The 1963 Corvette trim tag build code contains a letter that represents the month, which is then followed by a single digit that represent the week of the month (1 through 6). O: This code for A48 (seat belt deletion) is confirmed on 1965 Corvairs but has yet to be seen on 1966 or 1967 Corvairs. The theft aspect is not so difficult, but covering it up after the fact is tough to do. We cover all years in detail below. The body build date code consists of an alphanumeric code representing the month followed by two numbers representing the day of the month. All of the casting numbers are in the same location on big- or small-blockbetween valves. This is one of those typical things that you can run into when basket cases (aptly named) are involved. This center carb (PN 3902355) has the correct number, but it is a new Holley replacement. 1966 Chevrolet Corvette VIN Numbers - CorvSport.com Below is a complete listing of Regular Production Option (RPO) codes for every Corvette model year. This is one of the many sought-after documents. The 1965 to 1967 rear axle stampings were changed slightly to include build plant codes. The crazy thing is that with all the chassis rust, the windshield frame and birdcage looked pretty good. headliner previously used. Should You Get A C5 Corvette Over A C8 Corvette Today? Birdcages can be subjected to all the elements: water, salt, dirt, and anything that could possibly cause corrosion. It also required that the Corvette was equipped with an upgraded suspension, similar to the setup on the 396 package. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Join The World's Fastest Growing Corvette Community >> Activate Membership Models Generation Hubs The next position to the right is the body sequence number. Early Corvette Trim Tag ID - Ecklers Corvette 4 Speed Manual, Close Ratio, Heavy Duty Transmission, Full-length ladder type with five cross members and separate body, Independent upper and lower A-arms; unequal-length wishbones; coil springs; anti-roll bar;tubular shocks, Independent with fixed differential; nine leaf springs lateral struts and universally-jointed axle shafts radius arms and direct-acting shock absorbers, Saginaw recirculating ball, 17:1 ratio, 2.9 turns to lock, 41.6 turning circle. Always remember: in many cases, it makes sense to spend more upfront to get a better car. Smith body source or S for the St. Louis Assembly Plant. Required fields are marked *. The bonding strip to the left is in excellent condition with original bonding adhesive oozing out. The cars with 427 engines also included special 427 racing emblems. My first thought was that I should not take the time to even look at this car. Go home and think it out. Corvette bodies are comprised of numerous fiberglass panels bonded together. History, Specifications, VIN, Options, Performance, & More. This is when patience is key to avoid paying way too much for a rough Midyear project. How in-depth can you go with the restoration? Production Options Color Options for 1966 Color Codes: B=Blue, BB=Bright Blue, BG=Beige, BK=Black, G-Green, L=Leather, R=Red, S=Saddle, SI=Silver, V=Vinyl, W=White, WB=White and Blue Interior Colors 1966 Corvette Specifications Mechanical Dimensions Engine Specifications Poorly performed or incorrect repairs are often found. The sequence number is the last production car made in that corresponding period and can be found as the last six digits of the VIN number on your car. In rear of right hand pillar brace under the glove box. 1966 C2 Chevrolet Corvette: Specifications, VIN, & Options - CorvSport.com Beginning in 1965 the Protect-O-Plate was imprinted with engine, axle, and transmission code information. 4. Protect-O-Plates also had the original purchasers name, along with the other data. Rear Axle Ratio Identification Codes 7. Aluminum cylinder heads and intake manifolds usually have a W stamp within a snowflake design indicating Winters Aluminum Foundry Company. C3 (1968-1982): Windshield Glass, Rear Glass, Door Glass. Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close, Join The World's Fastest Growing Corvette Community >>, 1966 Corvette Performance & Specifications, Tuxedo Black, Ermine White, Rally Red, Nassau Blue, Laguna Blue, Trophy Blue, Mosport Green, Sunfire Yellow, Silver Pearl, Milano Maroon, 1966 Corvette pricing and factory options, FOR SALE: Modified 1966 Chevrolet Corvette, Corvette Of The Day: Turbocharged 2003 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Drag Car, Watch A C8 Corvette Get Unleashed On The Autobahn. SEAT TYPE: There may or may not be an additional code following the trim code that identifies the type of seat installed in the car. Starting in mid-1964 and continuing throughout the 1967 model year, all body sequence numbers were prefixed with the letter A for the A.O. General Motors offered one automatic transmission for the Midyear: an aluminum Powerglide 2-speed unit. Body panels are typically gray, but early 1963s may be white or pink. There were minor modifications made to the Corvettes appearance. C2 Corvette Restoration by the Numbers: What to Look For - Chevy DIY We have included an easy to use search feature too for quickly finding specific RPO codes. The trim tag designated a different exterior paint code than the paint on the Midyear. For example, deciphering the 1966 engine code F0219HP goes like this: F is for Flint, Michigan; 02 is the month of February; 19 is the day built; HP identifies it as a 327-ci 350 HP engine with 11.0:1 compression ratio, 4-barrel carburetor, manual transmission, and power steering. Corvette Of The Day: 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Big Tank Coupe, The Fabulous 88 Resurrected and Reimagined, Rescuing A 1963 Split Window Corvette And Turning It Into A Drag Racer, Jules Gounon Manages To Tame The L88 Greenwood Corvette, VIDEO: Quick Drive In The 1966 Chevrolet Corvette, TheTopher Takes A 1966 Chevrolet Corvette For A Spin, 4 Speed Manual, Close Ratio, Heavy Duty Transmission. How many 1966 corvette coupes were produced with mossport green exterior and green interior /, Your email address will not be published. The body needs to be lifted to properly remove the rotted pieces and install new rails. A.O. Below we have outlined the pricing and options, but we also have a more detailed page here. Corvette's - On crossbar, under the glove box door. Buffalo would be B and Chevrolet gear and axle is G for their respective plants. Bottom line: Lots of money makes this frame rot go away. This is why it makes sense to do a body-off restoration. The paint and interior were dated and could use some TLC to get it back on track. This was probably not the car for me because it was too nice and should be put back together for NCRS showing or a nice, fun weekend show car. Unfortunately though, no drivetrain data is included. Sales & Service Teams now available 7 days a week! Following this three-digit paint code is the word Paint to designate the paint code. The most common corrosion area is at the rear frame rail kick-ups where the trailing arms pivot. The Fisher Body Style Number identifies the model of Corvette. There are three Corvette VIN decoder sequences for 2009 Corvette ZR1. Another indicator that the C-channels are badly corroded is sill plate screws that do not tighten because they are stripped. He has owned three Corvettes over the last twenty years and does not plan to stop owning one anytime soon. Fuelies: Fuel Injected Corvettes 19571965 by Robert Genat has excellent focused information on these revered Corvettes. Do not get me wrong: Chassis replacement is a big deal, but I would much rather do the chassis replacement than do major birdcage repairs. Read more:1966 Corvette Specifications. Warner Gear was used to supply early 1963s with their 4-speed transmission. Holley carburetors were first used on the 64 365-hp 327-ci engine. I would repair this and not be concerned about future problems. Smith body source or S for the St. Louis Assembly Plant. My Dad Taught Me Everything About Classic Cars, Classic Mustang Wheel and Tire Combinations Part 1, Interior Upgrades for your Classic Mustang. Your email address will not be published. There really was no way to tell if the photos were even of this car. 5. Early Corvette Trim Tag ID - rickscamaros.com Use it as a resource to help you find your cars original C2 Corvette color, based on the year it was manufactured. My 1966 Corvette was delivered with Silver Pearl 986AA paint. The decking or machining also must match the finish that left the factory. Unfortunately, many of these tank stickers have been damaged with time and the elements. When a warranty repair was required, the service writer ran the plate through a credit-card-like swipe machine transferring the data to the repair order. Someone took a right front fender corner and hacked it onto the original fender. 4. If you are looking for more detail about the options available for the 1966 Corvette, check out our in depth guide. What Should I Do Before I Call Product Assistance? An anomaly occurred during the 1965 model year run during a foundry shutdown: A limited number of 327-ci engines with casting number 3858180 were supplied by Tonawanda. First, it had to be ordered in combination with Positraction and the close-ratio Muncie four-speed transmission. Build Date: Month, Week. I found three possible Midyears that I wanted to investigate further. If you liked this article you will LOVE the full book. It was then sent to the new owner to be affixed in the warranty booklet. Ignition Coil Applications *. Hydraulic, vented four wheel discs 11.75-inch diameter, single calipers, total swept area 461 sq. C3 Corvette Trim Tag Decoder and Location: 1968-82 Inner side of drivers side windshield post (A-pillar). The Illustrated Corvette Series by Scott Teeters has some really great Corvette facts and figures. There are people who provide correct engine block stamping with all the anomalies that occurred when the factory did the stamping. If the dealership that sold the car is still open, you may be able to do further research. If the exhaust manifold has a date code, it may not be visible with the manifold bolted onto the cylinder head. in. Of course, I went to look at it because you never know what decent-looking means to someone else, and it is a Corvette after all! The headliner of the '66 Vette is foam and vinyl, an upgrade from the fiberboard Corvette RPO Codes & Order Guides (All Years) - CorvSport.com The driver-side manifold received the machined hole for the fuelies choke heat. Sequence Descriptions for all Years and Special Editions. The vertical clean spot (or kind of clean) has two of what should be letters telling you what gear ratio set it came with. Then as years drag by, it becomes apparent that a lot of money has been spent and you are not enjoying the fruits of your labor. Models with these engines also came with a special bubble hood to accomodate 300 hp engine and three speed manual transmission started at $4,084. All major castings and many other parts received a part number permanently cast into the component. Starters and alternators were often changed after the vehicles were out of warranty. The fourth VIN digit is a 3 for a coupe or a 6 for a convertible for all of the Midyears built. Reproductions are out there, so having an original Protect-O-Plate is a very valuable piece of documentation. Times like this can get you fired up and in trouble and restraint needs to be exercised. If you find out that the paperwork is not right, you cannot register the car, or worse yet, have to hand the keys over to the legal owner. On the left side of the trim tag is the word "Trim", which designates the interior trim code of that particular car. Headrests were optional for the first time and the interior door pulls are bright C2 Corvette Build Dates The below table is the build dates for the C2 Corvette. Corvette Sting Ray Gold Portfolio 19631967 has data, history, and plenty of specifications to assure you are looking at a correctly-numbered Midyear. Assembly and body build dates help to decipher correct component date coding. He was frustrated trying to find information on the internet about Corvettes which was was not biased or influenced somehow. Since 1967 Corvettes are such a hot commodity, convincingly forged tank stickers have been found. However, base horsepower was 300 in 1966, up from 250 the year before. The 396 engines in 1965 used the 3856208 casting. The second and third digits (08) tell you it is a 1963 or 1964 Corvette. 12. The front end needs to be replaced to correct the frontend bodywork, and replacing the front end costs a minimum $3,000 with a hand-laid assembly. 1963-1967 (C2) BODY TRIM PLATE: Located on the crossbrace under the dash, it identifies the month and day built, model year, body style, body number, trim combination and paint color. Hello I have a 1966 corvette 427 conv . E-mail me if you think different!!! They may be very valuable to someone with a factory-correct Camaro, Chevelle, Impala, or early Chevy truck. 1963-1967 C2 Corvette Factory Paint Colors Remember, window stickers are not reliable documents because they can be reproduced and then weathered to make you believe they are original. Copyright 2022 Ecklers Automotive. I knew immediately that I needed a frame and almost every attaching piece. 1955-62 Corvettes did not have a trim tag. (Note also the RPO change from A62 to A48.) This is the position to find the snowflake on valuable three-deuce intakes. The 12-28-62 side cover denoted it could have been in a 1963. Corvette Of The Day: 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Custom Coupe The introduction of the big-block V-8 engine captured the imagination of Corvette consumers the world over, and in no time at all, the demand for big-blocks far surpassed those of the conventional 327 small block Chevy engine. A numbers matching 427ci 425hp V8 L72 casting number 386992 which decodes to a 1966 427ci . Consider what it takes to put this 1963 back together in decent shape. Letters and numbers were used to denote horsepower, and the transmission to which it was to be coupled, as well as the month and day built. They did Silver/Black mixed interior for some of of the Silver Pearl cars, its possible. The big-block 396-ci engine had rectangular-port, closed-chamber heads (casting number 3856208). The next step was contacting a friend who sells Midyears regularly to see what he thought. Pick the wrong one, and youll end up with an unsatisfactory, abstract, two-toned paint job. Build Date: Month, Week. General Motors used exhaust heat flowing through a tube connected to the passenger-side exhaust manifold for choke operation. Unfortunately, the valve covers hide all the numbers and codes. Because of the lower resale price it makes more sense to be frugal with the restoration and then drive the wheels off of it to get the most out of your money. Our newsletter delivers all the Vette news, rumors, deals and events directlyto you each week. These codes break down as follows: A41 = 4-way front power seat (bench) A46 = 4-way front power seat (bucket) A51 = Front Strato bucket seat A75 = H.D. Casting and part numbers were stamped into the right side of the air horn. CODE EXTERIOR COLOR INTERIOR COLOR & TRIM 10 Classic White White with Black, blue-Green or Dark Firethorn 13 Silver Metallic White with Smoke-Gray 33 Dark Green Metallic White with Blue-Green 37 Mahogany Metallic White with Dark Firethorn 64 Light Buckskin White with Dark Brown 69 Dark Brown Metallic White with Dark Brown 72 Corvette Red White We have included an easy to use search feature too for quickly finding specific RPO codes. Color breakdown in terms of production numbers was the following: Tuxedo Black 1,190 (4.29%), Ermine White 2,120 (7.65%), Rally Red 3,366 (12.14%), Nassau Blue 6,100 (22.01%), Laguna Blue 2,054 (7.41%), Trophy Blue 1,463 (5.28%), Mosport Green 2,311 (8.34%), Sunfire Yellow 2,339 (8.44%), Silver Pearl 2,967 (10.70%) and Milano Maroon 3,799 (13.70%). Corvette trim tag from a silver/dark blue 1964 convertible built on November 9. Directly below the time build code is the word Style. Following the word Style is the last two digits of the model year (63 or 64), a blank space, and the three digit body style code (837 for a coupe or 867 for a convertible). Restyled wheel covers were introduced along with an all-new rocker trim. 6. You can see it when you open the door. |13 Digit VIN Explanation and Location, 8 to 13 Production Sequence Number 100001 - 121801, 13 Digit VIN Decoder with Explanation andLocation, 6 Model year designation from:1Z37J2S500001, 8 to 13 Production Sequence Number: 500001 - 440614, Get your Corvette Build Sheet Reproduction from the Corvette Museum, How Do You Read a Corvette VIN? D = 1983 *No 1983 Corvettes were ever sold*. Rear Axle Ratio Identification Codes 7. I found the remnants of this one on top of the fuel tank. Lastly, less notable upgrades like the addition of Corvette Sting Ray scripts to the hood and the introduction of standard backup lights were introduced. The PPG Jet Black exterior . This can help offset the cost of replacing incorrect casting or date-coded pieces. Body 6909 is the actual body production run making it right for the number of coupes built that year. 3 Corvette C6.R, VIN sequence 400001 series for 41U Black representing the No. 1965 Chevy Body Plate Data - tpocr.com Where is the VIN Number on a Corvette? Like the front end, damage repair was evident on both sides at the rear. This also applies to short-cap distributors. Dimension and Weight Specifications, Engine Block & Cylinder Head Casting Numbers. You can determine the date your C3 Corvette was built by looking at the codes on the "Trim Tag" on your Vette. 14. You need to carefully inspect Corvettes. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. The standard features for the Corvettes (which were identical for the coupe and convertible models, included bucket seats, simulated walnut steering wheel and complete instrumentation. These cracks are not easy to spot until the grease is cleaned up in the area. Once you determine whether the engine VIN matches the vehicle VIN, paperwork concerning the validity of the Midyear increases the value. Part numbers also should be researched very carefully to ascertain validity if an NCRS or Bloomington Gold restoration is in your future. C3 Corvette Build Date Trim Tag Code - C3VR Even starter numbers are important. The rear bumper brackets were almost 2 inches below the bodys bumper bracket holes. When it comes to disassembly, you often need two parts rust penetrant and one part heat to remove just about any bolt or nut. Trim 490J denotes dark blue vinyl. The original engine and transmission were gone. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. The 1963 to 1965 fuel-injected exhaust manifolds do not have this machined hole for the hot air tube on the passenger side. The style information on the left should match the VIN: 63 for 1963 and 837 for coupe. Manual transmissions were widely used, with Muncie-built 4-speeds being the predominant choice for buyers. Lastly, it required stouter, shot-peened half shafts and U-joints, as well as a higher-capacity radiator and sump. This is the most sought-after document because it validates the complete drivetrain and all options and accessories. 4. Keep scrolling or use the links below to jump directly on this page to your model car and find your Corvette Information. in. This is where a decision has to be made, Should I try to make it something it is not, or just drive it? Without the proper documentation, the actual collector value is seriously eroded, and a high-end restoration for an undocumented car usually is not a wise investment. Bonding strips are used to connect and reinforce the panels at the front fenders and rear areas. If you see one wheel back or forward noticeably farther than the other, it is often an indication of collision damage. Corvette Central Product Assistance. Early Corvette Trim Tag ID - Macs Auto Parts Check all date and casting codes carefully. |12 Digit VIN Explanation andLocation, 1 Model Year 0 = 1960Corvette VIN Decoder Code, 2 = 1962 End of C1 Corvette VIN Decoder Coder, 3 = 1963 Start of C2 Corvette VIN Decoder Coder, 2 to 5 Series 0867 = Chevrolet Corvette "8"= Engine, Start VIN "1960" 00867S100001 End VIN "1964" 40837S122229, How Do You Read a13 digit vin decoder? It would take some time to hunt for the right pieces. Well, that depends; on early generations, VIN trim tags moved around a bit. This buyers order spells out what options and trim level this 1967 had from the factory. The 3904391 and 3919840 casting had rectangular ports with closed chambers. This was a tough call. I needed to go look at other Midyears just to be smart. The photos had no VIN documentation, only pictures of someone restoring a multi-colored 1967 convertible Corvette. All catalogs are also online with full search and order features. Buyers that chose the smaller engines also could choose a three-speed manual transmission or the Powerglide automatic transmission. While cranking the engine, rap that area with the plastic handle of a screwdriver until engine cranks/runs. When I worked with General Motors, we rebuilt all alternators, starters, and wiper motors at the dealerships. The Goodwood Green 300-hp 327-ci convertible had very few options. Corvette's - On crossbar, under the glove box door. 1. 10C. From the underside of this 1964, the incorrect repair is obvious. I find that the bumper brackets do not line up or that the exterior grilles are out of position. (this will match the VIN plate) The VIN will contain MODEL information. Cleveland, OH. 1966 Corvette RPO Codes & Order Guide If you are looking to decode your 1966 Corvette RPO's (Regular Production Options), then check out the table below. Unfortunately, the floor sat lower than its original height so the rear of the body sat higher on the frame. QQ were 2.54:1 first-, 1.89:1 second-, 1.51:1 third-gear ratios. This is why matching the date codes to the engine pad stamping is important. You know that unpleasant part of the new vehicle transaction when the numbers are laid out in front of you?