Fake Protect-O-Plates...

[Hylton]

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

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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.