I found this intersting article in the online version of 'Corvette Magazine' (CorvetteMagazine.com) - Matching Numbers - What does it mean to you?. It is from August of 2000 but with all the postings discussing VIN numbers and such I thought I'd add this one to the mix.

It's articles like this one that make me want to renew my subscription.

Thanks for posting it.

Great article. Thanks for the post.

Ken Styer

Wow, great artical. Good thing I was planning on making a driver. After reading the artical I checked the Data plate on the left door pillar and it is a fake. It doesn't list the build date which is supposed to be on there.

Too bad I didn't know this before I could have offered less money!

by the way, the numbers that it listed I don't really understand. It said:

Chevrolet I12
Trim 192 22L Paint

I know the paint is correct Bright Blue, but what is the I12 and 192? It's an L48 car with 4 speed, and basic interior.
Thanks,
Glenn

What a great arcticle. I'm in the hunt for a 69' sometime this summer and this really helps my knowledge base for what to look for and what not to worry about.
I saved this aff into a word doc for later reference
Thanks again.

gmurray said: ... Chevrolet I12 Trim 192 22L Paint I know the paint is correct Bright Blue, but what is the I12 and 192? ...

According to the Corvette Black Book 1953-2003, by Mike Antonick, the production months for the '75 model year were October,'74 (A) through July, '75 (J). So that means (according to the tag) the body build date (I12) was June 12, 1975.

I'm not exactly sure how to iterpret the 'Trim 192'. The C.B.B. shows an interior code of '192=Bk/L', which I would think means black leather - but there isn't an RPO for leather. There is a 'Custom Interior Trim' listed with the RPOs, but w/o an RPO number. There is also a note that reads 'Custom interior included leather seat trim, wood-grain accents and lower carpet trim on inner door panels, wood-grain accents on console, and special cut-pile carpeting'.

Hope that helps a little.
_________________________________

Jim O.
Save the Wave...!!!

Help me here. How can you tell the trim tag/data plate is fake? Is the date just wrong? Or is it missing all together?
Another question..... I've been told the date on the plate is the date that the body was mated to the frame. That would mean it should be the latest date code found on the car. Is this true?

Thanks to Norsky's information, I may have been hasty in saying the tag was fake. The dates that he gave me off my code are correct for a late run production in 1975.

Thanks for all the info. This was a great artical.
Glenn

Hi

Oh, how true what they say.
I got a reproduction window & tank sticker and I must say, they do not appeare original looking. ( at least to me ).
I also heard that reproduction protecto plates and trim tags can be recognised.
Well, it all depends on how much you want to spend for a car. You will never get a early C3 big block for 15.000 $ numbers matching etc. If so, your either lucky or being fouled.

With non numbers matching BB greetings ( but who cares as long the hood is closed )
Gunther


|UPDATED|2/4/2004 10:59:37 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|