Topic: 69 Vette
in Forum: C3 General Discussion
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Lifetime MemberModerator
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20229
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
That VIN puts the car being built Monday, Oct 6, 1969.
The trim tag should show the same date, or the day before(in your case, possibly the Friday or Saturday before). The trim tag date only shows the date the body is painted, but has no interior/trim installed, and is not yet mated to the chassis. In some cases, it could be several days before final assembly, depending on weekends/holidays.
Your car was probably painted on a Friday or Saturday, and final assembly was Monday.
The trim tag should show the same date, or the day before(in your case, possibly the Friday or Saturday before). The trim tag date only shows the date the body is painted, but has no interior/trim installed, and is not yet mated to the chassis. In some cases, it could be several days before final assembly, depending on weekends/holidays.
Your car was probably painted on a Friday or Saturday, and final assembly was Monday.
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56 
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[QUOTE=Adams' Apple]...The trim tag date only shows the date the body is painted...[/QUOTE]
Yes and No. The Time/Build date actually shows the date the trim tag was attached to the car. Until the mid-70s, the tags were attached on the assembly line after the car had been painted and partial assembly had begun. This could have been the day after the car had been painted, or even longer depending upon holidays and weekends. These tags should show no evidence of body color on them.
By 75 or 76 (can't recall which), the station on the line where the tags were attached was changed and they were installed in the paint shop between the first and final color coats. These and later cars have painted trim tags. For the later cars, the time/build date should be the actual day the Corvette was painted at St. Louis.
All the Bowling Green tags were attached after the body was painted and should show no evidence of a color coat on them.
My unit ( #26620) '69 TAG shows on the first two lines=
Chevrolet M09
TRIM 411 972 PAINT
How does that fit in to the assembly, paint, trim info? Doesn't it show all three? Please decipher. Thanks rj
Chevrolet M09
TRIM 411 972 PAINT
How does that fit in to the assembly, paint, trim info? Doesn't it show all three? Please decipher. Thanks rj
Former Member
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Frederick, MD - USA
Joined: 9/8/2003
Posts: 3398
Vette(s): 1969 convertible L71 427/435 4-speed black interior
Chevrolet...self-explanatory
M09...August 1969
Trim 411...bright blue, vinyl
972 PAINT...Can Am White
M09...August 1969
Trim 411...bright blue, vinyl
972 PAINT...Can Am White
[QUOTE=DeanW]What about 734243?[/QUOTE]
Early November, 1969, possibly November 1st. What's your time/build code? October ended with 734067 and your car is only 176 after that.
They averaged about 10 cars an hour in two, nine hour shifts, and often worked two Saturdays a month.
Lifetime MemberModerator
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20229
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
O03 would appear to be an October 3rd build date...but the VIN shows to be Oct. 6th. This brings us back to the fact that the trim tag is applied after paint, but before assembly. Oct. 3rd was a Friday...Oct. 6th was Monday. As I mentioned above, it happens all the time. The car was painted one day(Friday), and then it sat over the weekend until final assembly on Monday. 
As I mentioned above, it happens all the time. The car was painted one day(Friday), and then it sat over the weekend until final assembly on Monday. Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
My Link
(click for Texas-sized view!) NCRS
"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
in Forum: C3 General Discussion
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