the Engine pad # indicates assembly 12/10/62 so couldnt be original to car assembled Nov 13. Seller notes engine as 'date code correct', however, given its after the Nov 13th vehicle assembly, I wouldnt call it "date correct" which implies a correct engine. Think it could be considered 'period correct' (built around that period), just not "date correct" or "numbers matching".

Also, the ending engine pad letter "S" suggests 250-300hp engine with power glide transmission (missing another letter code defining the hp), again not original to this car. And finally, block casting K = November 20th. This aligns with engine assembly 12/10 (few weeks later) but again not matching to the car assembly date. Another item is intake manifold 3866922 which is from a '65 327 engine. A few other items also appear incorrect, but not a bad driver car if your not looking for a numbers matching engine, etc. Hope this helps

[Monte M.]

Re: '63 Trim Tag - Blue over Black??

Mel,
I do not think any body was questioning your points. we all saw that.
Also, Vin number 3335 would be closer to November 6th or 7th build date. It really does not matter because the block is so late.
The issue of the thread was "BLK" versus "STD".

[Timothy B.]

Re: '63 Trim Tag - Blue over Black??

My 63 is built C2 and has STD next to the Trim, the car has black interior.

[Sydney G.]

Re: '63 Trim Tag - Blue over Black??

Syd,

When the 63 model was introduced, there were several trim/paint combinations available that were discontinued a few months later. (October 62?) I don't remember all of the combinations that were discontinued though. I think Daytona blue with black interior was one such combination.

This occurred two times during early production of the 63 model. Dealers were notified of these changes.

Orders that were placed with the zone prior to these change notice dates would remain valid so a car ordered in Sept 62 may have been produced a month, or even a few months after the announcement.

It's also possible that the car was a special order/COPO, even after the availability of the color combo was discontinued in October 62.

Thanks Michael.
I thought about this possibly being a special order car but I had never heard of other color comb's being offered early on.
While I've seen several 63's for sale that were listed as being Blue/Black, they always proved to be changed from another color. This is the 1st car I've seen that has the trim tag to back it up.

If notices were sent on 2 occasions to all dealers early in the production cycle then there must be some documentation out there showing what color combo's were deleted. Aside from Daytona Blue/Black, the only other color combinations I can think of possibly being offered early in the year would be Silver Blue/Saddle or Silver Blue/Red both of which I have never seen.

Syd

[Michael H.]

Re: '63 Trim Tag - Blue over Black??

Thanks Michael.
I thought about this possibly being a special order car but I had never heard of other color comb's being offered early on.
While I've seen several 63's for sale that were listed as being Blue/Black, they always proved to be changed from another color. This is the 1st car I've seen that has the trim tag to back it up.

If notices were sent on 2 occasions to all dealers early in the production cycle then there must be some documentation out there showing what color combo's were deleted. Aside from Daytona Blue/Black, the only other color combinations I can think of possibly being offered early in the year would be Silver Blue/Saddle or Silver Blue/Red both of which I have never seen.

Syd

I just found one of the sheets that list the deleted color combos. It's dated 19 October 1962. Not the one I'm looking for though. This one shows four color combos canceled (See scan below) including Sebring silver with saddle interior. Interesting because Bobby Lo's Z06 is that color combo. The order must have been held up for months waiting for KO wheels?

Is this car a wee bit early for a vinyl covered dash panel? Maybe not. I dunno.

[Sydney G.]

Re: '63 Trim Tag - Blue over Black??

That's interesting stuff as usual Michael.
Although, there is no mention of Daytona Blue/Black.
In all the lists I've ever seen of '63 color combo's, which are pretty much the same list, there is no mention of Blue/Black yet all these deleted combo's are shown as available.

Interesting too that I've seen 2 or 3 cars that were Saddle Tan/Red. Of those examples, one was in the late 14,900 vin range and the other was about vin 15,475.
Also a Red/Saddle in the late 3,900 vin range, or around Nov. 28th which I guess would pass within the time period of the dated letter you attached.

Syd

[Sydney G.]

Re: '63 Trim Tag - Blue over Black??

My 63 is built C2 and has STD next to the Trim, the car has black interior.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1963-Chevy-Corvette-convertible-/261225677148?_trksid=p5197.m1992&_trkparms=aid=111000&algo=REC.CURRENT&ao=1&asc=14&meid=8130252066469117306&pid=100015&prg=1006&rk=2&sd=200928572125&&forcev4exp=true

Hi Monte and Alan,

Here is what seems to be another example of an early '63 with a 'STD' interior.
No pic of the vin tag in the sellers ad but the body number on the trim tag lines up nicely
for '63 #2,538.
This car would have been built just shy of 850 unit earlier than the Blue/Black car.