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Topic: Help with Date Code for C3 removable hardtop

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Help with Date Code for C3 removable hardtop (1/9)
12/4/13 12:30am

rmendoza
Former Member
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Colorado Springs, CO - USA

Vette(s):
'68 (2), '75 (4), '86, '90, '99, '00, '02. '98 (2), '06 (3), '10, '12 GS, '82 Collector Edition, '03, '90 C4 ZR-1, '14, '15

Joined: 10/11/2013
Posts: 109

I recently purchased a Rally Red '68 L-79 Roadster. I've been looking for a removable hardtop for it and found one. I'm told it was a '68 but would like to verify just for my own information.

I don't know where the source of date codes is so I thought I'd ask some of you experts.

On the back of the top under the window is the large numbers: 48466.....also on the rear glass is:

Safety LOF Flo-Lite

AS-2 C2

Solid Tempered

M72

With this information can anyone tell me if anything signifies a date or date code of this top?

Thx and God Bless

rick

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God Bless, rick

'75 Steel Blue Stingray Coupe

'75 Hot Red L82 Stingray Convertible

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Re: Help with Date Code for C3 removable hardtop (2/9)
12/4/13 8:21am

Adams' Apple

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Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas

Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20129

Safety LOF Flo-Lite

AS-2 = Glass safety standard C2= Date Code

Solid Tempered

M72= Rear Glass

I don't have the date code info on hand, but it appears to be earlier than '72.

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Joel Adams
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Re: Help with Date Code for C3 removable hardtop (3/9)
12/4/13 8:32am

Gunslinger
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Frederick, MD - USA

Vette(s):
1969 convertible L71 427/435 4-speed black interior

Joined: 9/8/2003
Posts: 3398

If it's a genuine hardtop for a '68, it won't have any steel tips on the trailing points of the top. If it has the steel tips, it's a '69 or later top.

Also...a '68 top would have two bolts to secure it to the rear deck. Starting mid-year of '69 it was changed to a three bolt hold down.

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Re: Help with Date Code for C3 removable hardtop (4/9)
12/4/13 2:15pm

Adams' Apple

Best I can tell the date code is for November of '72.
Are you certain that is a "2", and not a "Z" ?
A "Z" would put it in Nov. '67.
Year codes for glass are for the year of production...not necessarily the model year of the vehicle.

Bruce is correct, too..the early '68 tops did NOT have the stainless tips on the lower corners, nor did they have the third hold down bolt in the center of the rear deck.

Black top is '68...White top is '75..

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Re: Help with Date Code for C3 removable hardtop (5/9)
12/4/13 4:48pm

Adams' Apple said: Best I can tell the date code is for November of '72.
Are you certain that is a "2", and not a "Z" ?
A "Z" would put it in Nov. '67.
Year codes for glass are for the year of production...not necessarily the model year of the vehicle.

Bruce is correct, too..the early '68 tops did NOT have the stainless tips on the lower corners, nor did they have the third hold down bolt in the center of the rear deck.

Black top is '68...White top is '75..

Joel and Bruce,

Amazing and thanks for your response!!! The top has no metal tips and no rear center attaching hardware or evidence of there ever being one there!l The top is in amazing shape paint and chrome wise.

As for the C2 vs CZ, I'll have to check it againl closely with the "Z" in mind. My 67 yr old eyes may not be as good as they once were.

On the back of the top under the window is the large numbers: 48466. does this number have any significance or perhaps just a serial number?

Anyway, since it has no metal tips or evidence of them ever having had tips...........since there is no rear center attaching hardware or evidence of there ever having had been any......and if the C2 ends up being CZ, am I safe in assuming that this top is a '68 C3 removable top ?

If it is it willl be amazing!!! I bought my '68 about 2 months ago and it was advertised as numbers matching in Fayetteville AR. When I got it home I put it into Corvette Center USA for a safety check and fix a few things. They also verified that it was in fact a number matching car. A nice car, yet not perfect i.e. I have one rivet that is raising the paint, but as a Survivor it's a eye catcher. This top and the story behind it ending up being a '68 will just add to the story of this car.

thx for your help, God Bless rick

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God Bless, rick

'75 Steel Blue Stingray Coupe

'75 Hot Red L82 Stingray Convertible

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Re: Help with Date Code for C3 removable hardtop (6/9)
12/4/13 5:02pm

Gunslinger
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Frederick, MD - USA

Vette(s):
1969 convertible L71 427/435 4-speed black interior

Joined: 9/8/2003
Posts: 3398

It probably is a November '67 top by the numbers...you know it can't be a '72 top and it could certainly have been made in November. That would make it an early '68 model year top since the '68s would have been introduced several months prior.

Since September was the normal rollout to the public for new model year cars, then parts would have been in production for several months prior. There's no reason why a November '67 date code would be inappropriate.

The data plate on the drivers door post should provide an assembly date for your car. Maybe you'll be fortunate that your car's build date is consistent with the build date for the top.

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Re: Help with Date Code for C3 removable hardtop (7/9)
12/4/13 6:02pm

The car date plate is J15, which I'm told is J15 which would be Wednesday, May 15th, 1968, but early '68 top is good enough for me!!!

thx and God Bless

rick

______________

God Bless, rick

'75 Steel Blue Stingray Coupe

'75 Hot Red L82 Stingray Convertible

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Re: Help with Date Code for C3 removable hardtop (8/9)
12/4/13 7:48pm

Joel and Bruce,

Thanks again for your help. I just got home and looked at the letter designator closer and you were right it was not "C2" it is "CZ".......So you say that is Nov '67. Wooppee! Did I say that it is 8 degrees (Colorado Springs CO) and I almost didn't make it up the driveway!

I'm interested where you can find such date code information. Is there a site, book or whatever.........or are you guys special?

Thanks again,

God Bless

______________

God Bless, rick

'75 Steel Blue Stingray Coupe

'75 Hot Red L82 Stingray Convertible

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Re: Help with Date Code for C3 removable hardtop (9/9)
12/5/13 12:01am

Adams' Apple

rmendoza said: Is there a site, book or whatever.........or are you guys special?

Yes
Yes
and Yes.... LOL

There are many books available for info such as this. My recommendation is to get the NCRS Tech Info/Judging Guide for your year, as a start. TONS of date code info, along with just about anything you would want to know about originality for the car. Not always 100% totally correct for every car, since no two Corvettes were ever made exactly the same, but in general, the best source you can have, imho.

The build date of your car is indeed May...the Nov date of the hardtop would not be out of line at all. In judging situations, the rule of thumb is six months before is acceptable.....not written in stone, tho. Thumbs Up

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