Fake Protect-O-Plates...

[Les Quam]

Hylton,
Where are the stamps you are referring to that can be accessed with a screwdriver?

[Hylton]

[ QUOTE ]
Hylton,
Where are the stamps you are referring to that can be accessed with a screwdriver?

[/ QUOTE ]

Every Chevrolet body panel will have a date stamp. Doors have dates stamped on them which are visible when you remove the door panels. Look for a 3 digit stamp such as H23. The key is the "23" which will represent the 23rd week of the year the door was made. Both doors should have similar dates. The trunk lid date will also have a date that is similar to the doors. It is located on the underside support, usually in the middle of the trunk lid. Sometimes the jack decal is covering it. Rocker panel dates may be visible if you remove the door sills but like many areas, paint may make the date unreadable.

Another important date stamp to look at is the back seat brace. Rarely is this changed during a rebody. This is the piece that looks like 2 letter Y's together. Remove the back seat. The date will be stamped on the passenger side brace.

If the car is a project, then you might want to look at the quarter panel and tail panel date stamps as well. The quarter panel date stamps are located in the top corner of the trunk gutter and the tail panel date stamp is located on the outside area that is usually covered up by the rear bumper.

The Firewall also has a date below the heater fan which is near the partial VIN stamp. It's usually very clear.

These dates are stamped when the piece is manufactured, not when Fisher assembled the body so be aware that they will always be earlier than the date on the trim tag.

Now if someone has changed a body panel using a part from an original car, then obviously the date will not jive with the rest of the car.

The key here is to ensure what you are getting is what you are expecting. If someone tells you it's a rebody, or a resto using repro or replaced parts, checking dates will not be so important.

If a seller however tells you the car is a low mileage, original body paneled car, the asking price will be high and you need to be sure you are getting an honest car.

Spend some time getting as much car history as possible. Who owned it when and what they did with it when they owned it, checking dates on the car (parts, panels) and evaluating that information against what the seller is telling you will give you good background for making a purchase decision.

Hope others here will feel free to add locations of date stamps they have seen on GM cars. Hopefully someone with some spare time, will post a few pictures of panel dates.

[Hylton]

Thanks to Kevin K for the following pictures!

Trunk Lid from 67 Camaro showing 44th week:


Quarter panel from same car showing same week as trunk lid:


Right front fender from same car showing 42nd week:


Left front fender showing 38th week:


Seat rail with date stamp:

[wagonman]

good information!

it's info with pictures like this that will help in the sale of legit cars.....

possibly supercedeing any false paperwork or fake pop's...

[x Baldwin Motion]

make way for the fake date stampers

[Steve Shauger]

[ QUOTE ]
good information!

it's info with pictures like this that will help in the sale of legit cars.....

possibly supercedeing any false paperwork or fake pop's...

[/ QUOTE ]

Granted sheetmetal stamping is well known, however critical pieces of knowledge should not be disclosed. I am not here to educate the crooks. You know what it takes to make a almost perfect clone and I won't be a part of educating counterfeiters & crooks to perfect their deceptive practices. You call it educating ...I call it plain stupidity Many members on this site feel the same way.



When I share critical information it is with people I know and trust and do it discreetly.

[Hylton]

[ QUOTE ]
You call it educating ...I call it plain stupidity Many members on this site feel the same way.

When I share critical information it is with people I know and trust and do it discreetly.

[/ QUOTE ]

So are you saying that the general public should not be educated on better ways to avoid being a victim of fraud?

[Les Quam]

Hylton,
Thanks for your time and efforts. From the pictures of the body panels I don't see a year? Is the year on there? Just looks like weeks?

In regard to educating crooks, I don't think crooks are coming to this sight looking for information. I think they have figured it out already through years of experience. The information gained here helps guys like me who want Chevy's to learn more. I looked for a Yenko Camaro or COPO for almost 20 years that had to have verifiable owners I could talk to and have bulletproof paperwork and be well known in the Yenko community before Colin found mine in Dave's collection last year. Not having solid information and being confident about how to verify a Camaro or Chevelle precluded me from being a part of Chevy world for a long time.

With my Fords and Pontiac's I at least had factory docs telling me what the car should be based on the VIN and I then verified the casting dates and owner history. With my Mopars the cars at least had a code in the VIN and a couple of other places it is found plus Galen's reputation after he inspects a car adds confidence when buying. But Ford and Pontiac factory docs gave me a big head start as opposed to starting from scratch with a Chevy.

Also, had I known about this sight and the amazing information and people on it I would have jumped in years ago. From my experience nothing runs or sounds like a big block Chevy but the fraud in Corvette world and Camaro world is simply rampant and rightfully scares away lots of buyers.

[wagonman]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
good information!

it's info with pictures like this that will help in the sale of legit cars.....

possibly supercedeing any false paperwork or fake pop's...

[/ QUOTE ]

Granted sheetmetal stamping is well known, however critical pieces of knowledge should not be disclosed. I am not here to educate the crooks. You know what it takes to make a almost perfect clone and I won't be a part of educating counterfeiters & crooks to perfect their deceptive practices. You call it educating ...I call it plain stupidity Many members on this site feel the same way.



When I share critical information it is with people I know and trust and do it discreetly.

[/ QUOTE ]

hello,

i actually learned everything from several books from a very well known camaro author..it was quite helpful...

the information and recources are out there...you cant blame me for being stupid.

I know what it takes to make a almost perfect clone,but i'm honest enough to say so.
it's the cars that arent being disclosed that should worry you.this is what we need to educate againsed.


that descreet conversation your having with your freind is full of info we can find in books and on the net.musclecars have been around for decades now.

are you saying that only your self should know the answers?

if so then many people will get ripped off in fraudulant transactions.


a previous post indicated date stamps of body panels...

now tell me did he educate a counterfeiter or a possible buyer?

i say both..if both sides know the full story,then it would be more difficult to deceive.

i have not givin out out any information on how to create a perfect clone........

just information that it is being done............